Choice Based Lettings

The way in which social housing is allocated across the Greater Haven Gateway is set to change at the end of 2008.

The Greater Haven Gateway sub-region consists of Seven Local authorities who will be introducing a common housing register and choice based lettings (CBL) scheme, which will affect those in the local authorities mentioned below who are registered for housing.

The government has asked all local authorities to introduce a new method of letting social housing by 2010 called Choice Based Lettings.

The main difference to the existing process is that 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.

The 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. The new system is expected to operate from February/March 2009, Choice Based Lettings will run right across the Greater Haven Gateway sub-region of the East of England.

The authorities included in this 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. We will use a shared application form, common allocations policy and a shared computer system.

Babergh District Council

Braintree District Council

Colchester Borough Council

Ipswich Borough Council

Maldon District Council

Mid Suffolk District Council

Suffolk Coastal District Council

Tendring Council have deferred their decision at this time to join the sub-regional scheme. We will use a shared application form, common allocations policy and a shared computer system.

A new common allocations policy has been produced to use with the Choice Based Lettings scheme. The policy has now been approved and can be downloaded here.

When we introduce Choice Based Lettings we will be moving from our current system of allocating to a new system of five bands. The majority of our empty properties will be advertised and 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.

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.

In October/November this year we will be asking you to re-register your transfer application if you are still interested in being housed. We are going to ask you to complete an on-line application form as we need to ask you more questions. If you do not have access to a computer, we will give you a telephone number to ring and we will complete the form with you over the phone. We will then determine your banding from the information you have given us and you will be notified of your banding for the Greater Haven Gateway scheme.

Your present housing application will remain with us and we will continue to allocate as normal until the scheme is introduced from February 09 onwards. There will be a contact number to ring in case you have any queries.

Moat will continue to operate its own transfer list and if you do not re-register for the Gateway to Homechoice scheme, you will remain on this list but, most of their properties will be advertised through the Gateway to Homechoice scheme.

From October onwards we will be able to release more details about the scheme and how it will work. Everyone on the register will be contacted with details on how to use the new system. There will be free training available.

We are now developing our scheme and existing applicants will be contacted during the next few months giving them details of how the scheme will operate and what they will need to do to take part in the scheme.

For further information please contact our Customer Services on 01621 854477 or email us on homechoice@maldon.gov.uk

If you wish to find out more about the scheme please download our latest newsletter.

With the launch of Choice Based Lettings you will need to bid for properties in a number of ways which include, internet, text by mobile phone, interactive telephone, in person at a local office or by an advocate.

Why not contact your local library for more details and get yourself signed up for a course which are Free and help you to get bidding in 2009.

Maldon Library - Tel:- 01621 853 556 or email Maldon.Library@essexcc.gov.uk or http://www.ukonlinecentres.com

or telephone 0800 77 1234