Stafford and Rural Homes chief executive Karen Armitage cuts the ribbon to open the new shop with housing assistant Caroline Aston, left, and customer service offices Jenny simm.

Former council tenants in Stone are benefiting from a new housing advice shop in the town.

Social landlords Stafford and Rural homes, which took on Stafford Borough Council’s housing stock last year (2006), has opened the shop in Crown Court Yard, off the High Street.

Chief executive Karen Armitage performed the ribbon cutting ceremony yesterday to officially open the new shop.

She said the shop was part of Stafford and Rural Homes’ promise to customers to make services easier to access, with a second shop due to open in Stafford town centre by the summer. A new mobile office is also due to take to the road this month, taking services out to people in more remote, rural locations.

She said: “We are delighted to be opening the first of our advice shops in Stone, which is a major part of our commitment to a customer-centred approach to delivering top quality services”.

Tenants and prospective tenants can visit the shop to apply for housing, report repairs, get general housing advice and pay their rent by credit or debit cards.

“Homes shop” opens in town.

At the opening ceremony were (from the left) Back: Councillor Joyce Farnham, Iain Phillip, head of housing management, Dave Wilkins, business development manager, Derek Boult, Stafford and District Access Group; Front: (all from Stafford and Rural Homes) Jenny Simm, customer services officer, Karen Armitage, chief executive, and Caroline Aston, housing assistant.

 A NEW advice and information shop has been officially opened in Stone.

The centre is run by housing association Stafford and Rural Homes, and showcases its properties, garages and shops to let.

It is also offering customers free Internet Access and use of office computer programs.

A range of services are also on offer, such as applying for housing, reporting repairs and accessing general advice and tips.

Customers will also be able to pay their rent in the shop using credit or debit cards while staff will be on hand to help the register for new online payments or discuss their telephone service.

The shop, in Crown Court Yard, will be open Mondays 9am to 12.30pm, Tuesdays 1pm to 4.30pm, closed Wednesdays, Thursdays 9am to 12.30pm and Fridays 9am to 4.30pm.