The 12-point checklist advises:

1. Watch out for dodgy goods

Beware of purchasing counterfeit or faulty goods as Christmas presents. Know your rights and access consumer advice at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk or 08454 040506.

2. Mini-motos don't make good presents

Avoid buying mini-moto bikes as presents as these can only be ridden legally on private land with the landowner's permission. People using bikes illegally face a driving ban, fine or criminal conviction and having their bike seized and crushed.

3. Drink sensibly

Remember sensible daily limits for drinking alcohol are 3-4 units for men, 2-3 units for women. Have a few alcohol-free days each week. Know what a unit is and check your unit consumption by visiting www.nhs.uk/units

4. Don't drink and drive

There is no failsafe guide as to how much you can drink and stay under the legal limit for driving. The only safe option is not to drink any alcohol if you plan to drive. Also watch for hidden alcohol in food.

5. Keep Christmas gifts out of sight

Avoid putting presents under the tree long before Christmas. Use an ultra violet marker pen and write your house number and postcode on all valuables and equipment.

6. Home safety

Ensure ALL doors and windows are closed and securely fastened when you leave your home, even if for a few minutes. Use timers on lights, radios and TVs. Draw blinds and curtains to maintain a normal, everyday appearance. Consider installing a burglar alarm.

7. Don't advertise new stuff

Don't leave empty boxes and packaging from gifts outside your home, it's an easy clue to items inside. Break up/flatten boxes, take any cardboard to the Household Waste & Recycling Centre in Shidas Lane, Oldbury. Or, if you have one, put out cardboard in your blue lid recycling bin.

8. Doorstep safety

Don't let anyone into your home until you're satisfied they are genuine. Look through the window first to see who's calling, use a chain when answering the door. If in doubt, check the caller's identification by phoning their company's landline.

9. Keep your car secure

Don't leave valuables or equipment, including 'sat navs', on display in your vehicle, or in the glove box. Permanently security mark equipment using your registration number and house number and etch all glass surfaces.

If you own a car and have a garage, use it – you are 80% less likely to suffer vehicle crime if you do. Never leave keys in the ignition or leave doors/windows open. Beware of leaving the car running unattended while defrosting windows.

10. Keep personal items close to your chest!

Keep new personal items (e.g. jewellery, MP3 players, mobile phones, 'sat navs') tucked away inside pockets and closed bags whenever possible. Only use your mobile or MP3 player where it safe to do so.

11. Check your smoke alarm

When you put up your decorations, check your smoke alarm. Make sure your Christmas tree lights are switched off at night and when you go out. Make a New Year's resolution to ask your local fire station to carry out a free fire safety check by calling 0800 389 5525.

12. Don't fall victim to loan sharks

They can charge more than 1,000% interest and often resort to violence and intimidation to get their money back. Report loan sharks to 0300 555 2222, a '24/7' confidential hotline. A safe alternative to loans is Sandwell's Six Towns Credit Union. Call 0121 553 3110 or visit www.sixtowns.co.uk

Sandwell Homes has become the first organisation of its kind to have its environmental performance certified at the highest possible standard.  

The company, responsible for managing 29,000 properties on behalf of Sandwell Council, has achieved eco management and audit scheme (EMAS) accreditation following its work to make the business and its customers greener.

To receive the accreditation initiatives including the use of 100% green electricity, procurement of recycled paper, and environmental training for all employees were included in a statement to be audited by an independent verifier. The company also drew attention to its regular tenant meetings for those interested in living more environmentally friendly lifestyles, the delivery of environmental improvements to homes through its Decent Homes programme, and its position at number 27 in the Sunday Times 100 Greenest Companies list announced earlier this year.

In addition to these, Sandwell Homes was highly commended for its approach to environmental sustainability by the Chartered Institute of Housing at a recent awards ceremony.

John Clayton, investment director for Sandwell Homes, said: “The board has always been of the opinion that environmental considerations should be a fundamental part of Sandwell Homes processes. Since forming in 2004 we have made a commitment to continually improve our environmental performance, which has culminated in formal recognition of our environmental management practice.

“We are clearly leading the way as the first Arms Length Management Organisation in the country to be accepted onto the EMAS scheme.” 

EMAS is a voluntary scheme that recognises a standard of Environmental Management System (EMS) and is designed to improve a company’s environmental performance and to recognise organisations that go beyond minimum legal compliance.

Participating organisations regularly produce a public environmental statement that reports on their environmental performance. The statement is then checked for accuracy and reliability by an independent environmental verifier and sent to the UK competent body, Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).

During this process IEMA ensure that there have been no environmental complaints made against the organisation, which ensures that only the top companies achieve the standard.

Residents will be able to switch from Star Wars to Sandwell Homes with a flick of the TV remote this Christmas, following a move of its services onto digital interactive TV.

Anybody with a Sky or Virgin TV subscription can now access information about Sandwell Homes and the local community through the ‘interactive’ button on their remote control.

Customers can report repairs and anti-social behaviour, make a complaint, request housing registration forms, or just make a general enquiry via easy to use online forms, which are sent to the company’s customer service centre in Oldbury.

A whopping 90% of people agreed that Sandwell Homes should use new technology to improve access to services when 2,000 tenants were surveyed earlier this year. With research also showing that more customers have access to digital TV than to the internet, housing bosses felt it was time to host Sandwell Homes services on the Government information network Looking Local.

Looking Local also enables residents to look up transport information such as local train and bus schedules, access health advice or find a local GP, search for jobs in the Jobcentre Plus section, and even look up community legal advice.

Chief executive of Sandwell Homes, Brian Oakley, said: “There is so much information at the touch of a TV remote and all within the comfort of residents’ homes. I would encourage everybody with a Sky or Virgin subscription, or a mobile phone, to go have a look, familiarise themselves, and make sure they get the most out of this totally free service.” 

Virgin subscribers should press their ‘Interactive’ button, select ‘News & Info’, and then choose ‘Looking Local’ whilst Sky users should press ‘Interactive’, ‘TV Keys’ and then type in ‘Local’. Once in customers simply need to select Midlands, West Midlands, and finally Sandwell Homes.

Sandwell Homes has teamed up with tenants to help them save energy, reduce waste, and now to start a borough-wide conversation about Going Green via free social networking site ‘Twitter’.

Twitter is one of the most popular websites in the country with over three million users nationwide and, after consulting with local authorities who are getting closer to residents through the site, Sandwell Homes decided it was time to set-up a page of its own and give residents a voice.

As the highest ranked social landlord in this year’s Sunday Times Green List, Sandwell Homes is building on its success in making the company more environmentally friendly by turning its attention to tenants and residents. A campaign to find volunteer ‘eco-champions’ earlier in the year resulted in a number of families and individuals signing up to take various challenges to save energy, reduce waste and recycle more.

The experiment has been set-up to benefit tenants as they can make genuine financial savings and reduce the amount they spend on food and consumable goods each year. It is hoped that the eco-champions will set an example to other tenants and start helping to spread the word borough-wide as their experiences are publicised over the coming months.

With a growing number of residents also attending a regular environmental discussion group, hosted by Sandwell Homes, it is hoped that the Twitter site will enable them and the eco-champions to continue discussions, share advice, and bring more people on board.

Marketing officer for Sandwell Homes, Andrew Walton, said: “We want to encourage residents from all over the borough, young or old, to sign up and get talking about green issues.

“Sandwell Homes now provides every employee with environmental training, uses green electricity, and is EMAS certified – recognising that we make a strong commitment to the environment and to improving our economic competitiveness. There is an opportunity to share our knowledge with tenants, and also for them to share knowledge, discuss green issues and ask questions.”

Anyone interested in following Sandwell Homes can sign up at www.twitter.com/sandwellhomes. 

‘You will lose your home.’ That is the tough-talking message from Sandwell Homes to tenants caught in possession of illegal drugs after a string of police raids across the borough led to evictions.  

Sandwell Homes, which is responsible for managing 29,000 properties on behalf of Sandwell Council, has been working in partnership with the police and the council to help successfully prosecute and evict tenants caught using or dealing in cannabis, amphetamines, and even heroin.

Four homes have been subject to possession orders in the Oldbury area this year alone, following police raids which revealed tenants were using their homes as drug dens. A further property is currently awaiting legal action following a police raid.

The latest case saw an Oldbury man’s council flat repossessed after he was convicted of growing cannabis in a bedroom.

38-year-old Simon Yates pleaded guilty to producing cannabis at Warley Magistrates Court following the discovery of electrical equipment, hydroponics set up with trays and lamps and several cannabis plants, which were drying on lines. He was fined £305. Following further action by Sandwell Homes and the council's anti-social behaviour team, he subsequently lost his home at Wallace Close, Badsey Road, as well as having to pay £1,203 in court costs.

The circumstances of the repossession mean Mr Yates will not be able to apply for any other council properties as Sandwell Homes’ zero-tolerance policy hits him hard.

Anti-social behaviour co-ordinator for Sandwell Homes, Stuart White, said: “On a general point, I would say that while we are always keen to support drug users into treatment, we take a zero tolerance approach to anyone who is producing drugs.

“Sandwell Homes and Sandwell Council have dedicated anti-social behaviour caseworkers who work very closely with the police to identify and prosecute tenants who deal drugs from their homes.

“Possession of drugs is also a breach of tenancy conditions and we will therefore do our utmost to ensure perpetrators lose their homes and remain excluded from applying for any other council properties in the future.

“We also share details of evicted tenants with local authorities and registered social landlords.”

Residents should report suspected drug dealers to Crime Stoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

Anyone seeking help for drug addiction should contact Anchor (structured adult drug treatment) 0845 112 0100, Open Sandwell (open access adult drug treatment) 0121 612 5080 or Drug Concern 0121 612 5079.