Telephoning

We recently introduced a new telephone system. The information below is designed to help you navigate your way through the system. Improvements to the telephone system include:

• the ability to dial the extension direct if you know it

• the ability to leave messages 24/7 to report missed bins and order additional recycling bags or request a form/leaflet

• improved response times

The switchboard and call centres are open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm and on Fridays from 9am to 4.45pm. To get directly to the service you require please phone the number below and listen to the options. Please note that calls to these numbers may be recorded for training purposes.

The following numbers will make sure you get through to the right team:

The information below is a quick guide of which services are available for these sections:

Switchboard  020 8583 2000

You will be given 6 options to choose from:

• Option 1 Housing and council tax benefit, council tax and business rates

• Option 2 Housing and Hounslow Homes

• Option 3 Planning and environment

• Option 4 Education

• Option 5 Social services

• Option 6 Other council services including registrars, electoral services, forms and leaflet line and operator

Adult education courses 020 8583 6000

You will receive 3 options:

• Option 1 Form request line

• Option 2 Information line

• Option 3 Course bookings

Blue badge, freedom passes and taxi cards 020 8583 3073

You will receive 5 options:

• Option 1 Apply for a Blue Badge

Option 2 Apply for a Freedom Pass

• Option 3 Apply for a Taxi Card

• Option 4 New applications enquiries

• Option 5 Speak to an advisor

Business rates 020 8583 5708

You will receive 4 options:

• Option 1 New businesses

• Option 2 Pay a bill

• Option 3 Request form/leaflet/Direct Debit form

• Option 4 Other queries

Building control 020 8583 5454

You will be given 5 options to choose from:

• Option 1 Site inspections

• Option 2 Dangerous structures

• Option 3 New applications

• Option 4 Current applications

• Option 5 Other enquiries

Children's Services 020 8583 2600

You will be given 5 options to choose from

• Option 1 Child safety

• Option 2 School admissions, adult learning, complaints about a school

• Option 3 Fostering, adoption, children in care

• Option 4 Student loans and grants, free school meals and uniforms

• Option 5 Family information Service, early years, Connexions

Electoral services 020 8583 2828

You will be given 5 options to choose from

• Option 1 Information about forthcoming elections

• Option 2 Apply to go onto the electoral register

• Option 3 Apply for a postal vote

• Option 4 Apply be a canvasser

• Option 5 All other enquiries

Grimebusters 020 8583 3344

You will be given 4 options to choose from

• Option 1 Graffiti

• Option 2 Litter

• Option 3 Fly tipping

• Option 4 Speak to an advisor

Hounslow Homes 0800 085 65 75

You will receive 2 options:

• Option 1 Repair enquiries

• Option 2 Rents and service charges

Housing 020 8583 3000

You will receive 5 options

• Option 1 Housing Benefit

• Option 2 Council tenants and repairs

• Option 3 Housing applications

• Option 4 Housing advice and Homelessness

• Option 5 Operator

Housing and Council Tax Benefit 0208 583 4242

You will receive 4 options

• Option 1 Make a payment

• Option 2 Council tax

• Option 3 Housing and Council Tax benefit

• Option 4 Report a fraud

Out of hours 020 8583 2222

The out of hours service operates between 5pm and 9am. You will receive 3 options:

• Option 1 Mogden Sewage Works hotline

• Option 2 Non-emergency calls

• Option 3 Emergency calls

Parking  020 8583 6666

You will receive 4 options:

• Option 1 Pay parking ticket

• Option 2 Parking appeals info line ONLY

• Option 3 Parking permits, bay suspension and yellow line waivers

• Option 4 Blue badges and Freedom passes (or direct dial 020 8583 3073)

PLEASE NOTE we can only deal with appeals against a parking ticket by letter or email. We do not discuss appeals by telephone. Email the parking team at parking@hounslow.gov.uk.

Pest control 020 8583 5082

You will be given 5 options to choose from:

• Option 1 Rats, cockraoches, bedbugs

• Option 2 Squirrels, mice and wasps

• Option 3 Ants and flying ants

• Option 4 Foxes, pigeons and dead animals

• Option 5 Other enquiries

Planning and environment 020 8583 5555

You will receive 5 options:

• Option 1 Parking, Blue Badges, Freedom Passes

• Option 2 Refuse and recycling

• Option 3 Mogden sewage works hotline

• Option 4 Forms and leaflets request line

• Option 5 Street services, including planning, graffiti, noise, pollution, pest control

Registrars for births, deaths and marriages 020 8583 2090

You will receive 5 options

• Option 1 Marriage and civil partnerships

• Option 2 Register a birth

• Option 3 Register a death/still birth

• Option 4 Order duplicate certificates

• Option 5 Citizenship/nationality service

Revenues and benefits  020 8583 4242

You will receive 3 options:

• Option 1 Payment line for council tax and business rates

• Option 2 Council tax

• Option 3 Housing benefit and council tax benefit

Translation and interpreting 020 8583 2299

You will receive 3 options:

• Option 1 Make a booking

• Option 2 Cancel a booking

• Option 3 Speak to an advisor

Translation unit 020 8583 2299

You will be given 2 options to choose from :

• Option 1 Clients and customers

• Option 2 Interpreters