News in brief

You can choose up to three preferred locations and we’ll be in touch when you reach the top of the shortlist and a garage becomes available. You’ll then have 24 hours to confirm your interest.

If we don’t hear from you within that time, your application will be cancelled.

Garages cost £12.42 per week for Eastlight tenants and leaseholders, and £14.90 per week for private customers, with four weeks’ rent required upfront when signing your garage tenancy.

Thank you to everyone who took part in a recent consultation on our proposed Resident Members Charter.

In March, we invited Eastlight residents to have your say on proposals to include a commitment in our rules to involve residents in how Eastlight is run.

This follows a review into our Shareholding offer, which active residents told us did not give them the opportunity to influence the things that matter most to them.

During the consultation, 67% of respondents supported the proposal to introduce the Charter, with only 5% against. The remaining 28% were neutral.

Following the consultation, the Board has decided to call a Special General Meeting in June, where shareholders will be invited to vote on whether to introduce the Charter. We’ll publish the outcome on our website, social media and in your next edition of Shine magazine

A new playground has been opened for residents at Mount Hill, Halstead. Named ‘Bumble Bee Park’ after young resident, Lilly Norris, 7, won an Eastlight competition, the park is open to the development’s families.

Lilly said: "I really love the new park. I get to meet lots of new friends.”

Residents living in Housing for Older People schemes will be able to get safety information about their home in a new trial.

Information is going up in 22 schemes which include a QR code linking to information about fire safety, asbestos, lifts, gas and more.

The information will hopefully give residents peace of mind and be useful to visitors such as contractors and the fire service.

We are trialling the Building Safety App to see if it should be introduced at all Eastlight blocks of flats.

Did you know? 

If you want to know how you can stay safe at home, you may be eligible for a free home visit from your local fire service. Simply contact your fire service to find out more.

If you have a traditional analogue phoneline, then you have until January 2027 to change to a digital phoneline.

We have been preparing for this Digital Switchover by upgrading phonelines in communal areas, including warden call alarm systems, CCTV and emergency call out systems in lifts.

To update your personal landline, you should contact your service provider. They should explain the steps you need to take, including what to do if you have items like personal care alarms or security alarms which are connected to your landline

We have entered into an agreement with builders’ merchant Travis Perkins to support our repairs service. The agreement will allow our repairs teams to source materials from Travis Perkins branches near where you live, allowing us to complete your repair more quickly and reduce our carbon footprint.