The Government has asked all local authorities to introduce a
new approach to letting council and housing association homes
called Choice Based Lettings. The main difference between the new
approach and what happens now is available homes will be advertised
and you will be able to express an interest in the homes that suit
your requirements.
Properties will still be offered to those assessed as being in
the most need but this new approach will give you a greater choice
in selecting where you wish to live and is designed to give you a
true understanding of your housing options.
Introducing Gateway to Homechoice
Choice Based Lettings is being introduced in this district and
right across the Greater Haven Gateway area, under the name Gateway
to Homechoice, from January to April 2009. The councils
included in the scheme are Babergh, Braintree, Colchester, Maldon,
Mid Suffolk, Ipswich and Suffolk Coastal. Tendring Council have
deferred their decision to join the scheme at the present time.
When Gateway to Homechoice is introduced we will all use a new
shared application form and computer system and have the same
allocations policy which will have a new system of five bands (see
the draft allocations policy at the bottom of this
page for more details about the new banding system).
All empty council and housing association homes in the seven
council areas will be advertised on a website, at local offices and
in a property newsletter. You will then be able to tell us which
properties you are interested in, giving you more choice over where
you live and more control over when you move. Previously people had
no choice about where they live, a vacancy was offered to the
person with the highest housing need, who had little choice on
where it was.
We will be able to offer the property to the interested
applicant in the highest need (in the highest band). If two
applicants in the same band are interested in the same property, it
will be offered to the applicant who has been waiting the
longest.
Registering for Gateway to Homechoice
If you are an existing applicant on the housing needs register,
we will be asking you to re-register if you still want to be
housed. You will be asked to complete an online application form
(or over the phone if you do not have access to a computer) and
then you will be notified of your banding for the new Gateway to
Homechoice scheme.
We will be setting up helplines and arranging drop in sessions
where you can come to talk about your circumstances and banding
with a housing officer.
Your present housing application will remain with us until the
scheme is introduced and we will continue to allocate as normal
until then.
Allocations policy
You can out more more about the new banding system and how the
Gateway to Homechoice scheme will operate in the
draft allocations policy (new window PDF
351KB).
Follow this link for help downloading and opening PDF files.
Further information
We will be updating this page with more details about the scheme
and how it will work. If you would like further information you can
contact Nicola Clarke on 01394 444214 or email
nicola.clarke@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk.