Homefinder Booklet (2598KB) - South Derbyshire District Council

Your Guide to South Derbyshire Homefinder IL21
South Derbyshire
homefinder
South Derbyshire
homefinder
South Derbyshire
Tenants Forum

Welcome to South Derbyshire
Homefinder
South Derbyshire Homefinder is the new scheme
aimed to help you find an affordable home.
South Derbyshire Homefinder is a partnership between:
• South Derbyshire District Council.
• various housing associations in South Derbyshire.
You will find a complete list of our partners at the back of this booklet.
Our partnership ensures that all available to let South Derbyshire District Council
properties and most of the available to let housing association properties will be
advertised on South Derbyshire Homefinder and allocated using the partnership's
new Housing Allocations Policy. This booklet explains the rules that determine
how the Council and the South Derbyshire Homefinder Landlords allocate social
housing properties and offer other housing options.
We will also advertise on South Derbyshire Homefinder:
• properties available to rent from private landlords.
• newly built low cost home ownership properties, called Home Buy.
2.

How will South Derbyshire Homefinder benefit me?
South Derbyshire Homefinder will benefit you because:
• you only have to complete one application form
• most of the available public sector properties in South Derbyshire will be
advertised on South Derbyshire Homefinder
• you will be able to choose where you would like to live
• you will have more access to the information you need on available properties
and how they are allocated.
Who is able to join the South Derbyshire Homefinder Register?
You can apply to go on the South Derbyshire Homefinder Register once you are
16. However, if you are under 18, we will expect you to attend an independent
living interview after you register and before we offer you a home.
There are some rules regarding people from outside of the United Kingdom or
people who behave in an unacceptable way. If you need more information
please contact the Housing Register team on 01283 595953.
If you only want to advertise your property for ‘mutual exchange’ please go to our
website www.homeswapper.co.uk, contact your landlord or call South
Derbyshire Homefinder on 01283 595953.
How do I apply to join the South Derbyshire Homefinder
Register?
You will need to complete a South Derbyshire Homefinder application form.
The quickest way to do this is to complete the form on our website
www.southderbyshirehomefinder.org.uk
You can also get a form from:
• South Derbyshire District Council, Civic Offices, Civic Way, Swadlincote.
Tel: 01283 595953
The form must be completed as fully as possible so that we can consider all of
your housing needs. If you do not provide all the information we ask for, your
form will have to be returned to you. If you require any further help you can
contact the Housing Register team on 01283 595953.
3.

What will happen next?
We may write to you to ask you for further information or proof. We aim to
register all housing applications within 10 working days.
How will you assess my South Derbyshire Homefinder
application?
We will assess your application form based on the answers you give to us and
any other information we ask of you or get from the South Derbyshire Homefinder
Landlords or other agencies.
When we have finished assessing your South Derbyshire Homefinder application
we will write to tell you that your application is ‘active’.
We will also tell you which ‘band’ of housing need you have been awarded. We
have four bands to help categorise a variety of housing needs.
The bands are called:
Emergency Band
We will place you in this band if:
• South Derbyshire District Council has accepted you are ‘statutorily homeless’
• A council officer has assessed your property and:
• found it to be ‘statutorily overcrowded’ and
• you have not intentionally caused overcrowding, as defined in the
Housing Act 1985.
Band A
We will place you, a joint applicant, any other member of your household or any
number of people identified on your housing application in this band if:
• South Derbyshire District Council has accepted you as ‘non-statutorily
homeless’
• the Council prohibits the use of the property you are living in under the
terms of the Housing Act 2004 and considers that it is not reasonable for the
property to be brought back into use
4.

• the Council’s medical advisor or an Occupational Therapist
has assessed you as having an essential need to move on medical or mobility
grounds. This is because your current housing is having a serious detrimental
impact on you or members of your household’s health or ability to live
independently
• you have an urgent need to move on welfare grounds. This is defined as:
• your discharge from hospital is prevented by your housing situation
• there is a likelihood of admission to residential care or hospital if re-housing
is not made
• there is a likelihood of a child being accommodated by the local authority if
re-housing is not made
• you, or a member of your household, are at serious risk of harm in your present
accommodation. This can include but is not limited to:
• victims of domestic violence
• serious racial harassment
• homophobic attacks
• witnesses of crime
• victims of crime
• serious anti-social behaviour.
• you have an urgent need to move to a particular locality where failure to do so
would cause hardship to you or other members of your household. This is
defined as:
• it is unreasonable for you to stay at your current accommodation due to
exceptional financial hardship
• you need to move to either give or receive essential care and support
• you need to move to access specialised medical treatment
• you need to move to take up particular employment or training
opportunities
• you are currently living in a hostel or supported housing and are ready for
independent living
• you are currently living in a house owned by a South Derbyshire
Homefinder Landlord that is too big for your needs, and you are willing to
move to a smaller property
5.

• you are a tenant of a South Derbyshire Homefinder Landlord and no longer
need the adaptations made to your property
In all circumstances – you cannot reasonably be expected to secure
suitable accommodation for yourself.
Band B
We will place you, a joint applicant, any other member of your household or any
number of people identified on your housing application in this band if:
• the Council’s medical advisor or an Occupational Therapist has assessed
you as having a need to move on medical or mobility grounds
• you currently live in an upper floor flat and you have children under 12
years of age
• you need more bed spaces
• you are sharing facilities
• you have had a relationship breakdown, and are living in the same property
as your partner and a move would allow the partner and family to remain in
the property
• you are a tenant of a South Derbyshire Homefinder Landlord and have
received a Compulsory Purchase Order or your property is due for
demolition
• you are suffering from anti-social behaviour or harassment
• you have a non-urgent housing need to move. This can include but is not
limited to a move nearer to:
• a child’s school
• a place of worship
• family/friends for non-essential support
• shops and other local amenities.
In all circumstances – you cannot reasonably be expected to secure
suitable accommodation for yourself.
Band C
We will place you in this band if:
• you are already adequately housed
• you can afford to get your own housing or improve your current
accommodation to be more suitable to your needs.
6.

What if I have an emergency need for re-housing?
In the South Derbyshire Homefinder Housing Allocation Policy you have an
emergency need if:
• South Derbyshire District Council has accepted you are ‘statutorily homeless’
• A council officer has assessed your property and:
• found it to be ‘statutorily overcrowded’ and
• you have not intentionally caused overcrowding, as defined in the
Housing Act 1985.
You will be required to attend an interview to identify your housing needs. If after
this interview an emergency need is identified you will be awarded the
Emergency band.
How long will I be in the Emergency Band?
This depends on why you have been given the Emergency band.
• If South Debyshire District Council has accepted you are ‘statutorily
homeless’
You will have the Emergency Band for three months. If, within three months, you
have not been successful in getting permanent housing, the Council reserves the
right to make you a final offer of suitable housing. You may refuse a ‘final offer’ of
housing. If you do then the Council’s obligation to find you a new home will
change and you may lose your Emergency Band status.
• If a council officer has assessed your property and:
• found it to be ‘statutorily overcrowded’ and
• you have not intentionally caused overcrowding, as defined in the
Housing Act 1985.
You will have the Emergency Band for three months. If we make you an offer of
suitable housing and you refuse it during the three-month period, we will review
our decision to place you in the Emergency Band.
7.

How do I look for available properties?
South Derbyshire Homefinder advertises available properties for at least one week.
This is called an ‘advertising cycle’. The advertising cycle starts at midnight on a
Tuesday and ends at midnight on the following Tuesday.
You can see the latest properties:
On our website: www.southderbyshirehomefinder.org.uk
You can get free access to our website via:
www.south-derbys.gov.uk
or any South Derbyshire District Council library
On our property newsletters
Available at South Derbyshire District Council
In our weekly newspaper advert
We are advertising our properties in the Advertiser free newspapers.
If you need help to see our latest properties please contact South Derbyshire
Homefinder on 01283 595953.
How do I ‘bid’ for a property?
A ‘bid’ is your way of telling us that you would like to live in a particular property.
You will be able to ‘bid’ for between one and six properties on each advertising
cycle by:
Website:
www.southderbyshirehomefinder.org.uk
Telephone: 0845 270 1209
Person:
At the South Derbyshire District
Council Offices
Post:
Housing Services
South Derbyshire District Council
Civic Offices Civic Way
Swadlincote DE11 0AH
Text: 07781 482350
You will have to quote your application number and date of birth of the main
applicant when you bid for a property.
8.

We will not to accept a bid for a property for which you
are not eligible.
For example, if you are a couple with one child bidding for a three bed Council or
housing association property you will not be eligible because you do not need all
of the bedrooms.
If you bid on our website www.southderbyshirehomefinder.org.uk or use our
automated bid hotline you will be told why you are not eligible to bid for the
property.
Can I remove a bid for a property?
Yes, you will be able to remove a bid and, if you wish, move it to another property.
You can do this yourself on our website or by calling our 24 hour automated bid
hotline on 0845 270 1209.
What happens after the advertising cycle closes?
Every South Derbyshire Homefinder applicant who has ‘bid’ for a property is
placed on a shortlist, which is sorted by:
1. Band the property has been advertised to
2. Number of verified housing needs of each applicant
3. Homelessness acceptance date (if it is a property advertised to
the Emergency band)
4. Band Award date
For example, a shortlist for a property advertised to Band A applicants would
look like this:
Position Client Name Band Housing Band Award Date
Needs
1 Connolly A 3 01/06/2008
2 Moran A 2 01/03/2008
3 O’Brien A 1 01/01/2007
4 Caveney A 1 01/04/2007
5 Jones A 1 01/05/2008
9.

Connolly would be offered the property first because they have a greater housing
need than Moran. Moran is second because they have a greater housing need
than O’Brien. O’Brien, Caveney and Jones all have the same level of housing
need but O’Brien is third because he was awarded Band A before Caveney and
Jones.
Remember
You should never assume that you will be offered a property so always look on
the next advertising cycle for properties that interest you.
The South Derbyshire Homefinder Landlords will have the right to ‘skip’ you if
they do not feel you are suitable. Their decision to ‘skip’ you may be because of
their own policies and procedures.
What will happen if I am offered a property?
The South Derbyshire Homefinder Landlord will contact you directly – a list of
South Derbyshire Homefinder Landlords is on page 15. At all times, the South
Derbyshire Homefinder Landlord is responsible for offering and allocating
properties.
Do not assume you will be offered a property so look in the new property
newsletter and bid for any suitable properties.
You will not be offered a property if you have ‘bid’ for a property you are not
eligible for. In this instance you will be ‘skipped’.
If you are offered a property from a registered social landlord the tenancy may be
slightly different from a Council tenancy. You need to consider this before you
accept the property.
10.

What will happen if I am offered a property but do not like it?
You must let the landlord know straight away if you do not want the property so it
can be offered to somebody else. If you are in the Emergency Band and decide
not to accept an offer this may mean we review our decision to give you this
band.
Will there be any circumstances which may affect my
South Derbyshire Homefinder application?
If you, or a joint tenant, have rent arrears or have caused damage to a property
during a tenancy this will be recorded on your South Derbyshire Homefinder
application. This may affect your chances of being offered a property. You may
not be offered a property if you have been found guilty of unacceptable
behaviour such as anti-social behaviour, noise, nuisance or harassment.
11.

What if I have a change of personal circumstances?
A change in personal circumstances can include:
• a birth of a child
• a change of address
• adding or removing a partner or other member of your family from your South
Derbyshire Homefinder application
• a change in medical, mobility or social condition.
You will need to tell us as soon as possible if any of your circumstances change
and you think they may have an affect on your housing situation. This
information may affect your South Derbyshire Homefinder band and the type and
size of property you require.
For more information on change of circumstances you will be able to contact the
Housing Register team on 01283 595953.
12.

What if I am not happy with any decision made about my
South Derbyshire Homefinder application?
You have the right to request a review after any decision made about your South
Derbyshire Homefinder application. You will be able to do this by writing to the
Housing Operations Manager, Housing Services,
South Derbyshire District Council, Civic Offices, Civic Way,
Swadlincote, DE11 0AH
You have to do this within 21 calendar days of receiving our written decision. In
certain circumstances we may allow you longer than 21 days to request a review
but you must inform us of your intention to request a review within the 21 day
period.
More information is contained within our Right to a Review leaflet.
How will I know my South Derbyshire Homefinder application
will be treated fairly?
South Derbyshire Homefinder and all it’s partners aim to ensure that everyone
who applies for housing is treated fairly, irrespective of gender, colour, race,
sexual orientation, marital status, beliefs, religion, age, physical disability or
appearance.
13.

Key to advert Symbols
Bedrooms
Minimum Age
Off Street Parking
Wheelchair Standard
Has Garden
Pets Allowed / Not Allowed
14.

South Derbyshire Registered Social Landlords
Derwent Living Tel; 01332 346477
East Midlands Housing Assoc. Tel: 01530 839091
Guinness Northern Countries Tel: 0115 9628200
Home Housing Association Tel: 01332 294505
Peak District Rural Housing Tel: 01629 826040
Riverside Housing Tel: 0116 2473824
Spirita Tel: 0115 988 7100
Trent & Dove Housing Tel: 01283 528528
Trident Housing Assoc. Tel: 0121 633 4633
Nottingham Community Housing Assoc. Tel: 0800 013 8555
Sanctuary Housing Tel: 0800 458 2558
South Derbyshire District Council Tel: 01283 595953
Other useful numbers
Citizens Advice Bureau Tel: 01283 210107
Derbyshire Housing Aid Tel: 01332 287850
YMCA Furniture Project Tel: 01283 220202
Connexions Tel: 01283 229709
Next Step Tel: 01283 229854
Housing Benefit Enquiries Tel: 01283 595970
15.

Please tell us if you need this document in
large print, on audio tape, computer disc or in
Braille. You can contact us on 01283 595795.
Please contact us if you need help reading this document or any part of it translating.
South Derbyshire Homefinder
South Derbyshire District Council,
Civic Offices, Civic Way,
Swadlincote, DE11 0AH.
Telephone: 01283 595953
Fax: 01283 595852
Website: www.southderbyshirehomefinder.org.uk
Issue No. 2