How do you decide which people go in each band?
The law helps us decide as it says we must give priority to people with certain housing needs and those with the greatest needs must receive the highest priority on the scheme.
Do I get a priority if my home is to be demolished as part of a regeneration scheme?
Yes. You will be placed in the band that meets your assessed need, but will only be given additional priority (Band 1+) for the local authority area in which you live and not for the other local authority areas in the Tees Valley. We will write to tell you if you are to be given additional priority.
What happens if I am assessed as homeless and in priority need?
You will be placed in Band 1 and will have to bid for suitable properties, If you do not bid, an officer will contact you to find out the reasons why and to establish if you need any help or support. If you have not bid for suitable properties within an 8 week period, an Officer will place bids on your behalf. The homeless duty will be discharged if an offer is made as a result of a successful bid.
What do I do if I have a serious medical condition?
You need to tell us about this when you apply to register on the scheme or when your condition is diagnosed by a medical professional. We will ask you to complete a medical form and an assessment will be carried out. We may also arrange a visit from an Occupational Therapist to assess the suitability of your current home and your future needs. We will also discuss all the options available to help you make the right decision about moving. If you do decide to move from your current home because it is assessed as unsuitable for your needs, you will be given a priority on the scheme and we will support you in bidding for suitable properties.
What help and support will I receive?
Our staff can help you access the scheme until you are familiar with bidding for properties. If you are particularly vulnerable and are unable to call into the housing office or access the website, we will arrange to have your bids placed automatically. We will discuss this with you first so we are clear about your areas of choice and the type of properties that meet your needs.
What happens if I have breached my tenancy conditions or if I have criminal convictions?
This depends on the circumstances when you apply to join the scheme. We will deny you access to the scheme for a specified period if we think your behaviour is serious enough to make you unsuitable to be a tenant. Our decision will be sent to you in writing and you will have the right to request a review of our decision.
If for example, you have low level rent arrears and have not made any effort to clear them, you will be allowed to join the scheme and bid for properties; however you will be overlooked if your bid is successful and you have not made any effort to clear your arrears. We will write to you if we decide to overlook you for offers and to tell you what you can do to put things right. You will have the right to request a review of our decision.
Will you advertise all your properties?
The majority of properties owned or managed by the partner organisations will be advertised; however a small number will not be advertised and instead will be let directly to certain groups of applicants (for example, people who need housing in an emergency situation or where a person faces an imminent risk of violence).
How long will the advertising cycle last?
The cycle opens on a Thursday morning at 00.01 hours and closes the following Tuesday at midnight. You cannot place bids on a Wednesday as this is when all the bids are sorted and verified.
What information will be included in the advert?
We will include the property features, such as the number of bedrooms and the weekly rent, We will also show a breakdown of the rent (service charges, water and sewerage and any other charges). You can contact the landlord advertising the property for further information about what services are included in these charges. The adverts will also contain local neighbourhood information and the types of household that can bid. A photograph will usually be included in the adverts.