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home choice plus:Layout 1 5/1/10 10:26 Page 3 Home HOME Choice CHOICE .ORG.UK Plus PLUS ‘Working in partnership to offer choice from a range of housing options for people in housing need’ home choice plus:Layout 1 5/1/10 10:26 Page 4 The Home Choice Plus process The Home Choice Plus process 2 What is a ‘bid’? 8 Registering with Home Choice plus 3 How do I bid? 9 How does the banding system work? 4 How will I know if I am successful? 10 How do I find available properties? 7 Contacts 11 What is Home Choice Plus? Home Choice Plus has been designed to improve access to affordable housing. The advantage is that you only register once and the scheme allows you to view and bid on available properties for which you are eligible across all of the districts. Home Choice Plus has been developed by a number of Local Authorities and Housing Associations working in partnership. Home Choice Plus is a way of allocating housing and advertising other housing options across the participating Local Authority areas. (Home Choice Plus will also be used for advertising other housing options such as private rents and intermediate rents). This booklet explains how to look for housing across all of the Districts involved in this scheme. Please see website for further information. Who is eligible to join the Home Choice Plus register? • Some people travelling to the United Kingdom are not entitled to Housing Association accommodation on the basis of their immigration status. • You may be excluded if you have a history of serious rent arrears or anti social behaviour. • You must be over the age of 16 to apply to join. However, some Housing Associations may not consider you for a tenancy if you are under the age of 18, please contact your local housing department, to discuss your options further. These are the partnership areas: Bromsgrove District Malvern Hills District Stratford-on-Avon District Worcester City Wychavo n District Wyre Forest District www.homechoiceplus.org.uk Version 6 - Jan 2010 1 home choice plus:Layout 1 5/1/10 10:26 Page 5 The Home Choice Plus process You register with Home Choice Plus by filling 1 in a housing application Once we have registered you, we will send you confirmation of the registration number and 2 the band you have been placed in Housing Association properties (which are vacant) will be advertised each week at all 3 contact points You can make up to 3 bids per week, as long 4 as you match what the advert asks for The applicant with the highest priority and who has been in the relevant band the longest will 5 be put forward for the property The successful applicant will be contacted by the Housing Association and asked for 6 information such as proof of identity. A viewing will be arranged and if you are accepted an offer will be made. You will need to act quickly 2 home choice plus:Layout 1 5/1/10 10:26 Page 6 1 Registering with Home Choice Plus Where do I get an application form? Worcester City Council Orchard House Complex, Farrier Street, Worcester, WR1 3BB On the Internet Wychavon District Council Civic Centre, Queen Go to www.homechoiceplus.org.uk Elizabeth Drive, Pershore, Worcs, WR10 1PT Complete the Home Choice Plus application form, online; or download an application form; or use the Wyre Forest Community Housing Oxford House, online request for an application form to be sent to Oxford Street, Kidderminster, Worcs DY10 1BQ you; or email: Bromsgrove District Housing Trust What happens next? [email protected] When we have received your completed Elgar Housing Association application form, we will register your details [email protected] and send you a letter confirming your personal Stratford-on-Avon District Council registration number, date of registration and the [email protected] banding you have been placed into. Worcester City Council [email protected] Your registration number is very important, as Wychavon District Council you will need this when placing ‘bids’ for [email protected] properties. Wyre Forest Community Housing [email protected] Your responsibilities once On the Telephone accepted onto the Home Choice Bromsgrove District Housing Trust 0800 0850160 Plus register Elgar Housing Association 01684 579579 Tell us if there are any changes in your Stratford-on-Avon District Council 01789 260861 circumstances, these may include: Worcester City Council 01905 722233 Wychavon District Council 01386 565020 • A change of address Wyre Forest Community Housing 01562 732356 • Changes in your local connection • Birth of a child They will send you an application form. Please • Medical reasons ensure you use the correct postage, when returning • Someone moves in or out of your household the application form. We will remove you from the Home Choice In Person Plus register if you: At any of the contact points listed in this booklet. • Ask to be removed; How do I register? • Change address and do not tell us; • Do not get in contact with us when we ask Please fill in an application form online, or in writing you to do so; and post or hand into: • Do not make a bid within two years – a new application will have to be made. Bromsgrove District Housing Trust Buntsford Court, Buntsford Gate, Bromsgrove, Worcs, B60 3DJ Elgar Housing Association Partnership House, Grovewood Road, Malvern, Worcs, WR14 1GD Stratford-on-Avon District Council Elizabeth House, Church Street, Stratford-upon- Avon, Warks CV37 6HX 3 home choice plus:Layout 1 5/1/10 10:26 Page 7 2 How does the banding system work? When we have received a fullly completed application Deliberately worsening form your housing need will be assessed and you will be placed in a band. If further information is needed circumstances we will write to you. We will place you in bronze band If there is evidence that an applicant has deliberately until the information is recieved. You will still be able worsened their circumstances in order to qualify for a to bid for properties. Evidence will be collected and higher banding, no additional award will begiven and checked before households are placed into a band. their original banding will remain. Note: If there is a significant change in your Examples of deliberately worsening your circumstances, which results in a higher banding circumstances would include: being awarded, then your waiting time on the list will be effective from the date that the band changed. • Selling a property that is affordable and suitable for your needs. If you have multiple housing needs, this may be • Moving from a secure Assured Tenancy to insecure, reflected in the band you are allocated. overcrowded accommodation with family or friends. • Where there is evidence that you could have If the change in circumstances results in your remained in your original accommodation. banding being altered to a lower banding, then your waiting time on the list will be effective from the date At the applicants request this decision may be you joined the list. reviewed after a period of at least 12 months. Banding due to homeless criteria, will only apply in the Local Authority area where that assessmen t was made. Local Connection We regard Local Connection as indicated below: • Those who are normally resident in the Local Authority area. Local Government Association guidelines define this as having resided in the area for six of the last twelve months, or three out of the last five years, where residence has been out of choice; • Those who are employed in the Local Authority area – the Local Government Association guidelines define this as employment other than of a casua l nature; • Those who have family connections in the Local Authority area – the Local Government Association guidelines define this as immediate family members who have themselves lived in the area for five years. Local Connection is defined in Part VII of the Housing Act 1996. 4 home choice plus:Layout 1 5/1/10 10:26 Page 8 Bandings Priority Priority is initially awarded for three months and is only awarded where a local authority has accepted a homeless duty under part VII of the Housing Act 1996 as amended. • Homeless applicants will be expected to bid for all properties for which they are eligible. • Homeless applicants will be expected to have made a bid within the first 2 weeks. If they have not made a bid within this time then bids will be made on their behalf, by Home Choice Plus on properties for which they are eligible. • If a suitable offer is refused the homelessness duty may be discharged and the applicant may cease to have a priority status. Gold Plus Awarded for 6 months to applicants who have a local connection (see page 4) and is awarded for the following: • Homeless applicants where there is no statutory duty to re-house (excluding those who are intentionally homeless). • Households living in properties subject to certain enforcement notices. eg Abatement Notice from the local authority • Households with a very high medical need who need to move. • Households under the threat of homelessness through no fault of their own • Applicants who need to move from supported accommodation within the Home Choice Plus area. • Tenants of a partner Housing Association who are living in family homes bigger than they need and wish to move to smaller housing. Gold Awarded for 12 months to applicants who have a local connection (see page 4) and is awarded for the following: • Homeless applicants who have been determined to have become homeless intentionally.