APPLYING FOR THE HOUSING REGISTER Rutland County Council transferred its affordable homes to Spire Homes Housing Association in 2009. Spire Homes and other Housing Associations own around 1,900 homes in Rutland. To be considered for a Housing Association property you need to be on the Council’s Housing Register. The Council’s Housing Options Team nominates (puts forward) applicants to the Housing Associations from the Register (waiting list). This booklet is designed to help you complete the application for the Housing Register. Please read it before filling in your application form, as it should help. The information is just a summary of our policy but a copy of the full policy is available on request. This information is also available in community languages, large print, Braille and in audio form. Please let us know if you need it in another format. If you have any questions, or would like help filling in your application, please ask – we're here to help. Contact us at: Rutland County Council Housing Options Team Catmose Oakham Rutland LE15 6HP Tel: 01572 722 577 E-mail: [email protected] V0.6 Sep 2016 QUALIFYING TO JOIN THE HOUSING REGISTER – A SUMMARY To qualify to join the Housing Register, you (or a joint applicant) will usually need to answer ‘yes’ to at least 1 of the 9 statements below. Please take some time to read these, before deciding whether to complete an application form: 1) I have lived in Rutland for the last year, or for 3 out of the last 5 years OR 2) I have worked in Rutland (for at least 16 hours per week on average) for the last year, or for 3 out of the last 5 years OR 3) I have an immediate family member who has lived in Rutland for the last 3 years (this does not have to be someone who lives with you) OR 4) I am a social housing tenant from outside Rutland who wishes to move here to take/keep a firm job in Rutland, to avoid hardship for myself or another family member (Right To Move) OR 5) I have been assessed by the Council as unintentionally homeless, in priority need and with a local connection (where required) under homelessness legislation OR 6) I have an urgent medical or social need to move and a strong Rutland connection OR 7) I am 16/17 years old and being looked after by Rutland County Council OR 8) I would like to move to lower demand supported/sheltered accommodation OR 9) I am already a social housing tenant in Rutland (and want/need to move), (subject to certain conditions, refer to page 3) Qualification for MOD personnel and their families • I am currently serving or have served in the Armed Forces and was discharged less than 5 years ago OR • My spouse or civil partner passed away while serving in the regular Armed Forces and their death was as a result of their service; I can no longer live in the accommodation provided by the MOD OR • I am serving or have served in the reserve forces and have a serious injury, illness or disability as a result of this service OR • There are other exceptional reasons that I would like the Housing Options Team to consider (e.g. I moved to Rutland with my MoD ex- partner less than a year ago and I am in need of urgent housing). 2 TRANSFER APPLICANTS If you are already a social housing (council or housing association) tenant you are only likely to qualify if you can answer yes to at least 1 of the 9 statements (or the MoD criteria above AND 1 of the following): • my home is in very poor condition • my home is lacking facilities • my home is overcrowded, • my home is unsuitable on social or medical grounds • I am homeless • I have staying access to children and no space to accommodate them • my household cannot live together • I am a social housing tenant from outside Rutland who wishes to move here to take/keep a firm job in Rutland, to avoid hardship for myself or another family member. This is called the ‘Right to Move’. It is a right to be given a certain amount of priority if you meet the eligibility rules but is not a guarantee of housing. We can only normally accept applications from other transfer applicants ONLY if: • You live in Rutland, are under-occupying a family type property and wish to downsize OR • You have children under 5 living in flats above the ground floor. You would not be on the statutory Housing Register, but would be considered for properties alongside applicants on the Housing Register. Social housing tenants who would like to move should also ask their landlord for advice. OTHER INFORMATION • Some people from abroad or returning from abroad are not allowed to apply for social housing by law. • Most property owners cannot join the Housing Register, unless there are special circumstances, or the home is unsuitable/unadaptable for their need/s • Applicants and joint applicants with substantial social housing related debt or those guilty of serious unacceptable behaviour may also be excluded from the Housing Register. Time in prison does not count as local residence. 3 HOW DO I APPLY FOR HOUSING? The Council holds a list of people who want housing, called the ‘Housing Register’. It is used mainly to select tenants for rented housing association homes in Rutland. (There are no Council houses in Rutland.) It is also sometimes used to help select purchasers for shared ownership homes. To apply, please complete an application form - our contact details are on page 1. Alternately you can download the form at www.rutland.gov.uk/housing.aspx WHO CAN APPLY? Anyone can join the Housing Register except: • Most people who have not lived or worked in Rutland for the last year, or for 3 years out of the last 5 years. This does not affect applicants who have an immediate family member who has lived in Rutland for the last 3 years, or current or recent regular members of the Armed Forces, nor does it apply for some lower demand properties, nor social housing tenants from outside Rutland applying under the Right to Move. (Immediate family means a parent, child or brother/sister. Step and half relatives count as full relatives.) • Some people who owe a lot of money from their current or previous tenancy. • People who are unsuitable to be a tenant because of their behaviour, or the behaviour of someone in their household. Examples include threatening behaviour or verbal or physical abuse, damage to a property that you have lived in, harassment or anti-social behaviour. The Council may either decide not to allow you to join the Housing Register, or to allow you to join the Housing Register with reduced or normal priority, depending on the circumstances. • Some people who are subject to immigration control or who live or have recently lived abroad. • Most people who already own a property. • Some people who are already social housing tenants with low needs according to the Government's 'reasonable preference' rules. We can advise on this, or let you know when you apply. In some cases, you may still be considered alongside other applicants by the Council even if you are not on the main Housing Register - this may apply to some Rutland tenants wishing to downsize or who have children under 5 in flats above the ground floor. Once applicants are on the Register, they would normally still need to meet these criteria to have a chance of being rehoused. If there is a decision to refuse or remove your application from the Housing Register or to reduce your priority, you will be told the reason why and you will have an opportunity to appeal. 4 PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS If you are homeless, or threatened with homelessness, you may be entitled to special assistance. Please speak to us about this as soon as possible. We check all applications, and contact those applicants who may be threatened with homelessness. PEOPLE IN HM FORCES People in HM Forces who live in the UK can apply for housing in the same way as anyone else. However, if you are offered a property, you will be expected to move in straightaway. If you ask us to, we will not consider your application for vacant properties until you tell us that you would be ready to move. APPLICANTS AGED UNDER 18 YEARS If you are aged 16 to 17 years old, you can apply for housing. However, you will not be re-housed until you reach the age of 18, unless you have the continuing support of a care package from Social Care or have been accepted as unintentionally homeless and in priority need. Applicants under 16 years will not be accepted onto the Housing Register. UPDATING INFORMATION If your situation changes, let us know straightaway so we can update your application. This is important – it is a criminal offence to obtain a tenancy by giving false information or failing to declare information. The Council may also reduce your priority if it believes you have made your housing situation worse in order to be rehoused. If we offer you a property and then find out that your situation has changed, we may withdraw the offer. If you have moved into a property when we discover the change, you may be evicted. You should always let us know if: • You move house or buy a property • Another person comes to live with you (including a new baby!) • A member of your household no longer lives with you • You change jobs or start or cease employment.