Cheshire Homechoice
- About us
- Who can use this service
- How to use the service
- Prioritising applications
- Things you need to know
- Survey
- Site map
Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find some of the questions we are asked the most; if you cannot find your answer below or if you just need a little more help, please ring the homechoice helpline on 0300 123 5031. The phone lines are open Monday- Friday 9am-5pm (excluding public holidays) |
What is Choice Based Lettings?
Why use Choice Based Lettings?
Where will properties be advertised?
How will I express an interest in a property?
Can I express an interest in every property every week?
When are properties advertised?
How do landlords decide whom to offer a new home to?
Who can apply for properties through Cheshire homechoice?
How do I apply to join the Housing Register?
What other documents do I need to provide?
What happens if I do not provide the required documents?
How will I know if I have been accepted onto the Housing Register?
Can you refuse to accept me onto the Housing Register?
What do I do if my circumstances change?
Do I need to renew my application each year?
What if someone in my household has a medical condition?
How often are properties advertised?
Where are properties advertised?
What information will the property adverts contain?
Will I know how many other people are interested in the same property?
If I successfully bid for a rented property, can the landlord refuse to let it to me?
If I am offered a property, will I be able to view it before making up my mind?
What if I don’t like the property when I have seen it?
How will I know what has happened to the properties advertised?
What other options are there for housing?
How do I request an appeal or a review of a decision?
What is choice based lettings?
Choice based letting is a new way of allocating social housing. Local authorities and housing associations are being encouraged to allow people more choice in where they live. Local authorities and housing associations will no longer be contacting the household with the most points on the waiting list when a property becomes vacant, instead households will be able to view which properties are vacant each week and express an interest in the properties that they would like to move into.
Why use choice based lettings?
Choice based lettings is a simple, transparent scheme that gives households a more active role in choosing where they live. The scheme puts the customer in the driving seat. The scheme is not the answer to the housing shortage and we will not be able to house everyone on the housing register. However, the scheme offers more choice and control than the current way of allocating homes.
What is Cheshire homechoice?
Cheshire homechoice is a housing partnership between Cheshire East Borough Council, Plus Dane Group, Wulvern Housing and Peaks & Plains Housing Trust.
Households looking for a new home in the area can register with Cheshire homechoice by completing one application form which will register them for properties with all partners. There is one allocations policy so all properties will be allocated in the same way by every partner.
How do customers register with Cheshire homechoice?
If you were already registered with one of the partners your application will have been automatically transferred to the new system. If you are making a fresh application, you can apply to join the register by completing a Cheshire homechoice application form available online, or from any of our partner's offices or customer service centres. Please note that the application form consists of 2 parts and you will need to firstly submit your household details followed by a full and detailed application form.
Click here to complete an application onlineWhere will properties be advertised?
Properties are advertised on this website. Copies of our weekly property shop newsletter will also be available in the offices of our partners each week. For those with special requirements, copies of newsletters are available by request from your local partner office or by calling our helpline on 0300 123 5031
How will I express an interest in properties?
Customers will be able to express an interest in (or “bid” for) properties by telephone, online and in person at any of our partner offices.
Telephone help & bid line 0300 123 5031
On line at www.cheshirehomechoice.org.uk
Can I express an interest in every property each week?
No. You will only be able to express an interest in up to 3 properties each week. You will also only be able to express an interest in properties that you are eligible for. For example, a single person with no children will not normally be able to express an interest in a house with 3 bedrooms.
What is a “star rating?”
Cheshire homechoice will give priority to those in most need of a new home. Once we have received an application to join the register, we will assess the applicants circumstances and then place them into a band, called “star rating”. There are five star ratings 1-5 with those most in need being placed in the 5 star category. A full explanation of the star ratings is available in the “prioritising applications” section. It is also worth noting that the star rating system does not necessarily impact on your access to the "Homes to Buy" & "Shared Ownership" properties these properties are often allocated on a first come first served basis or based on a customer's ability to obtain a mortgage.
Click here to go to the prioritising applications sectionWhen are properties advertised?
New properties will appear on this website at 12.01am each Wednesday.
How do landlords decide whom to offer a new home to?
After the properties have been advertised for a short period, the landlord of the property will look at the list of all of the households who have expressed an interest in each property. The household with the highest star rating will normally be selected as long as they meet the criteria set out in the advertisement and the Cheshire homechoice policy. If there is more than one applicant with the same star rating, the household with the earliest “effective date” will be considered first. (The “effective date” is the date that the registration was placed into the star rating band).
Who can apply for properties through Cheshire Homechoice?
You must have been accepted onto the Cheshire homechoice housing register to be able to apply for the homes advertised. Anyone over the age of 16 may apply to join the register but some people may be excluded.
How do I apply to join the Housing Register?
You will need to complete an application form. You can complete an application on-line on this website. If you cannot access the internet or you are having trouble with the online form, please contact the helpline on 0300 123 5031 to discuss ways in which we can support you in your application. Often an application can be completed over the phone or we can make you an appointment to meet with a member of the team to complete your application face to face.
Click here to complete an online application
What other documents do I need to provide?
Along with your application form you will need to provide the following:
- Evidence of your right to reside in the UK if you are not a British Citizen (e.g. passport & other relevant Home Office documentation)
- Additional documentation to support your housing need
Before you are offered a property you will need to provide additional documents to support your application. The landlord making the offer will advise you about which documents to provide and when to provide them.
All documents provided must NOT be originals, but must be up-to-date copies and valid. For a full list of acceptable documents contact the Homechoice Team 0300 123 5031.
What happens if I do not provide the required documents?
We will need to make sure that you are eligible to join the housing register before you are given a priority star rating and so you will need to provide the documentation as quickly as possible. When we are sure that you are eligible, you will be placed into a star rating, but f your application might attract a higher priority (for reasons such as medical or welfare reasons) this will not be awarded until we have received proof of your circumstances.
How do I know if I have been accepted onto the Housing Register?
You will receive a letter confirming that you have been accepted onto the register. This will tell you the star rating that you have been placed in, the date that you were placed in this star rating ( the effective date) and the date that you were registered from (normally the date that we received your application).
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;
- Certain people who are subject to Immigration Control under the 1996 Asylum and Immigration Act.
- Certain 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) who have been guilty of unacceptable behaviour that makes them unsuitable to be a tenant.
For more detailed information contact our Team on 0300 123 5031, or view our policy on this site by clicking here
What do I do if my circumstances change?
It is important that you tell us of any changes to your circumstances so that your application can be amended, you can do this on line or by calling us on 0300 123 503. We will tell you if this makes a difference to your star rating and any change to your applicable date (this will change if you move to a higher priority star rating and represents the date that that priority was first awarded)
Do I need to renew my application each year?
Yes, once a year, normally on the anniversary of your application. You will be notified and asked to confirm your details on line or by post. If you wish to remain registered you will need to renew within 28 days of the renewal date. If you fail to do this your registration will be cancelled and you will need to re-register if you wish to express an interest in any of our properties. We will initiate this renewal process, but it is your responsibility to keep us updated if your circumstances change. If you move house and you have not updated your records your housing application will be closed and your effective date and registration date will be lost.
What if someone in my household has a medical condition?
If someone in your household has a medical condition with is impacted by their current accommodation you will be asked to provide details, which will be considered. However prioirity will only be awarded if a move will ease or resolve the condition. You can continue to choose which properties to express an interest in but should be mindful of your condition and only express interest in suitable properties such as ground floor flat or bungalow if you cannot climb stairs.
How often are properties advertised?
Properties available for rent are advertised each week from 12.01 am each Wednesday. As soon as we are given formal notice that a property is due to become vacant we will advertise it. For more details click here to go to our step-by-step guide to using the service.
Where are properties advertised?
Properties are advertised in the following ways:
- Online at www.cheshirehomechoice.org.uk
- In a newsletter and on display from your local partner office
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 property type will be provided and you will be able to access information about the local area and facilities. The advert will also tell you if there are any special requirements that the applicant must meet, such as age requirements or a requirement for support or adaptations. It also tells you the number of bedrooms that applicants applying for the property need to be entitled to. If your bedroom entitlement is different to this you will not be able to bid for that property.
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 frequently due to other people bidding for the same property. Using this information you may decide to withdraw your bid for one property and bid for a different property for which you are higher placed in the queue. You can do this at any time before the closing date.
If I successfully bid for a rented property, can the landlord refuse to let it to me?
You may not be invited to view the property for the following reasons:
- 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 resources to access accommodation at market rent value or buy your own home
- 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.
If I am offered a property, will I be able to view it before making up my mind?
You will be given an opportunity to view the property and decide whether you would like to accept it.
What if I don’t like the property when I have seen it?
You will not normally be penalised for refusing a property that you have been offered as long as the refusal is on reasonable grounds and you will still be able to express interest in other properties that become available.
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. We tell you the number of applicants that expressed an interest in each property, the star rating and the registration date of each successful applicant. To see the results of properties that have been let click Recent Lets.
This information 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 other options are there for housing?
Depending on your circumstances you may wish to consider other options such as renting in the private sector. We may be able to help you with a deposit for private rented if you meet certain criteria. Interviews to discuss your housing options are available by appointment from Cheshire East's Housing Options Team. (click here to go to the website) or ring 0300 123 5017 (option 2) to speak to an advisor.
What if I become homeless?
Households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness will be dealt with outside the scheme. You should contact the Councils Housing Options Team on 0300 123 5017 (option 2) to arrange an interview to discuss your circumstances. (click here to go to the website). They will work with you to try to prevent you becoming homeless and will discuss your housing options with you. If this is unsuccessful you may be offered temporary housing. You may still express an interest in properties through Cheshire homechoice, providing your application has been accepted on the Housing Register.
How do I request an appeal or a review of a decision?
Reviews
Customers have the right to request a review against decisions made in the allocation process. These include:
- To suspend an application
- To bypass an application
- About the star rating on the housing register
- Awarding medical or welfare priority
- On their eligibility to go on the housing register
- To cancel an application.
The customer’s request for a review of the decision should be made in writing within 21 days of the original decision being made with supporting evidence telling us why they require a review of the original decision.
A senior officer from the partnership will carry out reviews. The officer will not have been involved in the original decision. The officer will consider the evidence provided and decide whether to overturn or support the original decision. The customer will be informed in writing of the decision within 21 days of receipt of the request for a review. The reply will contain the decision made, the reasons for the decision and the facts taken into account when making the decision.
Appeals
If the customer is still not happy with the decision made, they can request the Choice Based Lettings Panel to review the evidence provided and review the decision. Customers will need to do this in writing within 21 days of the review letter being sent. The Choice Based Lettings Panel will have 42 days in which to review the supporting evidence and respond in writing to the customer of the decision made.