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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a resident?
There are several ways you can become an OCHA resident. Full details are here.
How do I pay my rent?
You can pay your rent by Direct Debit, at a Post Office, over the Internet, at the OCHA office, by post, by telephone, or by standing order. Full details are here.
How can I get something repaired?
Come in to the office and tell us or use the link on the Web site – click here.
What can I do if I have money problems?
If you are struggling with your rent or are already in arrears, contact us straight away. We will be able to help you. More information is on the Web site here.
What can I do about nuisance neighbours or antisocial behaviour?
OCHA takes neighbour nuisance and antisocial behaviour very seriously. Contact the Customer Service Centre on 01865 773000 or look for more information on the Web site here.
How can I contact OCHA?
We’re Oxford Citizens Housing Association
244 Barns Road
Oxford
OX4 3RW
Tel: 01865 773000
Fax: 01865 773555
Full details of our location on a map and contact address and phone numbers can be found here.
Whereabouts are OCHA’s properties?
A map showing our communities is here.
What is affordable warmth?
Affordable warmth means that a household is able to afford to heat their home to the level required for their comfort and health. More information can be found here.
What’s does my rent include?
Apart from paying to live in your house, your rent MAY include a service charge for communal services, a charge for any heating and hot water provided by communal systems, and possibly Council Tax.
More information about rents can be found here.
Can I buy part of a house?
New Build HomeBuy, which is also known as shared ownership, is a scheme allowing residents to part buy and part rent their property. More information about what’s available from OCHA can be found here.
Is there more information for shared owners anywhere?
If you’re an existing OCHA resident, you can get far more information about shared ownership – New Build HomeBuy – here.
What do I do if I want to move home?
There’s more information about moving to another rented home, exchanging your home with another OCHA resident, passing your tenancy to another member of your family here.
Are transfers available?
Full information about transfers is available here.
Are mutual exchanges possible?
If you are a tenant of Oxford Citizens Housing Association (OCHA), the Council, or another housing association and you have a secure or assured tenancy agreement, then you qualify for a home exchange. There’s more information here.
Does OCHA provide sheltered housing?
OCHA runs 17 sheltered housing schemes. These enable just under 400 older residents to enjoy their independence, with the added security of knowing that help is available if and when they need it. For more information, click here.
Does OCHA provide supported housing?
OCHA works with people with a wide range of support needs, including people with learning disabilities or mental health problems and women fleeing domestic violence. Click here for more information.
Do you have more information for existing residents?
All OCHA residents, when they first move in, receive a new Residents' Handbook containing leaflets packed with useful information about their rights and responsibilities as a resident. It also outlines the services OCHA provides and tells residents what to do if they are unhappy with any aspect of their tenancy. Copies of the Residents' Handbook leaflets are available here.
What is OCHA?
Oxford Citizens started life as the Oxford Cottage Improvement Company in 1866. It is now a member of GreenSquare Group. There’s more information here.
What’s a Housing Association?
Housing Association is a common term for the 2000 or so independent, not-for-profit organisations registered with and regulated by the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). Find out more here.
Does OCHA work with its residents?
OCHA wants its homes to be based in strong and stable communities where residents want to live. To help that happen, it works with residents and other organisations to support a range of community development projects. There’s more information here.
Can OCHA residents get involved in decision making?
OCHA residents can get involved in many different ways. They can serve as resident board members, join scrutiny panels and citizen panels, they can work as mystery shoppers, and there are many other opportunities. For more information, click here.
What’s the Community Chest fund?
The Community Chest was established by OCHA to help finance community projects in Oxfordshire. £10,000 is available for each financial year. Find out more here.
Has OCHA done anything suggested by residents?
OCHA prides itself on being responsive to resident suggestions. More information about the many ways OCHA has done what its residents said can be found here.
Can I see resident newsletters?
The Citizens Newsletter goes out to all OCHA residents quarterly. A copy of the Newsletters in PDF format is available here.
Does OCHA develop new homes?
Yes – for PartBuy and for the affordable rent sector. Find out more here.
How well is OCHA doing?
Each month OCHA provides performance information about repairs, telephone call handling, letting homes, rent collection, customer satisfaction, and costs. Click here for the details.
Are there any jobs?
More information about jobs can be found here on the GreenSquare Web site.
Can I see the annual report?
OCHA’s Annual Report is sent out to all residents, stakeholders, shareholders, and partners each October. A PDF version is available here.
Can I see the corporate plan?
OCHA's corporate business plan for 2008-2011 is available in PDF format from here.
Can I see a financial statement?
Details of last year’s income and expenditure account are available here.
Can I see Audit Commission reports?
More information about the most-recent Audit Commission from July 2007 is available here.
Can I read board reports?
A summary of board decisions from each meeting are available here.
Can I see the OCHA service standards?
OCHA’s service standards indicating exactly what its residents can expect can be found here.
Can I see OCHA’s policies?
More information about OCHA’s policies is available here.
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