Information for residents of Amber Court

Timeframe and locations

Will we be staying where we have been moved to until we return to Amber Court?

Yes, once we have found somewhere for you to move to temporarily, this is where you will live until work at Amber Court is completed and you can safely return. We hope you can understand that sourcing so many places to live for so many people at such short notice means we (and you) have not had the choice we may ordinarily wish for.

We will keep you informed of progress and expected timelines for you to move back to your home in Amber Court.

A few of you have moved to temporary accommodation (care homes) while we source somewhere more appropriate for you to stay in the longer term. We have already spoken with those of you this affects. If we haven’t talked to you about this, where you have been relocated will be where you stay until you return to Amber Court. If you are not sure whether this applies to you, please speak to a member of staff for confirmation.

We recognise that sometimes people’s needs may change over time, maybe needing greater help and support to live in their homes. If this happens to you in your temporary home, we will discuss this with you and any other professionals involved in your care.

Is the move temporary? / How long will it take me to come back? / What is the timeframe?

This is a temporary solution while we make sure the building is safe and stays that way. We don’t yet know how long it will take to fix the problems with the building before it is safe to come back, but we want to be clear with residents of all blocks that we expect this to be a period of months, not weeks.

We wrote to everyone in January with an update on new developments at Sapphire Court ONLY and are aware Sapphire Court residents have been told that they are unable to return to the building until 2027. At present, this does not apply to those of you moving out of Amber Court and we are anticipating return within a period of months. We will keep all residents informed of the progress of any works and any expected timeframes.

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Temporary accommodation

Will we return to the same flat after the repairs?

Yes, your current flat is and will remain your home while you are temporarily away. You will keep your tenancy, and any possessions, furniture, etc. that do not move with you will remain in your flat waiting for your return.

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Expenses, bills and welfare benefits

What happens with my housing benefit claim?

Your address at Amber Court remains your permanent home. This is where your rent and service charges will continue to be charged to. If you receive benefit support to help you pay your rent and service charges, you must keep any claim open at Amber Court.

What about paying my rent and service charges?

You should continue to pay your rent and service charges at Amber Court. We are still in the process of organising how payments for your new temporary home will be arranged, however the principle we are working to is that, within reason, no resident will be worse off financially in terms of their housing costs.

What happens with my council tax?

Council tax acts differently to rent and service charges and you are responsible for making sure this gets paid at your temporary address. We have already discussed this situation with Newham to make them aware of the situation. We will help you to confirm with them the date of change (your move date) and any follow up.

If the council tax where you relocate to is more than the council tax you pay at Amber Court, we will reimburse you the difference. You will need to keep the bills sent to you as proof.

We will cover the council tax due on your home at Amber Court and can provide you with any supporting information you need regarding your move. 

Please speak to your staff on site if you would like advice on any other bills you have to pay, or if you would like to be referred to our welfare benefits team for more information or help.

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