Each of us in one way or another will have an interest in housing, in other words, our home. Some as leaseholders, some as tenants, and some as private owners. There will also be those who will already be in, or looking to find, suitable retirement housing.   It is recognised that many older people, particularly those reaching retirement age will be considering an option to downsize to a smaller home or perhaps move to somewhere more suitable with twenty-four hour facilities on hand.

There is a considerable amount of information available from the Eastbourne Borough Council website which offers some guidance in these areas. In this section you will also find if you are able to claim Housing Benefit, how to slash your fuel bills and learn more in the Council Energy Advice Section, also what to do about noise or problems with neighbours. For some ESF members and others, the section dealing with financial assistance for disabled householders will be of particular interest.

Eastbourne Care and Repair, an independent charitable organisation which works in partnership with the council's Environmental Health service, can help vulnerable older or disabled homeowners with housing renovation, repairs and adaptations.

Additional information can be found on the Eastbourne Homes Limited website– a private company set up to provide housing services to Council tenants and leaseholders.  A draft housing strategy for 2008 to 2013 is currently under consideration and the Borough Council is currently consulting on a revised housing strategy for this period.

Beat the cowboys! Use approved traders and businesses

East Sussex Trading Standards published the new Buy with Confidence (BWC)approved trader directory on Monday 17 March.

Trading Standards launched the first directory in 2004 and so far have more than 270 businesses on board covering a wide range of services. The aim of the scheme is to promote the good businesses of the county, whilst improving consumer protection by providing the public with a list of local businesses they can trust.

The BWC Directory contains over 130 listings and is designed for members of the public without internet access. If you work in an office which has contact with the public then do make sure you have a stock of copies to distribute.

You can order copies of the directory by contacting Trading Standards on 01323 418215 or email:

buywithconfidence@eastsussex.gov.uk

You can search the BWC directory online by clicking on the 'Buy with Confidence button on the right.