Home-Link

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Home-Link

Home-Link

From 22 February 2008, a new way of letting housing association properties in St Edmundsbury was introduced, called Home-Link. This scheme allows you to choose where you would prefer to live from the housing that is available. The scheme has been introduced jointly by the seven local authorities which make up the Cambridge sub-region.

Visit the Home-Link website: www.Home-Link.org.uk

Download:

For more information email home-link@stedsbc.gov.uk or phone 01284 757178.

Home-Link frequently asked questions (please click on a question below to view the answer):

What is the Home-Link Choice Based Lettings scheme?

Home-Link is a new initiative that changes how councils and registered social landlords let their homes. Under the current system, everyone who applies to the housing register completes a form giving details of their situation. The application is then prioritised through a system of awarding points based on an applicants circumstances. As a suitable home becomes available it is offered to the person at the top of the list (the applicant with most points). This system allows an applicant to give an indication of the preferred area in which they wish to live, but they are not able to choose a specific property.

From 22 February 2008, seven local authorities across the Cambridge sub-region are introducing the new Home-Link scheme. The new scheme will allow people on the housing register to express an interest in an individual home (known as making a bid). Each fortnight, we will advertise homes in variety of ways, including on the internet, in council offices and in a property magazine. We will provide details of what homes are available and there will be information about the home itself, for example number of bedrooms, type of heating and other facilities. By giving customers more choice we hope to build more settled and sustainable communities and give you more say in where you are housed. The Home-Link scheme will be a more simple and straightforward way of letting homes and will be open, fair and transparent.

The scheme will help people move across all seven local authority areas, as a proportion of homes will be advertised as available to any customer with a local connection in the sub-region.

Why change to Home-Link?

Similar schemes have been introduced successfully in around of third of authorities across the UK and the results of the schemes have been very positive. The government wants all local authorities to introduce a Choice Based Lettings system by 2010. Although Home-Link does not mean more homes are let, similar schemes are more popular with customers, tenants and staff as they are a fairer, simpler way to let homes.

Who are the partners in the Home-Link scheme?

The following local authorities are participating in the scheme:

Cambridge City Council
East Cambridgeshire District Council
Fenland District Council
Forest Heath District Council
Huntingdonshire District Council
South Cambridgeshire District Council
St Edmundsbury Borough Council.

Will the existing lettings policy have to change?

Yes it will. Following consultation, we have developed a new lettings policy which will start at the same time as the Home-Link scheme. The lettings policy outlines how housing need is assessed and how homes will be let. Customers will be placed into one of four broad housing needs bands. The same needs assessment and banding structure will apply across the sub-region.

The new policy will ensure that housing needs are assessed in a fair, consistent and transparent way.

Under Home-Link, will I still be given points when my housing priority is assessed?

Under the current points based system, people who require housing or a transfer are placed on the waiting list, allocated points according to their housing needs and wait until they are offered a home that will meet their particular needs. This has been very complicated and difficult for customers to use in working out there own housing priority. With Home-Link, people will not be allocated points; they will be placed in one of the following housing needs bands that will indicate their level of housing priority.

A: urgent need
B: high need
C: medium need
D: adequately housed.

I have a medical problem. Will this be considered under Home-Link?

Yes, we will consider all aspects of your medical circumstances and how your current housing situation is affecting your medical condition, when assessing your housing priority.

How will I find out what homes are available under the new scheme?

Once the scheme goes live, vacant homes will be advertised widely and in many ways, you will be able to see properties on the internet or pick up the property magazine from a council office or from other access points. Please contact us if you have difficulty getting access to the scheme.

What is a bid? How will I place one?

Placing a bid does not involve the use of money, it simply means to express an interest in a property. You will be able to bid for available homes on the website, using the automated telephone service, by text, by returning a coupon in the post, or calling in to one of our access points. As the scheme is available on the internet, if you dont have access to a computer, you could get some help from family or friends or visit a library with internet access.

Will anyone be able to place a bid on a home they are interested in?

Only customers who are registered with Home-Link are able to place a bid on a property.

When we advertise a home, we will label it to say who is eligible to bid for it, for example the advert will say the size of family the home is suitable for and if there are any age restrictions on the home, for example for sheltered housing. You will be able to make up to three bids for available homes each fortnight.

How long will I be given to place a bid?

Available homes will be advertised every fortnight. They will be advertised from 9am Friday morning until midday on the following Wednesday. The phone line and internet site will be available over the weekend.

How is someone chosen as a successful bidder for each of the advertised homes?

Following the ending of the bidding period, a shortlist will be produced of people who bid for the home and met the property criteria. From this list, the home will be offered to the person in the highest housing needs band with the longest date of priority in that band. If the customer at the top of the shortlist refuses the home, it will be offered to the second person on the shortlist and so on until the home is let.

If you refuse the offer, this will not affect your housing needs band, but we do encourage all customers to only bid for homes they are interested in.

How will I know if I have been successful in my bid?

We will contact the successful customer shortly after the closing date of the advertisement with an invitation to view the home. If you have not been successful, you will be able to see why not through looking at the feedback provided on the outcome of the advertisement. This will be available on the internet and in the property magazine. The feedback will include details of the priority needs band and date of priority of the successful customer and the total number of people who bid for the home, but no personal details. Providing feedback is important as it allows you to consider if you are likely to be successful if you bid for a similar property in the future, or if you should consider bidding for different types of homes in different areas.

Will all homes be let through the scheme?

The vast majority of homes will be let through the scheme, although a small minority will be let directly to customers without being advertised. This will only be in exceptional circumstances. Details of people eligible for a direct let are outlined in the lettings policy.

Will the number of properties available increase under Home-Link?

No, Home-Link will not produce any new or additional properties. The number of people wishing to be housed is significantly greater than the number of properties available and that will not change. However, Home-Link is a far more open, fair and transparent system for letting homes. Customers will clearly see just how many homes are available, how many customers are on the housing register and how successful they are likely to be.

We will be providing other options to try resolve your housing situation. This will include details on:

a mutual exchanges available for existing tenants of councils and housing associations;
low cost home ownership homes; and
housing association properties.

In the future, we will be working with private landlords to advertise their available homes.

What if I need some help to participate in the scheme?

It is very important that all customers are able to find out about available homes and participate in the scheme. Some customers may need some extra help to bid for available homes and we will do everything we can to ensure all customers have support where it is needed. Evidence from other schemes has shown that family and friends can play an important role in helping some people and others receive support from agencies and groups. Councils and housing associations will also be helping people where needed.

We are working hard to make sure the system is clear and easy to use, and when the scheme goes live, we will be monitoring it to ensure people are able to access the scheme easily.

Who do I contact about Home-Link?

If you have any suggestions, questions or queries about Home-Link or would like someone to come along and speak to your community or other type of group, please phone 01284 757178 or email home-link@stedsbc.gov.uk