Who are Coast and Countryside Housing Services?

Formerly Shepway Housing Services, we are the Housing arm of Shepway District Council. We manage the Council's housing stock and administer Shepway Housing List for the Council and the Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)s listed below.

What is the Shepway Housing List?

The Shepway Housing List is a record of people looking for housing in the Shepway area. We can nominate people for either our own properties (Council) or any of the local Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)s listed below:

• CDS Co-operative Housing Society Ltd
• Housing 21
• Hyde Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)
• Hanover Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)
• Moat Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)
• North British Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)
• Orbit Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)
• Sanctuary Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)
• Southern Housing Group
• New Downland Housing Group

(Contact information for these Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)s is available.  Between them, the Council and these Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)s have more than 5,000 rented homes throughout the Shepway District.

Will I get re-housed?

There is a high demand and a limited supply of housing in Shepway. On average, there are ten applicants for every vacancy that become available each year. So we cannot guarantee that every applicant will be offered accommodation through the Shepway Housing List.

Some property types, like larger family accommodation and bungalows, are in very short supply, and are not evenly spread over the district. If you limit your choice of area to a particular part of the Shepway district, you may need to wait longer for a suitable vacancy to occur.

What is the Points System?

The Points System is the way we make sure applicants in the greatest need get a move into secure affordable accommodation with the Council and the Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)s listed. You can find the points system for new housing applicants in Table 1 below.

What are Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)s?

Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)s are non-profit making organisations registered with a Government agency, the Housing Corporation. Like the Council, Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)s provide all types of housing at affordable rents. Your security in a Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association) tenancy is very similar to the security you get with a Council tenancy.

Can anyone apply for re-housing?

Yes, the Shepway Housing List is open to everyone.

However, there may be restrictions that prevent you from being offered accommodation. For example, applicants must be on the Shepway housing list for at least 12 months and have lived in Shepway for three or more years before the Council can offer accommodation. Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)s have different restrictions for example, the amount of income you earn or savings you may have. Unless stated otherwise, you do not usually need a local connection to be offered accommodation by a Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association).

How do I apply?

You apply by filling in just one simple housing application form. This same form will be used by all the Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)s mentioned in this booklet as well as the Council.

If you would like a copy of the form or more information, you can contact the:-

• Shepway Housing Centre
• Civic Centre
• Council's District Offices in Hythe or Lydd
• One-Stop Shop at New Romney, or
• Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association) offices

If you already have an Application form you can download guidance notes to help you fill in the form Guidance Notes.

What happens when I send in my application form?

We will give your points based on the information you have given us on your form. See Table 1 below for details on the points and what they are awarded for:

We will write and tell you the number of points you have been given within two to three weeks. The more points you have, the greater your need is for housing and the sooner we will be able to offer you accommodation.

We write to you every 12 months, asking you if you want to stay on the housing list. You must complete and return the form straight away or we will remove your name from the housing list.

You must let us know straight away about any changes in your circumstances. We will give you another form to fill in. This will not affect the date of your application but your points may change. You should also tell us if you no longer need property with the Council or a Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association) so that your name can be removed from the waiting list.

Shepway housing list points scheme - Table 1

1. You and your family.

Living apart Only applies if all the people applying have lived together as a family before 15

Overcrowding - you need a bedroom for: a couple; a single parent; each person aged 17 years or over; A child aged 10 years or over who would otherwise share with another child of the opposite sex   one bedroom missing 15 two bedrooms missing 45 for further bedrooms missing 30

Pregnancy If it is likely to result in overcrowding 15

Regular moves - i.e. more than two addresses in two years 3 addresses 5 4 or more 10 (this does not apply to Armed Forces or students)

Facilities for children Children aged over 4 years and no garden or play area 10 Children aged 4 years or under living above first floor without a lift 10

2. Your present home

Security For Assured shorthold (except Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)s) 5 If you are leaving tied employment in next 12 months 5 If you are leaving Armed Forces service in next 12 Months 5 If a Notice to Quit has been issued 15 If there is a Court order pending 15

Lacking or sharing facilities - Lacking Sharing Living room 10 5 or 10 Drying space 5 - Kitchen 15 5 or 10 Bathroom 15 5 or 10 Inside WC 15 5 or 10 Hot water 15 - Storage (only eligible if live above 1st floor) 5 - Heating 10 -

Poor layout 10

State of repair

Our Environmental Health Officers will tell us how many Points we can give you in this section if it applies to you.

Likely to endanger health for example, high levels of damp, poor insulation, poor lighting and ventilation. You will get double points if you are elderly, disabled or a child aged 5 years or under. 15 Dangerous electrical or similar installations or structure or serious repair problems. You will get double points if you are elderly, disabled or a child aged 5 years or under. 30

3. Health Needs

You will only get points if re-housing will make your health condition more tolerable - Acute need for example, a worsening or terminal illness, severe chronic illness, severe physical or mental disability 200 Serious need for example, a serious medical or Degenerative illness, physical or mental disability 100 Significant need for example, a medical condition, physical or mental disability significantly worsened by current housing condition 30 Low need for example, any other medical condition, physical or mental disability where current housing conditions have a less significant affect 5 Other special needs for example, care in the community 30

4. Social needs (awarded with supported documentation)

You must supply written proof of evidence to be awarded points in this section. Threats of violence or harassment Max 30 To give or receive support 10 Distance from facilities 10 Needing sheltered accommodation 20 Other factors Max 10

What happens if I am offered housing?

We can make you an offer of accommodation if you have the highest number of points on the waiting list for the type of accommodation most suited to your needs in your chosen area. The offer would be subject to any restrictions set by the Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association) or the Council.

If you are offered Council accommodation

One of our Housing Officers will write to you telling you about the property. They will make arrangements to view the property with you and explain about any repairs, maintenance or decorations that need to be done. They will also discuss the tenancy agreement with you.

We try to give as much notice as possible about the date we expect you to move in, but usually this is fairly soon after you have seen the property. You will get a copy of the tenant handbook which gives useful information about what you can expect as a tenant.

If you are offered Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association) accommodation

We will tell you that we have put forward your name as a nomination to the Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association) for a vacancy that has become available. We give two nominations to Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)s for each vacancy they tell us about. This is because Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association)s reserve their right to offer accommodation to an applicant of their choosing. The Registered Social Landlords (formerly Housing Association) will contact you about arrangements for you to be considered for theproperty.

What happens if I turn down the offer of accommodation?

You need to think very carefully before you turn down any offer of accommodation. We will not give you another offer of accommodation for at least 12 months unless you have a good reason to turn down the offer. The only reasons we are likely to consider reasonable are:-

• the offer would result in unreasonably overcrowded conditions, either immediately or in the future
• the property is not in the area of the applicant's choice
• the property is unsuitable for the applicant or a member of the applicant's family on medical grounds
• the rent payable is more than 25% of the total income of the household after deductions
• there are reasonable grounds to suggest that the applicant, or members of the applicant's family, would be at risk of violence or harassment if the accommodation were accepted.

You can appeal against our decision but you must put your reasons in writing to us. An Appeals Committee will look at your circumstances and decide how long you must wait before another offer of accommodation can be made. The Appeals Committee is made up of a group of councillors and senior housing staff.

Created : Tue,01 May 2007
Updated : -