We have 3323 families on the housing register. - Barnsley Council ...

Homeseeker news
WINTER 2010
<strong>We</strong>lcome to our first edition of Homeseeker News which gives
you all the latest information on our Homeseeker scheme.
From 1st January 2011 we will be making some important changes to the
Homeseeker scheme. The current scheme has been in operation since January
2008. Because of changes in the housing market in Barnsley over the last three
years, the council has asked us to review the Homeseeker lettings policy to make
sure that it is still fit for purpose.
It is important in the fast changing housing world that the lettings policy is
regularly reviewed to make sure that it reflects any changes in the law and
makes the best use of the council homes in Barnsley
Over the last few months we <strong>have</strong> been asking customers,
support agencies and Councillors their views on the Homeseeker lettings policy.
As a result the council <strong>have</strong> agreed to some minor changes to the lettings policy.
The changes will come in from 1st January
2011 and will affect some people on the
housing register.
Full details of the changes are shown on
the chart on pages two and three of this
newsletter.
<strong>We</strong> <strong>have</strong>
<strong>3323</strong> <strong>families</strong>
on the housing
register.

2
Changes to our lettings policy... and how they might affect you.
Homeseeker before 1 January 2011
Applicants local connection with Barnsley
The lettings policy says that someone has a local
connection with Barnsley if:
• They are, or were in the past normally a resident
in Barnsley
• They are employed in Barnsley
• They <strong>have</strong> family associations in Barnsley
• They <strong>have</strong> other special circumstances that
connect them with Barnsley.
Reason for the change
An increasing number of people are establishing
a local connection with Barnsley who <strong>have</strong> no
family in the area and <strong>have</strong> not lived in Barnsley
for many years. <strong>We</strong> feel that it is fairer that people
with a real local connection with Barnsley are
given the benefit of this status.
Young applicants leaving council care in Barnsley
Young people leaving council care are awarded
Band 1 priority for bedsit, one and two bedroom
homes when they are ready to manage their own
home.
Applicants leaving HM Forces
Band 3 priority is awarded to people leaving
HM forces accommodation within the next 12
months.
People in Band 4 & 5 who continually refuse
offers of accommodation
People in Band 4 & 5 who refuse a reasonable
offer of accommodation do not <strong>have</strong> their
application and priority reviewed.
10% of vacancies to people in Band 4
Currently 10% of all vacancies are advertised with
priority given to people in Band 4.
There is a shortage of family homes for people
with children. <strong>We</strong> need to make sure that we
make best use of the homes we <strong>have</strong> and where
possible offer 2 bedroom homes to those
needing this number of bedrooms.
Our armed forces personnel are currently involved
in a number of conflicts. <strong>We</strong> feel that we should
do everything we can to assist people leaving HM
Forces and returning to Barnsley in finding a new
home as soon as possible.
<strong>We</strong> <strong>have</strong> a small number of people in Band 4 & 5
who <strong>have</strong> applied for and subsequently refused a
large number of homes for no reasonable reason.
Quite often they <strong>have</strong> refused without viewing
the home. By continually refusing a home, these
people are costing us a considerable amount in
lost rent and more importantly are delaying the
rehousing of other people on the housing register.
The system of giving priority to applicants in Band
4 for 10% of all vacancies has created an anomaly
under which for 2/3 bedroom homes applicants
in Band 4 <strong>have</strong> a greater chance of finding a home
than people in the higher priority Band 3.
Applicants under occupying council or housing
association homes
Applicants currently under-occupying their
home are awarded Band 3 priority if they will
consider the smallest property types eg. a single
person considering a bedsit or one bedroom
home.
There is a shortage of family type homes. <strong>We</strong>
need to give priority to people currently living in a
home too large for their needs in order to release
that home for a family on the housing register.

3
Homeseeker after 1 January 2011
A local connection with Barnsley is:
• They <strong>have</strong> lived for 2 out of the last 5 years in
Barnsley or <strong>have</strong> lived in Barnsley 6 months
out of the last 12 months
• They are currently employed in Barnsley or
<strong>have</strong> been offered a permanent job in Barnsley
• They <strong>have</strong> close family who currently live in
Barnsley. Close family includes parents,
grandparents, sons & daughters and
brothers & sisters
• They are leaving HM Forces and lived in
Barnsley immediately before joining the forces
• They <strong>have</strong> special circumstances that connect
them to Barnsley
• They <strong>have</strong> a local connection to Barnsley
under Homelessness law.
Young people leaving care will only receive Band
1 priority for bedsit and one bedroom homes,
unless there is a need for a two bedroom home.
People leaving council care can still be considered
for two bedroom homes but will receive a lower
priority.
Band 2 priority will be awarded to members of HM
Forces returning to Barnsley, within 13 weeks of
leaving tied accommodation.
People in Band 4 & 5 who refuse five
reasonable offers of accommodation without
good reason will <strong>have</strong> their housing applications
suspended for 6 months. This means that they
will not be able to apply for vacancies during this
period.
If this applies to me, do I need to do anything
No. <strong>We</strong> will automatically assess a new applicant’s
local connection with Barnsley as part of our
assessment processes.
This change will not affect people who are
already on the housing register and <strong>have</strong>
established a local connection under the previous
lettings policy.
No. <strong>We</strong> will automatically advise young people
leaving care that they will only receive Band 1
priority for bedsit and one bedroom homes. You
should be actively applying for vacant homes.
Yes. Please let us know if you are leaving tied
accommodation in HM Forces within 13 weeks
of discharge. You should be actively applying for
vacant homes.
No. <strong>We</strong> will assess this when people in Band 4 & 5
refuse five offers of accommodation. You should
only apply for vacancies you are really interested
in.
The majority of homes will be re-let based on the
priority band you are currently in. However, 10%
of all vacancies will be advertised with priority
given to people in Bands 1-4, who <strong>have</strong> been on
the housing register for the longest period. It will
not matter whether you are currently in any of the
Bands 1-4.
Current Barnsley Council or Housing Association
applicants moving to smaller homes will be
awarded Band 3 priority when releasing 1
bedroom and Band 2 priority if releasing 2 or
more bedrooms.
No. Our property advertisements will indicate
where priority is given based on the date of your
original housing application.
No. <strong>We</strong> will reassess the housing applications from
existing council and housing association tenants
to reflect the changes. New applicants will
automatically be assessed under the new rules
after 1st January 2011.

4
Frequently asked questions
What are the priority bands
<strong>We</strong> <strong>have</strong> five priority bands 1-5. Band 1 is the highest
priority and band 5 is the lowest priority. The
majority of homes are let to people in the highest
priority bands. 10% of all vacancies are offered based
on the original date of application on the housing
register and not on the priority band you are in.
How will I know what band I <strong>have</strong> been placed in
When you originally applied to join Homeseeker we
contacted you and advised you of your priority band.
If your circumstances change, you submit a medical
form etc and your priority changes we will write and
let you know what band your application is in.
What if I don’t agree with the band I <strong>have</strong> been
placed in
If you feel that your band is wrong you can appeal.
However, you must contact us within 6 weeks of
being notified of the decision.
What if my circumstances change
If your circumstances <strong>have</strong> changed you should
notify us. <strong>We</strong> <strong>have</strong> recently introduced an online
change of circumstances form which you can
complete and submit to us online at
www.berneslaihomes.co.uk If you do not <strong>have</strong>
internet access you can get a change of
circumstances form from any Barnsley Connects
office or by ringing 01226 775555.
Why doesn’t Berneslai Homes notify me that I <strong>have</strong>
been unsuccessful when I apply for a vacancy
Unfortunately, we cannot notify unsuccessful
applicants. <strong>We</strong> advertise up to 40 vacancies every
week and can receive up to 200 applications for
some of the more popular vacancies. If you <strong>have</strong>
made an application and you <strong>have</strong> not been
contacted within 5 days of the closing date for
applications, you can assume that you <strong>have</strong> been
unsuccessful.
What happens if I refuse an offer of accommodation
If you are in priority bands 1 to 3 and refuse a
reasonable offer of accommodation you could <strong>have</strong>
your priority reduced by one band. For example if
you are in Band 1 and refuse a reasonable offer of
accommodation, your band could be reduced to
Band 2.
If you are in Band 4 and make applications and are
offered five properties and subsequently refuse
them, your application could be suspended for six
months. This means that you will not be able to apply
for homes during this period.
Think carefully before applying for a property:
• Does it meet my needs
• Is it where I want
to live
365 bungalows
were let in 2009/10.
Of these 121 were
let to people
under 60.

5
The cost of running a new home
Moving into your new home can be an
exciting time - but also an expensive one.
If you <strong>have</strong> managed household bills before, you will
already know about the costs involved in running a
home. If you are managing a household budget for
the first time, you will need to think very carefully
about how much money you will need to set up your
home and to pay the regular household bills.
What costs are involved with moving into a
new home
When you are moving in, you may <strong>have</strong> to buy some
of the following:
v Furniture v Carpets v Curtains
v ‘White’ goods such as a fridge, freezer, cooker and
washing machine
v Blankets, sheets v Towels
v Kitchen utensils, cutlery, crockery etc v Television.
Once you <strong>have</strong> moved into your home, you will then
need to pay regular bills, including:
v Rent - You may be able to claim housing benefit.
Please ask at your local Barnsley Connects office
v Council Tax - You may be able to claim council tax
benefit
v Electricity v Gas v Water
v TV licence v Food v Clothing
v Home contents insurance - You can ask about the
Berneslai Homes Home Contents Insurance
scheme
v Car expenses such as fuel, insurance and car tax.
How do I work out how much money I will need
You <strong>have</strong> to be honest and realistic about how much
money you <strong>have</strong> coming in and how much you will
need to pay all your household bills and the costs of
setting up your new home.
I can’t afford new furniture and all the other items I
need - what do I do
Don’t be tempted to borrow from a doorstep seller or
illegal money lender to buy things. The interest rates
charged are very high and this can make it
difficult to pay off the loan. Avoid furniture stores that
charge high rates of interest. You will pay more than
is shown on the price ticket.
There are a number of Charity Stores with good
quality second-hand furniture and white goods
within the Barnsley area. These include:
• Barnsley Hospice, Doncaster Road, Stairfoot,
Barnsley.
• British Heart Foundation on Peel Street, Barnsley.
You could also ask family and friends if they <strong>have</strong> any
furniture which they no longer want or need.
Where can I get help
• Barnsley Citizens Advice Bureau,
1 Shambles Street, Barnsley. Tel 01226 206492
• South Yorkshire Credit Union Ltd,
70 Market Street, Barnsley. Tel: 01226 734945
• The National Debtline:
www.nationaldebtline.co.uk.
Tel: 0808 808 4000
Change of circumstances...
It is very important that your application is correct.
If your circumstances change, for example if you
move house, <strong>have</strong> a baby or change your name,
you should notify us so that we can make sure your
application is up to date and priority is correct.
If you do not tell us about any changes in your
circumstances it could affect your application and
you could miss out on an offer of a new home.
The good news is that you can now complete and
send us a change of circumstances form online at:
www.berneslaihomes.co.uk
If you do not <strong>have</strong> access to the internet you can
still complete a change in circumstances form at
any Barnsley Connects Office.
If you cannot get into a Barnsley Connects Office
please ring 01226 775555 and we will post a form
out to you.

6
Homeseeker facts and figures
As at 1st October 2010 we had 8861 applicants on the housing register. This included 1661 existing Barnsley
Council tenants looking to move and 7200 lodgers, owner occupiers and private tenants.
Breakdown of the housing register by priority
band as at 1st October 2010.
2.6% 1.4% 4.4% 7.3%
27.0%
Applicants housed by priority band
from 1st April 2009 to 31st March 2010.
0.1%
25.0%
84.3%
From 1st April 2009 to 31st March 2010 we let
1331 homes to people on the housing register.
21.0% 27.0%
From 1st April 2009 to 31st March 2010 we let
366 housing association homes to people on the
housing register.
During 2009/ 2010 we received 4818 new applications to join the housing register and we received an average
of 37 applications for every council home we advertised.
Improving your chances of finding a new home
It is true that most homes are offered to people with high levels of housing
need in priority Bands 1-3. However if you are in Band 4 all is not lost.
During 2009/2010 over 25% of all homes were allocated to people in Band 4.
If you are in Band 4, your chances of finding a home could be increased by:
v Applying for vacancies in as many localities as possible. If you only apply for
vacancies in one area your chances of success will be much lower.
In 2009/10 we
received on average
37 applications for
each property
advertised.
v Considering all types of home - houses, flats and bungalows. <strong>We</strong> find that we receive fewer applications for
vacant flats and one bedroom bungalows. Houses and two bedroom bungalows tend to be in very high
demand in all areas of Barnsley.
v Consider other landlords. Our weekly property advertisement frequently includes Housing Association and
private rented homes. While these may be slightly more expensive than council rents, if your circumstances
allow, it might be worthwhile applying for these vacancies. The private rented homes we advertise are
managed by Berneslai Homes. <strong>We</strong> check the standard of private homes before we advertise them.
v Looking at other homes we may advertise including low cost home ownership schemes. If you are interested
in low cost home ownership why not contact Plumlife Housing Association, the government’s Homebuy
agent for South Yorkshire. You can get further details of low cost home ownership in South Yorkshire direct
from Plumlife by logging on to their website www.plumlife.co.uk or by phoning 0161 447 5050.
To assist you in finding a council home in Barnsley we <strong>have</strong> recently introduced a new feature on our
website. You can now go on to Berneslai Homes website and see how many of each type of home we
manage in every area of Barnsley. This information can help you decide:
• If we <strong>have</strong> the type of property you want in your preferred areas;
• If you need to consider widening your areas of choice;
• If council housing is a realistic option for you; or
• If you need to consider other housing options.
For further details go to
www.berneslaihomes.co.uk

7
HomeSwapper Scheme
If you are a council or housing association tenant you can swap homes with another tenant.
This is called a “mutual exchange”.
Finding a mutual exchange means you will not <strong>have</strong> to wait for months (even years) on a
housing transfer list. And the best bit is that you get to choose the home you want yourself.
HomeSwapper is a mutual exchange service. You can use this service to help you find a new home.
HomeSwapper has the UK’s biggest list of members all wanting to swap homes. This means there are millions
of possible swaps waiting for you. A mutual exchange doesn’t just mean you <strong>have</strong> to swap like for like; you could:
v Downsize.
v Upsize.
v Swap across the country...
v or down the road.
v Swap a flat for a house...
v A house for a maisonette.
v Get somewhere with a garden.
v Find a property without stairs or adapted for
the disabled.
The choices are endless......
In 2008 Berneslai Homes partnered with
HomeSwapper to provide a free mutual exchange
matching service for Barnsley Council tenants.
The service includes access to a mutual exchange
website, which allows you to find other council or
housing association tenants within Barnsley and
elsewhere in the country who would like to
exchange their home. HomeSwapper has over
205,000 members nationally with over 90% of new
members being matched automatically to one or
more potential swaps within 24 hours.
Interested in HomeSwapper
Here are a few facts:
• Currently over 900 BMBC tenants are registered
on HomeSwapper.
• 9 out of 10 applicants find at least one match
within 24 hours of joining HomeSwapper.
• There are over 18,000 potential swaps currently
on HomeSwapper.
• 5000 tenants nationally join or renew their
HomeSwapper membership each
week.
• Membership is free for Barnsley Council tenants.
“Using the HomeSwapper site was really
easy. Within one week we found our dream
home and five weeks later <strong>have</strong> moved in.
Thanks HomeSwapper.”
Mrs F, New Lodge.
If you register, HomeSwapper will automatically
search every night for potential new swaps that meet
your requirements. For people with internet/ email
access these can be viewed in your personalised area
of the HomeSwapper website. If you <strong>have</strong> not got
access to the internet/ emails HomeSwapper will
let us know about any potential swaps and we will
forward that information on to you at your home.
HomeSwapper will send alerts of potential new
swaps by email weekly, if you <strong>have</strong> email; or text
message to your mobile phone fortnightly, if you
<strong>have</strong> a mobile phone. If you do not <strong>have</strong> email or a
mobile phone HomeSwapper will notify Berneslai
Homes and we will contact you by letter.
For more information on what the service provides
and to register visit the HomeSwapper page on our
website; www.berneslaihomes.co.uk

8
Fraud - it’s wrong. Report it and get a cash reward.
Barnsley Council has successfully bid for some
additional money from the Government to crack
down on the unlawful subletting of council or
housing association properties, and on people
getting a council or housing association property
under false pretences. Committing this type of
housing fraud is wrong and it means that another
family on the housing register is being denied their
chance of a home. That could be your son, daughter,
your parents or you who is having to wait longer!
Lettings Manager Bob Cartwright, says, “<strong>We</strong> carry
out regular inspections of our homes and we don’t feel
that we <strong>have</strong> a big problem with unlawful subletting
or getting a council home by giving false information.
But, we need to do everything we can to ensure that
our homes are occupied by the people who should
live there and that’s where we need your help. You
will see and hear things that we don’t. If you <strong>have</strong>
suspicions that a property has been unlawfully let
or if someone has obtained a home by giving false
information, please tell us.”
<strong>We</strong> are offering a £500 reward for any
information which leads to repossession of the first
ten homes under this scheme.
For more information about the scheme or to
report housing fraud:
• Log on to our website www.berneslaihomes.co.uk
• Call in to any Barnsley Connects office
• Phone us on 01226 775555.
This initiative is part of the government’s campaign
to crack down on housing fraud.
General Enquiries:
01226 775555
www.berneslaihomes.co.uk
Looking to move for
employment reasons
JobMoves may
<strong>have</strong> the answer.
If you need help understanding this
information, please ask one of our staff,
or contact Customer Services, telephone
01226 775555.
What is JobMoves
JobMoves is an advice and support service
available to social housing tenants on rehousing
options within the North of England.
JobMoves helps social tenants who:
• Have a job that is too far to commute.
• Have a job offer that would require a housing
move to take up.
• Have an apprenticeship that is too far away from
home to commute.
For further information on JobMoves visit their
website www.jobmoves.org.uk
Berneslai Homes Limited is a company controlled by
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council. A company
limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales,
number 4548803. Registered Office: Gateway Plaza, Off
Sackville Street, Barnsley, S70 2DJ.
www.berneslaihomes.co.uk