Questions and answers
We have answered some frequently asked questions here. The questions often arise during telephone conversations or meetings with customers and if you would like a question and answer to be added please email by clicking here or call our freephone 0800 692 3000.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Berkshire Court office and what are the opening hours?
Berkshire Court Office opening hours are Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 5pm.
Please click here for a map (external link)
The address is:
Western Road
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 1RE
Does a bus service run from Bracknell Town Centre to Berkshire Court?
Bus number 190 departs every 20 minutes from Bracknell bus station in Bracknell Town Centre.
From Western Road to the Town Centre, buses depart at 18 minutes past the hour, 38 minutes past the hour and 58 minutes past the hour. Please click here for more bus information (external link).
When are the rent free weeks?
Rent paid weeks are the first week of April and Christmas week. This is an opportunity to catch up on overdue rent. If you would like to discuss rent or would like benefits advice, please email by clicking here or call our freephone 0800 692 3000.
Should I contact Bracknell Forest Homes or Bracknell Forest Council?
Bracknell Forest Homes is a housing association and looks after all matters relating to rents, tenancies and estates issues with Bracknell Forest Homes.
Bracknell Forest Council looks after matters regarding council tax, street care, lighting, sport and leisure in the borough, social services and education.
Please call the Council on 01344 352000 or visit the Council's website by clicking here (external link).
How do I apply for a garage?
Please click here for information about renting a garage, as well as a short application form. Garages are available for rent in all areas of the borough. Please call 01344 382908 for more information.
How do I (please call freephone 0800 692 3000 or click on the links below):
- Report a repair (external link - please note you will need to return to Bracknell Forest Homes' website for more information from the housing association)
- Pay rent
- Request a rent statement
- Report anti-social behaviour
- Find out who my housing officer is
- Find information for leaseholders
- Request a call back from a member of Bracknell Forest Homes' staff
- Get involved
- Report landscaping
- End the tenancy
- Give a compliment, comment or make a complaint
- Find publications and literature
- Find out what's on
- Find the Council
- Find when major works are being carried out or click here for a map of the borough showing when each estate is having major works.
- Plan my budget (calculate your monthly bills and income)
- Dispose of waste and recylcing (please click here for opening hours of Longshot Lane recycling centre)
- Find a Gas Safe registered gas engineer
- Request information leaflets
I would like advice about:
How do I give notice to stop renting a garage?
Please give one week’s written notice to Julia Munden, Voids and Lettings Assistant, Bracknell Forest Homes, Berkshire Court, Western Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1RE.
The garage account must be paid up to date, and the garage must be emptied and locks in working order. Please call Chris Smith on 01344 382908 if you would like to discuss finishing renting your garage.
Sandhurst and Owlsmoor customers
Free drop in surgeries are held in the New Owlsmoor Community Centre for residents living in Sandhurst, Crowthorne or Owlsmoor. Residents can meet their housing officer to discuss rent, tenancy or estate issues. There are often guests from Bracknell Forest Homes' benefits advisors, the major works team and the Council's housing benefits department.
The surgery is at New Owlsmoor Community Centre, Yeovil Road, Owlsmoor, Sandhurst, Berkshire, GU47 0TD. The nearest bus stop is on route 194 stopping on Yeovil Road (please click here for bus information, external link).
Please click here for details of the drop in sessions, or click here to view the Bracknell Forest Homes events calendar.
How do I register for the housing list/monitor my progress on the housing list?
The housing list in administered by Bracknell Forest Council who can be contacted on 01344 352000 and ask for the housing options department.
What services do you provide for older and vulnerable people?
Bracknell Forest Homes owns and manages 11 sheltered housing schemes. Please click here for more information about sheltered housing.
Can I get help if I am having difficulty paying rent?
If you are having difficulty paying your rent please contact your income management officer as soon as possible on freephone 0800 692 3000. There are many support options and most problems with rent arrears can be sorted out if early action is taken. Please click here to find out who your housing officer is.
When is my rent due?
Your rent is due every Monday for the week ahead. It is important that you pay your rent in full and on time. Rent can be paid online by clicking here, or you can set up a Direct Debit, which is a quick, reliable and secure way of paying rent. Please click here for a form to set up Direct Debit.
I have lost my rent payment card, how can I get a new one?
Please call us on 0800 692 3000 or email us at bfh@bracknellforesthomes.org.uk and we will be happy to order you a new one. This can take up to two weeks to come through, so please be aware that you will have to find an alternative method of paying your rent during this time. Click here to pay online or click here for a Direct Debit form.
When is my kitchen/bathroom due to be refurbished?
The £61 million major works improvement programme is being carried out over five years across estates in the borough. Work is being carried out on the oldest estates first. Please click here for more information about the programme and when work will start in each area or click here for a map of the borough showing when each estate is having major works.
Can I get a satellite dish installed on my property?
If you live in a house, you will most likely be able to. You should check with your Housing Officer on freephone 0800 692 3000 and you can find out the housing officer for your area by clicking here.
If you live in a flat, you are not allowed to get a satellite dish installed. There may already be a communal dish and you should contact your Housing Officer on freephone 0800 692 3000 (please click here to find out who your Housing Officer is). Alternatively you can contact a service provider that doesn't require a dish to be installed, for example Virgin Media.
Where can I find out more about Bracknell Forest Homes?
Please click here for information about Bracknell Forest Homes.
Are there useful documents or publications I can read?
Yes, and they can all be found by clicking here. It includes news releases, annual reports, customer handbooks and newsletters.
Bracknell Forest Homes by numbers
- Owns and manages 5,600 tenant properties, 1,100 leasehold properties, 38 shared owner properties
- 11 sheltered schemes, 400 sheltered scheme residents
- £61 million five year major improvements programme
- Installing 3,500 new bathrooms, 3,300 new kichens, 3,600 heating replacements, 1,560 new windows to improve customers' homes and to exceed the Government's Decent Homes Standard
- 378 adaptations completed in 2009/10
- Tenant Benefits Advisors have helped tenants to receive nearly half a million pounds in benefits in 2009/10
- 12 Board members - four tenant board members, four council nominees and four independent people
- Eight different ways to contact us from in person appointments, text, website and telephone
- More than 200 employees
- 6,000 average visits to website per month
- 85% of tenants are satisfied with services, up 10% points from the last survey in 2006
- At the time the housing transferred from the Council, Bracknell Forest Homes made 161 promises. To date (April 2010) we have delivered 84% of the promises.
How do I apply for a home?
Bracknell Forest Council looks after the waiting list for housing, so if you are not already registered, please contact the Council to apply. If you are on the housing register already you can use BFC My Choice, which is a website the Council uses so people on the waiting list can view details of properties that are available and bid on them based on their need. Or, if you are an existing Bracknell Forest Homes' customer you may wish to use the Homeswapper website if you are considering swapping your home. For more information about all of these options please click here.
How do I apply for an aid , adaptation or a level access shower for my property?
Bracknell Forest Homes had a budget of £400,000 each year for five years to carry out adaptations to homes where people need them. To find out more please telephone Bracknell Forest Council's Social Services Community Response and Reablement Team on Bracknell 01344 351500 for an assessment.
Other information
Please click here to find other useful links or visit the Council's website (external link) by clicking here for information about or telephone the Council on 01344 352000 for information about:
- Recycle/Refuse Enquiries
- Blue Badge Enquiries
- Bus Passes
- Environmental Enquiries
- Pest Control Enquiries
- Highways
- Registering on the housing list
- Trading standards
- Guide to the cost of living in your home
Alternative formats and languages
We aim to provide information in a way that suits your needs. We can translate documents into many different languages or we can produce documents in Braille, large print, audio or CD formats on request. Please click here for information about Language Line. Some Bracknell Forest Homes' employees can communicate in a variety of formats and languages including French, German, Spanish, Punjabi, Hindi, Swahili, Urdu, Greek, Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese, Polish and Bristish Sign Language.
If you would like any page of this website or document in another language or format, or if you require the services of an interpreter, please contact us by calling
0800 6923000.
