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Not only do indoor plants enhance the overall appearance of a space, but they’ve been shown to boost mood, increase creativity, and reduce stress. Don’t think you’re green fingered? Read on to find plants that are impossible to kill.
Indoor plants don’t just look good – they can make us feel good, too. Studies have shown that indoor plants:
Here are some of the easiest to look after… Spider Plants These tough plants tolerate lots of abuse, making them excellent for newbie gardeners or those without a green thumb. Situate in bright light away from direct sunlight and they will flourish. Let the top third of the soil dry out before watering again and make sure the plant doesn’t sit in water as this will lead to root rot. Sansevieria (Snake Plants / Mother-in-Law’s Tongue) If you’re a forgetful gardener then fear not, these plants thrive on neglect and are well-equipped for long periods of drought – they can go weeks without watering. Only water once the soil has completely dried out. They are happy in most levels of light from full sunlight to a dim north-facing room. ZZ Plants These plants thrive off neglect and dry soil, just like the Sansevieria. They are also very slow growing so won’t need frequent repotting. They are great statement plants for shady corners. If you truly can’t keep anything alive, this is the plant for you. Only water when the soil is completely dried out. Pothos These plants are incredibly fast growing so great if you want to create a statement in a short period of time. They will tolerate shadier spots as well as bright, indirect light. Succulents and cacti These types of plants are slow-growing and will withstand tremendous abuse. They do best with bright light (think the sunniest windowsill you have) and little water. Try to replicate the desert conditions these plants naturally grow in and you won’t go far wrong.
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There may be times when you find pests in your home. We understand it’s not pleasant. It’s really important that we work together to try and make sure your home is free of infestations. Even the cleanest homes can become host to unwelcome visitors, no matter how careful you are.
We have put together some advice and information on a range of common pests and used the Pied Piper as a resource aid. Whose responsibility is it? Dealing with a pest infestation is usually your responsibility as a tenant. As a landlord, it is our responsibility to deal with any infestation where pests have gained access through a defect in the fabric of the building, or if the infestation is within a communal area, where the tenant is unable to take appropriate steps to treat the issue themselves. If it is your responsibility, but the infestation is so severe that you cannot reasonably be expected to manage the issue yourself, we may assist you and pass on the cost for treatment to you as a rechargeable repair. We will always advise you if this is the case before arranging treatment. What can you do? It is important to take preventative action to discourage pests in your home. Ensure your home, including common areas, are kept clean and tidy. To deter pests, it is essential that you:
Mice and Rats Mice and rats can cause damage to your home and furnishings by chewing through electrical wires, increasing the risk of fire and electrocution. They are most active at night which makes it easier to spot signs of a problem rather than the rodent itself. If the issue is inside your home we will send out a pest control contractor to investigate and treat. There may be a recharge for this if the infestation is caused by poor hygiene. If the issue is outside you may be able to keep mice under control using traps or poison which can be bought in most DIY stores. You can contact your local council to find out if they provide a service to remove rats and mice. Bees and Wasps Bees are not pests. Honeybees must not be killed as they are useful pollinators and are protected by law. However, they may be re-homed with a local beekeeper. First, check if what you have are bees or wasps. This may sound rather obvious, but it is an easy mistake to make. Wasps and honeybees are about the same size, but wasps have black and bright yellow stripes. Honeybees are brown and less vibrantly coloured than wasps. Bumblebees are furry. You can find out more about how to tell the difference here. If you are experiencing serious issues with wasps in your home, we will send out our pest control contractor. If the problem is in a shed or outbuilding it will be your responsibility to arrange for treatment. We will not get rid of bees. If you think you have a honeybee swarm, please contact the Scottish Beekeepers Association which provides help and advice. You can find your local beekeeping association on their website. Ants Treat them using an ant spray or powder which you can purchase in most DIY stores. Treat the nest if you can find it. You may be able to locate it by following the trail of ants. If you can’t reach the nest, treat all entry points to your home (doors, windows and drains). The ants should carry the insecticide back to their nest. Carefully follow the instructions provided with the treatment and be especially careful if there are children and dogs in your home. Further guidance can be found here. Birds Most UK birds are protected so it is illegal to remove their eggs and nests or disturb them once they have begun nesting. Although they can be noisy, they seldom cause any damage and their nesting period is fairly short. We advise you to take a note of where the birds have nested and then call us to remove it once they have left the nest. Squirrels Scotland’s native red squirrels are specially protected since their numbers having fallen drastically, mainly due to the rise of the grey squirrel. Grey squirrels don’t receive any protection and are considered a pest. If you have grey squirrels in your loft space, we can send out a pest control contractor to investigate and treat. For more information or to report a squirrel sighting visit here. Fleas Fleas from pet cats and dogs don’t spread disease but flea bites can be itchy and uncomfortable for you and your pets. To deal with fleas, treat your pets, bedding, furniture and carpets with flea sprays or powders. If you are unsure of which type to use, you may wish to speak to a vet for advice. To prevent fleas, you can treat your dogs and cats regularly. Again, speak to your vet for advice. Bedbugs / Dust Mites Bedbugs are visible to the naked eye and are around the size of a watermelon seed. They generally don’t live inside the mattress, but on the seams of mattresses, bed slats, frames, bedside cabinets and even the pleats of curtains. The only way these should be tackled by yourself is with a steamer. In most cases, however, a professional treatment will be required. Using DIY chemicals will not be effective and you could end up dispersing them and turning it into a far bigger problem. Dust mites live in mattresses and bedding. They can make your symptoms worse if you suffer from eczema, asthma or any other breathing problems. Dust mites prefer warm, humid environments. To keep them under control, wash your bedding regularly at 60°C and try to keep your bedroom cool and well ventilated. Some animals and birds may be protected, such as bats. They should not be removed or killed without you first getting specialist advice on what is the best course of action to take. Looking after your health and safety Please try preventative methods first before considering the use of pest control. If you do need to use a product, please consider the following:
Happy #PRIDE month! Ancho are proud to support our LGBTQ+ community this month and beyond. You are loved, seen and heard. Click the image to access our round-up of resources. Reading Want to learn more about the LGBTQ+ community? Here’s a roundup of some of the best books from the last few years. Documentaries Books not your thing? If you prefer a documentary we’ve got you covered too. This list of documentaries is a good place to start! Pronouns Do you know what a pronoun is and why they matter so much? Click here to find out more about them, including what to do if you make a mistake.  Ancho’s Board members have chosen to volunteer because they want the lives of Ancho’s tenants to be the best they can be. We’re searching for likeminded tenants to join them in shaping the future of the organisation.
Board members come from all walks of life. Diversity is so important; it allows us to utilise the countless skills and experiences that different people acquire over time. And the experience of an Ancho tenant is incredibly valuable to us. After all, no one knows our services better than you. As part of our governing body, you’ll make strategic business decisions about the management of Ancho, including key policy and budget decisions. If you’d like to become a member of our Board, please get in touch. Training, support and mentoring is available to all Board members In our last email newsletter, sent in February, we asked you what you thought about the service you receive when you get in touch with the Ancho team. The survey received 33 responses. Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill it in.
Well done to Neil Turner from Irvine who is the winner of our £50 voucher. When you phone Ancho, what qualities are most important to you? The top three responses for tenants were:
How satisfied are you with how quickly we answer your calls? Unsatisfied 23% Satisfied 77% What other feedback do you have?
It was great to get some positive feedback about our team. Our Board are looking at your feedback when they set new targets for how quickly we answer calls or digital enquiries. We’ll have more to update you on in the next email bulletin. We have just posted out our Ancho newsletter for Spring 2021! The newsletter will be arriving through your letterbox in the next couple of days. 
As part of the partnership with Cairn Housing Association, Ancho tenants have an affordable rent guarantee which means rents will be raised at Consumer Price Index (CPI) only. This year that meant a 0.5% increase.
We wrote to all tenants in December to ask your views on the proposed 0.5% rent increase for 2021/22. A total of 4 responses were received. This represents 0.6% of all letters issued. Of those that responded, two tenants were positive towards the proposed increase, and two held negative views towards the proposals. Our Board met at the beginning of February to discuss the results of the consultation and, after considering all of the responses, have agreed to approve the proposed 0.5% rent increase. This will be applied from 1 April 2021. We included a survey in our email newsletter in December to ask tenants what they thought about the bi-monthly email bulletins we've recently started sending them. The consultation was sent to 240 tenants and we received 23 responses. They were asked three questions:
Our tenants demonstrated an overwhelmingly positive response to our email newsletter, with 98% of respondents saying they liked the new format. When given the chance to voice dislikes about the publication, all tenants unanimously responded there was nothing to dislike. In future, tenants would like us to continue to write about the topics we currently focus on, but 20% of responses to Q3 would like to know more about refurbishments and upgrades. We will be including future content suggestions in our next bulletins. You can click here to read the full range of responses to each question. If you feel that you or someone you know needs additional support, here’s a list of organisations who may be able to offer help and advice.
SUPPORT WITH SELF-ISOLATION If you are self-isolating and need help accessing essentials such as food and medicine which you cannot get through friends and family, please call the National Assistance Helpline: 0800 111 400 OLDER PEOPLE, AND THOSE CARING FOR OVER 70S Age UK www.ageuk.org.uk 0800 12 44 222 THOSE WITH A DISABILITY Disability Information Scotland www.disabilityscot.org.uk 0300 323 9961 THOSE WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING THEIR JOB, OR SEEKING ADVICE REGARDING EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS Citizen Advice Scotland www.cas.org.uk 0800 028 1456 FOR DEBT ADVICE Step Change www.stepchange.org 0800 138 1111 Or National Debtline www.nationadebtline.org 0808 808 4000 THOSE WITH DEMENTIA OR THEIR CARERS Alzheimer Scotland www.alzscot.org 08080 808 3000 FOR HOUSEHOLDS LOOKING FOR ADVICE ON REDUCING ENERGY BILLS AND STAYING WARM Energy Saving Trust www.energysavingtrust.co.uk 0808 808 2282 THOSE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES AND THEIR CARERS Enable Scotland www.enable.org.uk 0300 0200 101 THOSE WITH AUTISM OR THEIR CARERS Scottish Autism www.scottishautism.org 01259 222 022 FOR ANYONE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC ABUSE Scottish Women’s Aid www.womensaid.scot 0800 027 1234 FOR ANYONE AFFECTED BY SEXUAL VIOLENCE Rape Crisis Scotland www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT BREATHING SPACE www.breathingspace.scot 0800 83 85 87 SAMARITANS www.samaritans.org 116 123 SHOUT www.giveusashout.org Text 85258 |
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