Information for our Tenants

1. Terms and conditions
Applicants must be aged 65 years or over and no longer in full time employment. It is stressed that the Trust DOES NOT provide medical care and it is a strict condition of acceptance that all applicants must be able to look after themselves and attend to their needs without permanent support.


Residents are expected to live independently, able to do their own cooking, cleaning and household work. Should a measure of support be required, suitable arrangements must be made by the Resident or their relatives.

2. Ill health and emergencies
In emergency situations such as limited periods of temporary illness or indisposition, the Warden will extend basic help as may be reasonable and practicable. However, as stated above, the Wardens are not medically trained, and it is the responsibility of the resident or relatives to ensure medical care is obtained in cases of protracted periods of illness or infirmity.

The Trust has the right to consider whether applicants who exhibit progressive degenerative conditions, such as Dementia, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, MND, or severe mobility issues, are suited to be resident in our Courts.

3. Accommodation and security
Both Courts have self-contained flats. The flats are decorated and cleaned before you move in, but you will be responsible for providing carpets and white goods (cooker, washing machine, fridge-freezer). Where there is an existing carpet that you would like to keep, you will be responsible for having it cleaned. If you wish the carpet to be removed, we will do that for you.

If you wish to change the bathroom or kitchen fitments, this will be at your own expense (unless the fitments are damaged) but with the Trust’s permission and using the Trusts approved contractors.

At Akhurst Court, the majority of flats are accessed through the main security-controlled entrances. Other flats open onto an inner courtyard garden.
At Mersea Court all the flats, except one, open onto a courtyard garden. Access into the main building is obtained through a security-controlled door. At each site there is a lift and /or stairlift to the first floor.

Both Courts have a communal sitting area for general use and regular coffee mornings are held along with other social events from time to time. We do not provide daily activities for residents.

4. Our warden service
Our Wardens provide a service by doing everything possible within their scope to extend help and deal with problems. The wardens at both sites, live off site. They are available between 9.00 am and. 5.00 pm. Monday to Saturday except on statutory public holidays.

At both Courts the Wardens do morning rounds, visiting residents where requested to do so to ensure there are no individual problems. The wardens can be contacted during duty hours by telephone. At other times they can be contacted through the Helpline service as explained in sections 7 & 8 below.


5. Rental charges
The rental charge is inclusive of heating, lighting, water and service charges. Rent is due monthly in advance on the 1st of each month as detailed in the terms of the Tenancy Agreement.
Dependant on income and savings, it may be possible to apply for Housing Benefit.

Advice on claiming and further details of this benefit can be obtained by contacting Colchester City Councils Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support Team.

Rents are reviewed every year and as a Charitable Trust great effort is made to keep all expenses and therefore increases, as low as commercially possible and in line with the National Regulator of Social Housing Rent Cap.

6. Council Tax
Residents are responsible for payment of Council Tax direct to Colchester City Council.

7. Emergency alarm service – monitoring and response
All flats are connected to the Amphora Homes Helpline service which maintains a monitored call centre providing emergency help, e.g., ambulance, fire, doctor, etc. This service provides a monitoring and response service 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

In most cases, the Warden and / or relatives will be contacted by them where necessary,

8. Fire Safety
There are modern fire alarm systems at both Courts, each flat has a smoke alarm linked through the Colchester Helpline to a monitoring centre. Regular monthly tests take place of the equipment in residents flats and weekly fire alarm tests take place for the communal fire alarm.

New residents are advised of the procedures to follow in the event of fire and Person-centred Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPS) are agreed with residents where required. Please ask the Warden if you have any doubts about fire procedures.

9. Repairs
The Trust is responsible for repairs and maintenance of the fabric of the building and the utility services and Trust fixtures. Residents are responsible for keeping their flat clean and in good order. All items needing repair or attention must be reported immediately to the Warden or office staff.

The flats are thoroughly cleaned and decorated before each new arrival and thereafter re-decoration is at the Resident’s expense.

10. Heating
Central
Heating is provided throughout both Courts and is designed to ensure that daytime temperatures in living areas are between 70 – 74 degrees Fahrenheit (21 – 23 degrees C). Residents are asked not to interfere with corridor thermostats or radiator valves (repairing / correcting the failure is the Trust’s responsibility).

11. Insurance
The Trust insures the buildings, fixtures and equipment in the communal areas, Residents are advised to arrange their own contents insurance.

12. Pets
The Trust regrets that pets are not allowed to live in any of the flats or its buildings.

13. Keys and security
Residents are given a key to their flats 
In an emergency such as a fall, sudden illness or fire our staff have access by means of a master key. For this purpose, we reserve the right of access.

The main doors are closed and lock automatically. Residents are asked to ensure all doors close when leaving and not to leave doors propped open or give access to persons unknown to them. This is for everyone’s security.

Residents are advised to secure their own front doors when going out. We ask residents to let us know if they are going away overnight or for a prolonged period. Residents are required to be resident in their flat for at least ten months each year. Longer absence to be agreed by the Trust.

14. Anti social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour covers a wide range of unacceptable activity that causes harm to an individual, the Community or the Environment, interferes with other tenants’ quality of life, staff, volunteers and contractors undertaking their duties and visitors’ comfort.

The Trust asks for all Residents to respect the peace and quiet of their neighbours. Noise from neighbours or visiting children can be annoying and televisions, radios, record players, etc. should be kept at a reasonable volume. This applies particularly in the late evening and early morning.

Persistent acts of anti-social behaviour from excessive noise, alcohol, drug abuse or dependency or other mental instability requiring anti-psychotic medication, verbal or physical harassment or assault will constitute a breach of the Tenancy Agreement Conditions and the Trust has the right to bring action which may result in the termination of the Tenancy.

15. Smoking
The health, safety and wellbeing of all our residents, staff, volunteers and visitors is an important consideration and both Akhurst Court and Mersea Court operate a no smoking policy in all areas, internal and external, including residents’ flats, and applies to residents, staff, volunteers and visitors. This includes cigarettes, e-cigarettes. vapes, pipes and cigars.

16. Applications
Applications to the Trust should be made in the first instance by completing and returning an Application Form online here. or a form can be obtained from: Mersea Island Trust, Akhurst Court, Melrose Road, West Mersea, Colchester, CO5 8JB. https://www.mersea-island-trust.org.uk/application-form/The Trust is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. In providing sheltered housing for the elderly, the Trust is also committed against unlawful discrimination of residents or the public.

17. Allocation Policy
The Trusts Allocations Policy sets out how properties are allocated (View Policy) Our policy sets out how we allocate our properties

We use a priority system to reflect the aims and objectives of the Trust. Priority is given in the following order:

1. Applicants who live on Mersea Island * (Those living in a caravan will be discussed at a committee meeting on a case-by-case basis to determine priority).
2. Applicants who have a local connection to Mersea Island to include previous occupancy / relatives on the island.
3. Those who have no connection to Mersea Island.

If you have any questions or would like further details of our policies and procedures, please contact us .

General Data Protection
MIT takes its responsibilities to comply with UK General Data Protection Regulations seriously. To find out how we store and use data we hold see our data privacy notice here.