Properties available

We aim to provide good quality housing at affordable rents. Priority is given to people whose present accommodation and circumstances are unsatisfactory and who are in housing need. Housing need is defined by a points system.

A guide to mutual exchange

Should I apply?

We aim to house people in most need, yet many of the applicants who apply each year have no real need for housing. You may have reasons for applying for housing such as preferring a different location or planning for the future. However these reasons are unlikely to attract points and your prospects of receiving an offer of tenancy will therefore be low.We will assess your need for rehousing by awarding you points according to your circumstances. Applications will be considered if any of the following circumstances apply:

• The lack of your own home or families living apart involuntarily
• The lack of or sharing of basic facilities, such as kitchen or bathroom
• Overcrowding
• Potential homelessness
• Serious ill health caused by your accommodation
• Tenants with children living in upper floor flats
• People over the age of 60
• Other social needs

Are you eligible for housing?

To receive points and ultimately an offer of tenancy you must be affected by one or more of these factors. If you are not affected by any of these you will not be awarded any points and will not receive an offer of tenancy unless there is no demand from applicants with points. When vacancies occur, applicants are considered in a points order basis. The shortage of vacancies in some areas and high demand for accommodation means that many people may have to wait some time. For an indication of the length of time you can expect to wait, contact the re-housing team.

Types of Accommodation

The types of accommodation we have are houses, flats, maisonettes, bungalows and sheltered units with a resident scheme manager.

Houses: These are only available for families with one or more children.

Flats: All of our flats are in low-rise blocks. Most flats have a communal entrance and some have door entry systems.

• Young single applicants will usually only be considered for first and second floor flats
• Applicants over 60 are considered for ground floor flats.
• Families with children under the age of 16 shall not be considered for flats.

Accommodation for retired people: Bungalows will normally only be allocated to people aged over 60, unless there are very severe medical grounds or wheelchair facilities are required and no other type of property is suitable. We also have a number of quality sheltered housing schemes, all with excellent facilities. We positively encourage our existing tenants if they wish to transfer from houses to bungalows or retirement flats in order to make best use of our housing stock.

Where we have accommodation

We have accommodation in most villages and parishes across the district of Vale Royal. You will only be considered for the areas that you specify on your application form and are therefore advised to carefully consider the choices available. If you are made an offer of accommodation in one of the areas you have requested, you should give serious consideration before refusing a suitable offer, as we cannot guarantee to make you a further offer quickly if other applicants have a greater need for vacancies arising.

Exclusions and special conditions

Certain people will not be eligible for re-housing or will only be eligible with special conditions, these are:

• Young people under 18
• Local authority and other housing association tenants
• Tenants of tied accommodation
• Forces applicants
• Owner occupiers
• Our employees, officers and Board Members
• Our existing tenants
• Residents of caravans, mobile homes or houseboats
• Applicants who wish to leave the matrimonial home

In certain circumstances people may be temporarily restricted from entry onto the Housing Register and these may include:

• Applicants who are in debt to the Trust, any other Housing Association or Local Authority.
• Applicants who are former Weaver Vale Housing Trust, other Housing Association or Local Authority tenants who gave up a tenancy within 12 months of their application.
• Applicants who have been evicted (including voluntary termination prior to eviction). Such applicants are excluded from the register for three years from the date of eviction. In the case of eviction for rent arrears any outstanding arrears must be completely cleared.
• Applicants who have not been resident in the Vale Royal area for a period of twelve months prior to an application.
• Applications shall be accepted from tenants of Weaver Vale Housing Trust provided they have lived in their present accommodation for twelve months. The property must be reasonably decorated, clean and all furniture and fittings belonging to the Trust intact when consideration is given to the request to move. Offers of accommodation will only normally be made to tenants who maintain a clear rent account.

The Trust will, however consider each case on its individual merits and will not apply a blanket ban.

Young people: Applications from persons aged below 16 will not be considered. Applications from persons aged 16-18 will be accepted if there is evidence of support from an adult or social services, and a rent guarantee will be required before an offer of accommodation will be made.

Local authority and other housing association tenants: Applicants from local authority and other housing association tenants can apply for housing, but will not automatically be considered. Such cases may be nominated under the H.O.M.E.S scheme. Nominations under the H.O.M.E.S. scheme will normally only be accepted in the following circumstances:

• The landlord association or authority supports the application with a formal nomination.
• The landlord is not able to resolve the needs of the applicant within its own housing stock.
• The tenant has a high priority for housing e.g. high medical or social needs.
• The tenant has conducted a satisfactory tenancy.

Applicants accepted under the H.O.M.E.S. Scheme will be awarded a degree of priority in accordance with the Allocation policy and considered for vacancies alongside other eligible applicants for housing.

Tenants of tied accommodation

Tenants of tied accommodation will only be eligible for accommodation when they have notification of a date to leave. Points are awarded up to two years prior to the date of leaving.

Forces applicants: Applications will be considered from people in the Forces where confirmation from the commanding officer is received that they have completed their service contract and there is no alternative solution available in the private sector. There should be a strong local connection with the Vale Royal area.

Owner occupiers: Applications will be accepted from owner-occupiers, but certain criteria must be met:

• Owner occupiers without medical need for ground floor accommodation will not normally be considered.
• Owner occupiers who require ground floor accommodation on medical grounds will only be considered for housing if their property is in Council Tax band A or B and The Independent Medical Adviser awards ten or more medical points.
• Owner occupiers whose property is in Council Tax band C or above shall only be considered for a sheltered unit with a resident warden. These properties are allocated on a date order basis to applicants over the age of 60.
• Under very exceptional circumstances it may be possible to assist an owner occupier, irrespective of the Council Tax band of their current property. Such cases shall be considered by The Director of Housing.

Our employees, officers and Board Members: Applications from employees, board members and their families may be accepted, but all relevant checks shall be made prior to any offer of accommodation.

Our existing tenants: Our existing tenants can be considered for a transfer as outlined above. Where no points are awarded, we recommend that other means of moving are considered such as a Mutual exchange or the H.O.M.E.S. Scheme

Residents of caravans, mobile homes or houseboats: Applicants who live in caravans, mobile homes or houseboats will be actively considered on the Housing Register.

Applicants who wish to leave the matrimonial home: Applicants who have chosen to live apart from their spouse for over four months will be eligible provided they have a housing need. Proof of legal separation or divorce proceedings must usually be provided

What happens now?

If you feel that you may be eligible for housing you should request a housing application form, which should be completed as fully as possible. When we receive your application we will write to you within ten working days to acknowledge receipt of your application. This letter will detail any points awarded to your application and confirm the areas you have selected and the type of property you shall be considered for. If you are not eligible for housing you will be advised that your application has been rejected and the reason for that rejection.

Contacting us

Should you need advice on whether you are eligible then our Re-housing Team will be pleased to assist you. Click here to contact the re-housing team.

Access to housing through other agencies

All applicants who wish to be considered for housing by any of the other Housing Associations working within the Vale Royal district should also approach the Trust to be included on the Housing Register.

Vale Royal Borough Council has no properties of its own but has a duty to assist people to be re-housed which they do by agreeing nomination arrangements with all of the housing associations.

Any application accepted onto the register is eligible to be nominated to a housing association (including us) when a suitable vacancy arises. (A copy of the Council's allocation policy is available from the Council's Re-housing Section on 01606 862 862.)

Applications can also usually be made directly to other housing associations.

Other housing options

If you would like to own your own home, but cannot afford to buy on the open market, shared ownership could be for you.

Shared ownership allows you to buy a share of a property from a housing association and pay rent for the remainder. (You will have sole occupancy rights - you do not have to share your home with anyone else).

Your monthly outgoings will include repayments on any mortgage you have taken out, plus rent on the part of the property retained by the housing association. Later, as you can afford it, you can increase your share until you own the whole property.

If you require any additional information on shared ownership you should contact the Housing Advice Officer.

Equal opportunities

All applications will be considered equally in accordance with the allocations policy, regardless of racial origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation or disability. We do, however, reserve the right to allocate the tenancy of a dwelling to any person as a special case. A full copy of the Trust’s Allocations Policy 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

Applicants or Tenants who are unhappy about decisions by us in respect of their housing or transfer application, in terms of the allocation of points or the rejection of their application, may make an Appeal through the Trust's Appeals Policy, details of which are available on request.

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