Bogus Callers Alert in Foxhill, Gleadless and Manor
Sheffield Homes is warning tenants to be on their guard after incidents of suspected bogus callers have been reported in Gleadless Valley, Foxhill and Manor areas of Sheffield.
Tenants have alerted Sheffield Homes about two occasions in the Foxhill area where two callers have claimed to be working in partnership with Sheffield City Council asking tenants if they are interested in buying their council property. On both occasions the suspected bogus callers tried to gain entry into the house.
Similar incidents have occurred in Gleadless Valley where tenants have been targeted by a company offering to value tenants homes. The bogus callers are then asking tenants to complete and sign a Right To Buy form. Sheffield City Council are aware of the situation and have confirmed that the callers are not members of their Right To Buy Team.
There has also been a report of two men visiting homes in the Prince of Wales Road area on Manor pretending to be part of the Sheffield Homes contractors, involved in the Decent Homes programme. The men have attempted to gain entry into tenant’s homes.
Sheffield Homes has been unable to identify the men as employees of Sheffield Homes or as working for Decent Homes contractor working in the area.
In all cases the Police have been notified.
The massive council property modernisation programme currently transforming homes across the city involves hundreds of workmen and other personnel. Sheffield Homes has long been aware of the increased opportunities for bogus callers whilst this work takes place and has repeatedly warned residents, as well as issuing guidance and advice.
All Sheffield Homes staff, surveyors and contractors carry identification cards.
The advice to tenants is:
- Always ask to see identification before you let anyone into your home and don’t let them in if you have any concerns
- If you still aren’t satisfied after checking a caller’s ID card, contact your Customer Liaison Advisor (CLA) or local Investment Team
- For extra reassurance, set up your own security password for staff to use when visiting by contacting your local Investment Team
- If you think someone may be a bogus caller, phone the police straightaway
Tenants whose homes will be improved under the Decent Homes programme will be contacted by their CLA before work gets underway. Once work starts, they will know the tradesmen working on their home and will be told if additional contractors are being brought in.
When the Decent Homes work is complete, the CLA will visit the tenant and three months after completion, Sheffield Homes will carry out an after care check. Sheffield Homes maintenance officers complete random checks on a small percentage of properties, but they will always carry ID.
“With so many people involved in this programme, coming in and out of residents’ homes, it’s vital that we do all that we can to make tenants aware of the danger of bogus callers and what they can do to protect themselves,” said Iain Allott, Decent Homes Programme Manager for Sheffield Homes.
“This programme is the biggest of its kind in the country and won’t be complete until 2010. It is our responsibility to keep reminding people about the risk of bogus callers and help in any way we can to prevent incidents like this which, thankfully, are few and far between.”
Anyone who suspects a bogus caller should contact their CLA or local Investment Team. For the Gleadless Valley or Foxhill the number to call is 0114 293 0000. For the Manor area tenants can call 0114 205 3333.