(Please contact us if you are interested in housing in Swindon or West Wiltshire.)
Which
housing associations are in the partnership? How
do I apply for housing? Who
can apply to go onto the housing register? What do I do when I have filled in the application form? You should send the form and photocopies of any supporting information needed (for example, your passport, or photo driving licence) to us at the address above. What happens when I send in my application form? We will put your details into our computer system and assess how urgently you need housing. We use a points system to do this and we give you points based on several things. We will send you a letter telling you how many points you have and what we have awarded them for. We then put you on the waiting lists that we hold for each parish in the area. The more points you have, the nearer you will be to the top of the list. You can phone us to find out where you are on the list. What if I have health reasons for needing to move? We will send you a questionnaire to fill in so that we can give you points for any medical condition. You do not need to get a letter from your doctor to support your application as they may charge you for it, but if you already have any letters from your doctor please send copies with your questionnaire. We will give you points by looking at how moving will help your medical condition. What if my home is overcrowded? We can ask an environmental health officer from your local council to visit you. We will look at your situation before deciding whether to do this. What if my current home is in poor condition? Again, we can ask an environmental health officer to visit you. If the problem is very bad, they can award you extra points or get your landlord to carry out repairs. What if I own my own home? We will not automatically offer you a home, as you may have enough savings and income to help yourself. We will look at each case individually and ask you to give us the following information. We will put your details into our computer system and assess how urgently you need housing. We use a points system to do this and we give you points based on your current situation. • A current valuation of your home from an estate agent. • Details of the mortgage you have left to pay (you can get this from your mortgage lender). • Current information about your income and savings. We cannot process your application until we have enough information to make a decision. What if I am going to lose my home? You can get help from Citizens Advice or contact your local council to make an appointment to see a homelessness officer. In North Wiltshire you can phone the district council’s housing options team on 01249 706666. How long will I have to wait? It is very difficult to give an exact answer to this question. It will depend on the number of homes that we have to offer and where you are on the waiting list at that time. We update the figures on the back of Lettings Lowdown (our waiting-list newsletter) every three months, and give you a good idea of where your points would place you for each of the main towns in the area and how many vacancies we have had. What if I can’t afford to continue renting my current home? If you are on a low income, you may be able to get help with your rent through Housing Benefit. You should contact your local authority for more information. What else can I do? You may be able to rent a home from a private landlord. These properties are usually advertised in local papers or through lettings agents. Again, if you are on a low income, you may be able to get help with the rent through Housing Benefit. You may also want to consider shared ownership. These schemes let you buy a share of a home and pay rent on the rest. If you would like further information, please let us know and we will send you an application form. While I am on the list, what should I tell you about? You need to tell us about any changes to your current housing circumstances. For example, you should tell us if: • you become pregnant; • have a baby; • somebody moves into or leaves your home; or • your income or your health changes. What if I move house? If you move house, you must let us know as soon as possible. You will need to fill in a new application form if your address changes, and we cannot continue with your application until we receive the new form. Please phone us and we will tell you what you need to do. Who do I contact if I have any more questions? Pre-tenancy Services Westlea Housing Association Methuen Park Chippenham Wiltshire SN14 0GU Phone: 01249 466180 E-mail: ptservices@westlea.co.uk |
