Anchor/Hanover sheltered housing issues. 16 September 2021 at 10:56AM in Over 50s MoneySaving 11 replies 1.4K views

whattochoose

Since 2017 I've been living in sheltered accommodation with Anchor, latterly known as Anchor/Hanover. 
Recently alarm has been created due to changes proposed by the company, which will remove managers based wholly at specific locations.
Added to this, a few weeks ago gasps were elicited at the location where I live when a tenants meeting took place and we were told of intended changes to service charge liabilities, which look as if they will result in much higher charges in the amounts of rents/services charges we will pay.
Very worrying, and it looks like the company have tenants over a barrel, since most tenants using sheltered housing accommodation are at a time in their life where moving again is an onerous prospect, added to the fact one faces the prospect of the nest egg prudently saved during working lives declining more rapidly than one would have hoped.
Comments from sheltered housing tenants or anybody, really, very welcome.

2childmum2

Just to say my parents are in similar accommodation and have been trying to move out for about 3 years now - but can't find anyone to buy their flat.  (they were due to move last year but Covid put paid to that)  They are constantly querying bills and complaining about poor service.  They certainly wish they had never moved there.  

Savvy_Sue

I have a friend in similar accommodation and it has taken persistence to obtain details of the 'sinking fund' which owners and tenants believed should have been available to offset the cost of planned repairs and improvements. To some extent they were successful but obtaining full accounts might be a starting point. 

marycanary

Anchor Hanover is a charity. If you have any specific problems which they can not resolve you can complain to the Housing Ombudsman or the Charity Commission.

Murphybear

We live in sheltered housing.  We have a manager who comes in Monday - Friday and we have regular meetings where any issues and the projected charges are discussed.  All the figures are freely available.  Last April the cost of rent which includes service charges went down. 

It sounds like there is a lot of difference in the sheltered housing organisations. 

Clowance

Would the above issues possibly be related to either sheltered housing (charity) or private sheltered housing? Just wondered.

mixedmind

marycanary said:

Anchor Hanover is a charity. If you have any specific problems which they can not resolve you can complain to the Housing Ombudsman or the Charity Commission.

We have for 5 months had a dog fouling issue under our kitchen window everyday of the week/months of it, does management stop it, no, they were told on 31 january 2022 now end of may still no action from on site manager? We cant live like this anymore. 

mixedmind

2childmum2 said:

Just to say my parents are in similar accommodation and have been trying to move out for about 3 years now - but can't find anyone to buy their flat.  (they were due to move last year but Covid put paid to that)  They are constantly querying bills and complaining about poor service.  They certainly wish they had never moved there.  

We are the same wished we never moved into one of their properties, managment who find it hard to be truthfull,  if we were fit and well  enough we would buy a tent and live anywhere on  Surrey hills 

mixedmind

Clowance said:

Would the above issues possibly be related to either sheltered housing (charity) or private sheltered housing? Just wondered.

Anchor hanover are linkined with charity and private housing, ie Anchor group of companies, of many!! 

Savvy_Sue

mixedmind said:

marycanary said:

Anchor Hanover is a charity. If you have any specific problems which they can not resolve you can complain to the Housing Ombudsman or the Charity Commission.

We have for 5 months had a dog fouling issue under our kitchen window everyday of the week/months of it, does management stop it, no, they were told on 31 january 2022 now end of may still no action from on site manager? We cant live like this anymore. 

Contact local dog warden?

Silvertabby

mixedmind said:

marycanary said:

Anchor Hanover is a charity. If you have any specific problems which they can not resolve you can complain to the Housing Ombudsman or the Charity Commission.

We have for 5 months had a dog fouling issue under our kitchen window everyday of the week/months of it, does management stop it, no, they were told on 31 january 2022 now end of may still no action from on site manager? We cant live like this anymore. 

Sprinkle "Get off my garden" underneath your window.  Dogs seem to hate the smell, but I don't mind it! 

Buy it from Pets at Home, Amazon, your local garden centre.