A guide to applying for rented housing

Weaver Vale Housing Trust aims to provide a range of good quality housing at affordable rents to those in housing need. Housing need is assessed using a points based system which reflects an applicant's existing housing circumstances.

This page gives you details on how to apply for housing with us and how the Trust's Allocation policy works.

SHOULD I APPLY?

The Trust operates an open waiting list. However, Vale Royal Borough Council has nomination rights for 75% of vacancies which occur within The Trust's homes. This means that we will only be able to consider applicants from our own list for one out of every four vacancies. You may therefore also want to contact Vale Royal Borough Council to register on its list. The Council also has nomination agreements with the other Housing Associations working in the area. Contact details are listed later in this web page.

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

If you are looking for alternative accommodation or are looking to obtain your first home, the Trust's Rehousing team will be happy to guide you through the application process. Assistance can be obtained in completing the application form at any Trust office. Contact details are listed later in this web page.

Although the Trust operates an open list, not everyone will qualify for points under our allocation policy. If points are not awarded it is unlikely that we will be able to help you with an offer of tenancy due to the high demand from applicants with points for our homes.

Please contact the Trust's Rehousing team who will give you an indication of your rehousing prospects including how long you may have to wait.

WHERE IS OUR ACCOMMODATION LOCATED?

We have accommodation in most villages and parishes across the Vale Royal area. Our main towns are Northwich, Winsford and Frodsham. Our application form will tell you the types of accommodation we have in each area and will enable you to make an informed choice about where you would like to live.

TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION

We have a wide variety of accommodation to let:

• Houses which are usually reserved for families with children aged under16.
• Upper floor flats which are allocated to single people or couples aged under 60.
• Ground floor flats which are allocated to single people or couples aged over 60 and to younger applicants who have a medical need for such accommodation.
• Bungalows which are reserved for applicants aged over 60 and for younger applicants who have a medical need for ground floor accommodation.
• All of our ground floor properties are linked through to our Careline control centre which will provide community visiting and emergency response services.
• We also have independent retirement apartments in ten locations which provide accommodation with the benefit of extra security and services provided by a House Manager. These apartments are allocated on a date order basis to applicants aged over 55.

Please visit our Careline web page for details on the location of the apartments.

EXCLUSIONS

Although we exist to provide high quality accommodation to applicants we also look to maintain neighbourhoods in which people are happy to live and stay. There may therefore be some applicants who we refuse to house.

Each application is assessed on its merits and we do not operate any blanket exclusions.

The following people are not usually eligible to receive an offer of accommodation from the Trust:

• People who are subject to immigration control under The Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 unless granted refugee status or exceptional or indefinite leave to remain with no conditions or limitations.
• The Trust will not normally consider applications where an applicant, joint applicant or partner have: outstanding current or former tenancy rent arrears or rechargeable repair debt to Weaver Vale Housing Trust or any other Housing Association or Local Authority or been evicted for rent arrears.
• Applications will not normally be accepted where an applicant, joint applicant, partner or household member : Has been evicted for anti social behaviour / Has an injunction for anti social behaviour / Is the subject of an anti social behaviour order.
• We will normally only consider applicants who are over the age of 18 and who have resided in the area for the last 12 months.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

If you feel that you would like to apply for housing with the Trust, please request a housing application form by visiting our Contact web page, or alternatively request one by phone from the Rehousing Team, or in person from any of our Trust offices.

The fully completed application form should be returned to the Trust's Rehousing team.

We will process your application and send you an acknowledgement within 10 working days. This letter will detail any points awarded to your application and confirm the areas you have selected, the type of property you will be considered for and the status of your application. If your application has been deferred, this is usually because we require additional information. Please contact us if you require an explanation about the status of your application.

If you are not eligible for housing we will tell you why.

It is important that you keep us informed of any changes in your circumstances as the points awarded to your application may change.

CONTACTING US

Should you need any advice concerning making a housing application or need to speak to us about a change in your circumstance, our Rehousing team will be pleased to assist you. We can be contacted at the following address:

Weaver Vale Housing Trust
Gadbrook Point
Rudheath Way
Gadbrook Park
Northwich
Cheshire
CW9 7LL

Tel: 01606 813300 Fax: 01606 813302
Website: www.wvht.co.uk

The addresses of the other Trust Offices can be obtained by viewing our Contacts page.

ACCESS TO HOUSING THROUGH OTHER AGENCIES

Any applicant who wishes to be considered for housing by any other Housing Association working in the area should contact them directly to make an application. You may also wish to apply directly to Vale Royal Borough Council at the following address:

Vale Royal Borough Council
Housing Options Team
1 The Arcade
Northwich
Cheshire
CW7 1AH

Tel: 01606 353520

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

All applications will be considered equally in accordance with the Trust's allocations policy, regardless of racial origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation or disability. A full copy of the Trust's allocation policy which is regularly reviewed is available on request.

DATA PROTECTION

All information provided in support of an application for housing will be recorded on computer and that information will be governed by the provisions of The Data Protection Act 1998.

APPEALS

Anyone who is unhappy about a decision in respect of a housing application may use the Trust's complaints procedure, details of which is available on request.