Customer Complaints Policy
1.1Heylo Housing Registered Provider Limited (HHRP) is a member of the Heylo Housing Group Limited (HHGL). Heylo’s purpose is to provide home ownership solutions across England for those on modest incomes. Heylo provides 2 different products – HomeReach and YourHome.
1.2HomeReach is designed as an affordable home ownership product which is targeted at first time homeowners. HomeReach are properties that are acquired by the way of grant through Homes England (a government agency that funds affordable housing) or alternatively via the planning process through something called Section 106 Agreements. Section 106 Agreements require house builders to provide a number of new homes in a local area which are affordable. Rent on these homes is charged at 2.75% on the value of any unpurchased equity in Year 1. HomeReach properties can be a house or a flat.
1.3Where the property is a flat then the services to the vast majority of these developments are provided by managing agents appointed by the Freeholder or Superior Landlord. In these cases, where there are issues about managing agents we ask customers to try and resolve these locally, as service failures in the first instance. Where this fails then Heylo will take up the complaint on a customer’s behalf and liaise with the managing agent to try and achieve a resolution.
1.4YourHome is designed as a flexible housing product which allows customers to select a preloved home on the open market in an area of the country of their choosing. They need to have at least 20% of the purchase price of that property to be eligible to apply. In addition, the rent they pay on the unpurchased equity is 4.89% of the value in Year 1. YourHome properties can only be houses.
- To understand where and why our service has fallen short of customer expectations. We will accept the feedback, put things right and improve services for the future.
- To inform customers of how to, and who to make a complaint to about the service we provide directly or indirectly through house builder partners, managing agents or professional service firms etc.
- To inform customers of how a complaint will be treated if it cannot be satisfactorily settled by the initial response of front-line staff. Our 2 stage complaints procedure can be easily found on the website, https://heylohousing.com/make-a-complaint.
- To assure customers that Heylo takes complaints seriously and in line with a transparent and accountable process. We are a member of the Housing Ombudsman Service and therefore we adhere to the Housing Ombudsman’s Complaint Handling Code, a copy of which can be found at:
https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk - To try and resolve the complaint as swiftly and efficiently as possible in line with our procedure.
- To ensure that Heylo has a reasonable and fair opportunity to properly investigate complaints and to provide a considered response.
4.4 In the first instance customers can direct complaints to the third party directly or Heylo, who will manage that feedback in line with the approved policy and procedure. In the case of our business partners and third-party agents we expect them to forward any complaints to Heylo that require a Heylo and/or landlord response.
4.5 If the third party cannot respond to a complaint and they refer the complaint to Heylo, you will then receive responses in line with our complaints policy and procedure.
4.6 You will be kept informed of the progress of your complaint and informed of the following at each stage.
- Confirmation of the complaint stage
- The outcome of the complaint
- The reasons for any decisions made
- The details of any remedy offered to put things right
- Details of any outstanding actions
- Details of how to escalate the matter if dissatisfied
5.2 You can make a complaint within six months of the issue happening. We may accept older complaints at the discretion of the manager responsible for the service. For example, when a customer has been unaware of the failure until it had a detrimental impact, or a customer was unable to make a complaint within 6 months due to ill health.
5.3 We will treat multiple complaints from the same customer for the same issue as a single complaint. If that customer raises a further complaint but at the same time as an ongoing one, we will record each complaint separately and follow the complaints procedure.
5.4 Where a complaint is not upheld, we will provide an explanation of our decision. Examples of where we will not uphold a complaint is:
- Where a complainant is taking legal action against heylo or where heylo is taking legal action against the complainant
- An initial enquiry or service request e.g. copy of rent statement, buildings insurance policy, etc
- A dispute with a neighbour which can be dealt with through our Anti-Social Behaviour Policy/Procedure.
- Complaints relating to rent increases where the rent increase is subject to the terms of the lease.
- Complaints about the actions of an organisation that is not working for or supported by heylo.
- Complaints from applicants because they did not meet heylo’s published eligibility criteria (such as failed credit checks)
- Complaints about service charge budgets and accounts where these are being challenged in the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) for reasonableness and fairness.
5.5 Whilst we will accept a complaint, we may adapt the complaints procedure if your behaviour is unreasonable. Examples of unreasonable behaviour:
- Threatening behaviour
- Physical violence
- Personal abuse
- Derogatory or discriminatory remarks
- Inflammatory statements and unsubstantiated allegations
- Make approaches to several members of staff at the same time about the same issue after we have agreed a single point of contact.
NB: Adaptations could be in the form of explanations, warnings or contact restrictions, such as communication by email only.
10.1 All data is stored securely and in line with our Data Protection and Security Policies.
10.2 We are committed to treating all information securely, with respect and in line with data protection law (GDPR).
10.3 We may share personal information with other organisations. We will only share information where we have sharing protocols in place and/or confidentiality agreements signed. We will also give information to other organisations where we are required by law to do so.
Policy approval date: | 1 March 2023 |
Policy review date | 28 February 2024 |
Lead team | Property Management |
Level of authorisation required: | CEO |