[VGottesman]

Hi Margaret

We use Northern Gas and Power as our energy brokers. We used to use Utility Aid but found them somewhat lacking and NGP have found us excellent deals for electricity and gas contracts for the past few years, some of them lasting several years which makes life easier.
Brokers are paid by the supply companies so no direct charges for you.

Good luck

All the best
Vanessa
Dorchester Almshouses

[VGottesman]

Hi TFindlay

We acquired a grant earlier this year through the Low Carbon Dorset scheme run by Dorset Council. This paid for 50% of the cost of installation of our solar panels. There were some hoops to jump through as with any grant but nothing too onerous.
I suggest you contact your local council for current grant information.

Ours were fitted by Dorset Energy Solutions https://www.dorsetenergysolutions.co.uk/ but we received quotes from a few suppliers as recommended by the grant provider.

Installation of our solar panels has been relatively painless with the most long winded aspect of the process being the time it takes to get an export number from SSE so we can sell our excess to the grid, though I understand this is not uncommon.

Good luck!
Vanessa Gottesman
Dorchester Almshouses

[VGottesman]

Hi Kelly

We charge the same rate for single or double occupancy for the accommodation element of the contribution unless a single resident is living in one of our smaller flats which are charged at a lower rate.
Gas is apportioned equally and electricity is charged according to usage in each flat.
However double occupancy flats are charged a little more for water as they use more than single residents.

All the best
Vanessa
Dorchester Almshouses

[VGottesman]

Hi Cath

We fit hobs and built-in ovens now. Some flats still have old style freestanding cookers (our former policy was to provide these), but these are gradually being replaced.

We provide a fridge or fridge/freezer if a resident needs one and PAT test these annually when our other charity items are tested.

We provide a built-in washing machine in 2 of our flats that have open plan kitchen/living room

I keep an inventory of our items and remind the resident/their family when they give notice to quit, of what belongs to us and should remain in the flat.

Hope that helps
All the best
Vanessa
Dorchester Almshouses

[VGottesman]

Hi Sally

We do not provide carpets as a general rule but if a carpet is in reasonable condition when a resident leaves us, we leave it in place for the next resident. However we make it clear that this is their carpet, not ours.

We converted a couple of bedsits into 1 bed studio flats with open plan kitchen / living room and did provide carpets in those.

All the best
Vanessa
Dorchester Almshouses

[VGottesman]

Hi there

We do not credit check our applicants but have a ‘supporting evidence’ form to complete before someone takes up residence with us. This includes proof of ID, address, NI number, immigration status, as well as income:

3. Proof of income
Please provide the following, dated within the last 3 months:
• Latest bank statement plus
• Savings information if applicable plus
• Investments information if applicable.

Applicants are asked to provide full financial information in their application form, similar to that listed above.

We do not ‘score’ applicants as such but trustees complete 2 forms –
1 is to establish eligibility against our criteria, completed for each applicant following their interest in registering to join our Applicant List.
Later, when we have a vacancy, applicants are asked to complete a full application form, and trustees complete a shortlisting form to aid their decision on which applicants to interview.

All the best
Vanessa
Dorchester Almshouses

[VGottesman]

Hi Tina

We don’t. Our fire contractor provides staff with fire training.
We have an automated fire alarm with monitoring service and full emergency procedures in place for residents to follow.

All the best
Vanessa
Dorchester Almshouses

[VGottesman]

Hi Mike

We test a sample of water from flat taps and the temperature of water at the tap in our flats annually.
There is a low risk due to combi boilers in place for most flats but our trustees prefer to err on the side of caution.
Our plumber does some quarterly checks on one hot water cylinder for us – flow and return temperature – and annual water samples and drain down, as recommended by our professional legionella risk assessment plus a cold water tank check annually on water temperature and condition of tank.

All the best
Vanessa
Dorchester Almshouses

[VGottesman]

Hi there

Our fire contractor visits quarterly and over the course of a year visits include checks on the emergency lights, fire doors, fire alarm, PAT of charity items, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers. The Fire alarms are tested weekly and we have an annual fire drill for residents.
We have a monitoring service who monitor the alarm system and advise us of any issues which are fixed asap.

All the best
Vanessa
Dorchester Almshouses

[VGottesman]

Hi Elaine

We are a Registered Provider and you can find our responses here: https://www.dorchesteralmshouses.co.uk/performance

All the best
Vanessa
Dorchester Almshouses

[VGottesman]

Hi Elaine

We are members of the HO and consequently have done this already. You can find everything on our website, under Performance: http://www.dorchesteralmshouses.co.uk

Good luck!
All the best
Vanessa
Manager/Clerk
Dorchester Almshouses

[VGottesman]

Hi Elaine

We have done this and you can find everything on our website, under Performance: http://www.dorchesteralmshouses.co.uk

Good luck!
All the best
Vanessa
Manager/Clerk
Dorchester Almshouses

[Author]

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