CBL went LIVE on Friday16 April !!
Choice-Based Lettings is live in Mid Sussex!
The Council introduced Choice-Based Lettings (CBL) of social housing in Mid Sussex on 16 April 2010.
We have joined the Sussex Homemove scheme, which is an established partnership of 11 authorities in East and West Sussex who are operating CBL. However, Affinity Sutton (previously known as Downland Housing Association) will continue to run the Common Housing Register under contract with the Council.
Download a leaflet about How to apply for social housing in Mid Sussex (pdf, 1.37mb)
Download a copy of our new Allocation Scheme that will operate from 16 April 2010 (pdf, 156kb)
Who do I contact if I have any questions?
The Common Housing Register Team
Affinity Sutton
Norris House
Burrell Road
Haywards Heath
RH16 1YL
Tel: 0845 688 7717
chrHousingApplication@affinitysutton.com
What is Choice-Based Lettings (CBL)?
Choice-Based Lettings gives people more choice about where they live. It introduces a new way of letting housing association homes across the district. Rather than the Council and Affinity Sutton allocating properties, the scheme enables applicants to 'bid' for the homes you like by registering an interest in them. All available homes will be advertised on the Sussex Homemove website www.homemove.org.uk where you can photos and descriptions of each one. People seeking to move will be put into one of four bands according to their housing need - this will replace the complex points system we have been using in the past.
How do I get on to the scheme?
Click on the 'Register online' button in the top right hand corner of your screen to go to the online application form. You will be asked to create a username and password when you start filling in the form. The form can take 2 hours to complete, but as long as you save what you've completed as you go along, you don't have to finish the form all at once. You can log back on at a later date to complete the form. Your form is not submitted until you press the 'submit' button at the end of the form.
Form broken? Report it to HousingAdvice@midsussex.gov.uk
For help and assistance for older people who want to register online contact the Age Concern Outreach Service on 01444 452253.
I'm already on the Mid Sussex Common Housing Register. Do I have to re-register for CBL?
Yes, you do. We have written to you telling you that you will need to re-register to stay on the list, and you need to do this as soon as possible if you want to take part in CBL. Don't worry, you will keep your original date of registration and you can re-register after 16 April if you wish.
For further answers to questions you may have about re-registering see our FAQ about re-registering.
What happens after I have registered for CBL?
You will be sent a registration pack containing your new membership number (which you will need in order to bid), details of the Band you have been placed in and and your Priority Date, together with a copy of the Scheme User Guide. You will also be sent paper coupons for bidding through the post if this is what you prefer. The first round of bidding for homes starts on Friday 16 April 2010 and ends the following Wednesday at 2pm.
What if my registration pack doesn't arrive?
Please contact the Common Housing Register Team on 0845 688 7717 if you have registered online but your pack doesn't arrive in time.
What are the Bands?
Instead of the Points Scheme we use now, people will be placed into one of four bands that show their priority for housing. Full details of who goes it which band are set out at the end of our booklet "How to apply for social housing". (pdf 1.37mb)
- Band A is for households with an urgent need to move.
- Band B is for households with a high priority to move.
- Band C is for households with an identified housing need.
- Band D is for households with no other housing need but interested in affordable housing.
Once Choice-Based Lettings starts, how will housing be allocated?
Every two weeks we will advertise all the available empty properties on the Sussex Homemove website www.homemove.org.uk. The property advert will tell you all about the property, for example how many bedrooms, what the rent is, who the landlord is and if any restrictions apply.
You can bid for the properties you are interested in and eligible for. All the bids for a property are recorded in priority order by band, local connection with Mid Sussex and time on the register. Once the time for bidding is closed the Common Housing Register Team contacts those at the top of the shortlist to offer the property.
You can make bids via the website, by telephone, by text message or by posting a special paper coupon which you will be sent with your registration pack.
What type of property can I bid for?
You can bid for any type of property but we will normally advertise property based on the following criteria:
- Property size - the property advert includes how many bedrooms the property has and a minimum/maximum number of people in the household that can apply.
- Adapted properties and those with a mobility code may be reserved for people with a confirmed requirement or need.
- Ground floor accommodation may be offered only to those people who have an agreed need for such properties.
- Sheltered accommodation is only available for people who meet the age requirements or other specific needs.
- Rural properties Some properties in rural areas will be restricted to applicants with a proven connection to the village or parish.
- New housing developments First lettings of new housing developments will be offered first to people who have a local connection with the town or village where the new homes are.
How many bids can I make?
You can bid for up to three properties in every fortnightly cycle. Each cycle begins when the property list is published on a Friday morning and the bidding deadline will be 2pm on the following Wednesday.
Once I've made a bid can I change my mind?
Yes - before bidding closes you can change or withdraw your bid if you want to and later on you can choose to refuse an offer if that is your decision. There is no advantage given to people who bid early. Your bid will be considered so long as you bid before bidding closes at 2pm on the Wednesday of that cycle.
How do I know if my bid is successful?
If you are offered a property, the housing association will contact you to make an arrangement for you to view it as soon as possible. You can decide to accept or refuse the offer when you view the property or within 24 hours of viewing. We can make arrangements if you have any special needs or requirements. We will not write to you if your bid is not successful but we will publish feedback about the number of bids we had for each property and what band the successful bidder was in.
I'm homeless - can I still choose a home through Choice-Based Lettings?
Yes - but you will have to bid within a time limit, after which we may bid on your behalf if you haven't been successful.
Can I still bid if I am in rent arrears?
You can bid for properties you are eligible for but we will not normally make an offer of accommodation to a transfer applicant in rent arrears. If you want to move, it is important that you keep your rent payments up to date.
Looking to do a mutual exchange? Affinity Sutton tenants get free membership with Homeswapper - one of a number of national mutual exchange sites for council and housing association tenants wishing to swap homes with their landlords' permission.
Downloads/Links
On-line Housing Application Form
Form broken? Report it to HousingAdvice@
midsussex.gov.uk
For help and assistance for older people who want to re-register online contact the Age Concern Outreach Service on 01444 452253.
How to apply for social housing in Mid Sussex Leaflet (pdf, 1.37mb)
New revised Housing Allocation Scheme for CBL from April 2010 (pdf, 156kb)
FAQ about re-registration
Sussex Homemove website
