Wealden Introduces Choice to letting's
In Autumn 2007, Wealden introduced a new way of allocating Council and most housing association properties. The new scheme will allow people looking for rented accommodation to have a real choice in where they live.
Homemove
The scheme, called Homemove was introduced in Brighton and Hove nearly two years ago and has proved successful with increased customer satisfaction and reduced void times on vacant properties
The government has asked all local authorities to have a choice-based letting scheme in place by 2010 and prefer local authorities to join regional schemes to reduce running costs. The partnership of nine local authorities across East and West Sussex (Chichester, Arun, Worthing, Adur, Brighton & Hove, Lewes, Wealden, Rother and Hastings) and thirteen housing associations is being phased in since summer 2007. Wealden has created a leaflet (pdf 248kb) with an overview on the scheme.
Although the scheme is sub-regional, councils will not be sharing applicants or properties outside their own area, with the possible exception of some difficult to let properties.
The scheme will allow people to be proactive in finding their own homes and not have to wait for councils to offer them accommodation.
Available properties
Under the new scheme all available properties will be advertised on the internet and in a free magazine published every two weeks, which can also be downloaded from the Homemove website. Properties will be described with any restrictions on who can or cannot bid. New and existing people on the housing register will be able to ‘bid’ (register an interest) for suitable properties on the internet, by phone, by text message, or by filling in a form.
Allocation process
Applicants will be placed in one of four bands (pdf 32kb) depending on their housing need. Properties will be allocated to the applicants that bid from the highest band, with a local connection (pdf 22kb) to the area and have been registered as waiting the longest. Successful applicants will be notified and arrangements made to view the property. The results of the bidding process will be made available in future magazines so that applicants can assess for themselves the availability of accommodation in their preferred areas.
If you have any further questions regarding the scheme, please contact the The Housing Options Team on 01323 443380, or email: choicebasedlettings@wealden.gov.uk