Lettings Policy

Tower Hamlets Lettings Policy253. If, during the course of the decant, aseparate re-housing application isreceived from your address that hasbeen awarded additional prioritybecause of the decant (e.g. if your sonor daughter wish to be re-housedindependently) you will only be able toapply for a home the size of your ownassessed need.254. Will I get help with the cost ofmoving?255. If you have been living in the propertyfor at least 12 months before a decant isagreed then a ‘Home Loss’ payment willbe made. The Government, not yourlandlord, decides the amount, which isreviewed annually. At present theamount for a tenancy is £4,700. For jointtenancies only one payment is made.You will told if there is any change in thisamount following the annual review.256. Your landlord will also pay reasonableremoval expenses. This is for thingssuch as the cost of hiring a removal van;disconnection and reconnection ofservices such as gas, electricity andyour telephone; hiring a plumber toconnect your washing machine and anelectrician or engineer to move yourcooker. You should always use properlyqualified people and must ensure thatproperly registered fitter carries out anyworks to your gas supply.257. There is a maximum amount that will bepaid. When your landlord visits to talk toyou about the decant, they will tell youhow much you can claim. You will beasked to provide receipts that show thatyou have paid for the service. In somecases your landlord may be able to giveyou some of the money before youmove if you would otherwise havedifficulty paying for services at the timeof moving.258. If you owe your landlord money, such asrent arrears, they may deduct it fromany Home Loss or expense paymentsyou claim. If the money you owe is morethan you can claim you will be expectedto make an agreement to pay theoutstanding amount back.What happens to other people whowon’t be moving with me? Will theyget help finding a home?259. Anyone who is not your immediatefamily, as defined above, will have toregister separately for housing unlessyour landlord agrees otherwise. There isprovision to house them through apriority target group in Band 1 Group B.To qualify for this group the person mustbe able to prove that they were livingwith you in the property as their only orprincipal home continuously for at least12 months before the decant schemewas agreed.260. They must also be eligible to be on thehousing list. Their application will beplaced in Band 1 Group B. Theirpreference date will be the date thedecant was agreed. They can then applyfor advertised vacancies.261. If they refuse a home that is offered tothem their priority will be withdrawn. Ifthey do not attend a viewing, we willassume that they have refused theproperty unless there are genuine andsubstantial reasons why they could notturn up and could not tell usbeforehand.262. They can ask us to review a decision towithdraw any priority award (SeeAppendix 3)263. We will try to ensure that they have atleast one offer before you have to move,but we cannot promise that this willhappen. If they are still living with youwhen you are moving they will beexpected to leave the property when37