Frequently Asked Questions

         

 

Who can apply for properties through  Homechoice?

You must have been accepted onto the Housing Register to be able to apply for either rented or low cost home ownership properties. The register is maintained on behalf of the Homechoice Partners by South Oxfordshire District Council. Anyone aged 16 years or over may apply to join the Housing Register.

How do I apply to join the Housing Register?

You can complete an application on-line by clicking on the link on the homepage of this website. You can contact Housing Needs if you will have difficulty completing an on-line application. Click for contact details and opening hours. The same form applies to those wanting to rent and those interested in shared ownership and other home purchase options. Tenants wanting to transfer should also fill in the same form. 

Can I go on a housing association's waiting list as well?

There is no need to apply separately to most housing associations. The Homechoice register is shared by all the large housing associations in the area. Click here for the list. The Council also has nomination agreements with most of the other housing associations in the area. So most housing association vacancies will, therefore, be advertised through Homechoice. However, some of the smaller housing associations will continue to keep their own waiting lists. For up to date advice and information please get in touch with Housing Services.

What other documents do I need to provide?

The only documents required at this stage are your Notice to Quit and/or proof of pregnancy, if applicable.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND any other documents with your application form at this time.  However, please note that should you be nominated for a property you will be asked to provide the relevant documents at extremely short notice.

The following is a checklist of documents that you may need to provide should you be considered for a nomination for an offer of accommodation through the Homechoice scheme. Proof of identification (driving licence, passport) – All applicants

• Proof of residence (letter from Council Tax, utility company or bank) – All applicants
• Proof of contact arrangements for children – separated parents
• Tenancy agreement – private tenants and tied tenants
• Notice to quit
• Proof of house purchase (e.g. mortgage details) – all home owners
• Proof of house sale (e.g. completion statement, estate agents correspondence)
• Evidence of local connections
• Proof of pregnancy
• Child benefit proofs – all parents
• Proof of immigration status, visas and works permits (if applicable) – non UK citizens
• MOD discharge letter
• Proof of employment (payslip, employment contract)

Before you are offered a property you may need to provide additional documents to support your application. We will tell you what documents to provide and when to provide them. All documents provided must be originals, up to date and valid. For a full list of acceptable documents contact Housing Services.

What happens if I do not provide the required documents?

Providing you have properly completed your application form, it will be processed but may be placed in the lowest band, until the other documents are received. It will be moved into the right band from the date they are received. If your application form is incomplete it will be returned to you. The date of registration will be the date the fully completed form is received.

How do I know if I have been accepted onto the Housing Register?

You will receive a letter telling you that you have been accepted onto the Housing Register. This will tell you the band you have been placed in, the date you have been registered from and the sizes of property you can bid for.

Can you refuse to accept me onto the Housing Register?

There are some people who are not eligible to be included on the Housing Register. These are:

people who are subject to Immigration Control under the 1996 Asylum and Immigration Act

people from abroad who are not subject to immigration control but who are not habitually resident in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland

people (including members of their household) whose behaviour makes them unsuitable to be a tenant.

For more detailed information contact Housing Services

What are Priority Bands?

Your application will be assessed according to your circumstances and placed in one of 5 bands. We will also take into account whether you have a local connection with this  district or elsewhere in Oxfordshire and whether you are able to afford to resolve your own housing problems. Within each band applications are placed in date order.

For more details click Priority Banding Scheme

How long will I stay in the same band?

You will stay in the same band for as long as you are living in the same circumstances. If your circumstances change, then you may be placed into a higher or lower band as a result. If you move up to Band 1 your application date will be re-set.

What do I do if my circumstances change?

It is important that you tell us of any changes in your circumstances so that we can amend your application. We will tell you if this results in your application moving to a different band. If you change bands your registration date will still stay the same.

If you have not told us about changes that affect your priority, then this may delay you getting an offer of accommodation. We will make checks before confirming an offer and if your circumstances are different to those on your application form, the offer may be withdrawn and your application will be suspended until you have completed a new application.

Do I need to renew my application each year?

Yes, once a year, normally on the anniversary of your application, you will be sent a renewal form, which you must complete and return within 28 days. If you do not return the form, we will write and tell you that your application has been cancelled.

What if someone in my household has a health condition?

If someone in your household has a health problem, which is affected by their housing, you will be asked to provide details. The council may decide to give additional priority because of these health reasons. If additional priority is given for health reasons, then priority will only apply when you bid for properties that are suitable. For example, if priority is given because someone has difficulty climbing stairs, they will not have priority if they bid for a house or a first floor flat where there is no lift.

How often are properties advertised?

Properties available for rent are advertised each fortnight. Applicants have two weeks to make their bids. Please note that bidding starts midnight on Wednesday and finishes on the Monday, two weeks later. For more details click Step 2 - Choosing a Property.

Where are properties advertised?

Properties are advertised:

Online on this website. Property search

In a property newsletter available at a wide range of locations around the district.Click here for the list.

Where there are exceptional circumstances, we may post a copy direct to an applicant. For example, if someone is housebound.

What information will the property adverts contain?

The adverts will tell you the landlord, location, size, rent and other features of the property. Where available a photograph of the property or a similar house type will be provided and, if you are viewing on-line, you will be able to access information about the local area and facilities. The icons (pictures) in the advert will tell you if there are any age requirements or other restrictions on who can bid. The advert may also indicate if preference will be given to applications from certain types of household.

The advert will also show the bedroom size requirement. Applicants with a bedroom size requirement smaller or larger than this will not be able to bid.

How do I apply for a property?

You can express your interest or 'bid', as it is also known, in the following ways:

Online through this website. Property Search.

Through our 24hr automated telephone service on 0800 0277 889

How many properties can I express an interest in?

You will be able to express an interest in a maximum of three rented properties each time properties are advertised. However, you will only be able to express interest in properties that are suitable for your family. If you are interested in Shared Ownership opr Private Renting you can bid for as many of these properties you like as well as the three rented properties.

Will I know how many other people are interested in the same property?

Yes, when you bid for a property you will be told where you are in the queue. This is likely to change as other people bid for the same property. Using this information you may decide to withdraw your bid for one property and bid for a different property where you are higher placed in the queue. You can do this at any time before the closing date.

How do you decide who is offered a property?

Once the closing date for bids has passed a shortlist of interested applicants is drawn up. The shortlist is in order of eligibility according to the restrictions stated in the advert details for that property. The highest placed applicant will normally be offered the property. Click Step Four - Getting an Offer  for more details.

If I successfully bid for a rented property, can the landlord refuse to let it to me?

You may not be offered the property if any of the following apply:

• You owe rent or have other housing related debts
• You are a Council or Housing Association tenant and legal action has been taken against you because you have broken your tenancy conditions
• You have sufficient money or property to solve your own housing problems
• You have not provided the required documentary evidence to support your application by the date given
• Your circumstances have changed and this results in a reduction in your level of priority
• You have provided incorrect or misleading information, which has resulted in your application being awarded a higher priority than it deserves
• The property is particularly suitable to meet the needs of another high priority applicant.

If I am offered a property, will I be able to view it before making up my mind?

Yes. You will be given an opportunity to view the property and decide whether you would like to accept it. If you refuse the offer, there will be no penalty and you can bid for other advertised properties.

How will I know what has happened to the properties advertised?

Information about homes that have been successfully let or purchased through shared ownership is published on the website and in the property newsletter. We will tell you the number of applicants that expressed an interest in each property, the band and the registration date of each property. To see the results of properties that have been let click on Short-list Results at the top of the page.

This will give you a better idea of how popular a particular property or area is and how long you would normally have to wait. You can then decide whether to look for other types of property or areas where you may not have to wait as long.

What help can you offer people experiencing domestic abuse?

If you are experiencing domestic abuse you should seek specialist help. Go to www.reducingtherisk.org.uk for more information on services available. Contact Housing Services for a confidential interview.

How do I request a review of a decision?

If you disagree with any of the following decisions you can request a review:

To request a review you must contact Housing Services within 21 days of the date you are notified of the decision and the reason for it. You may provide additional information in writing that you wish to be taken into account when the review is carried out. You will normally be advised of the outcome of the review within 8 weeks. You may not request a further review.

Before you appeal against a decision, you may want to read the relevant bits of the council's Allocations Policy.