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Your questions answered

Background

Homes for Bolton has a choice-based lettings scheme which has been designed to create greater choice for
people looking for housing. Every effort has been made to create a simple and open system which is accessible
and understandable by everyone. If you are accepted on the register you will be able to apply for council and
housing association properties in Bolton.

1. Can anyone apply to go on the housing register?
2. How do I register?
3. Where will properties be advertised?
4. How will I know if the property is suitable for me or not?
5. How do I apply for properties I am interested in?
6. What happens next?
7. Can I refuse an offer of a property?
8. How can I find out what position I came for a property I have expressed an interest in?
9. What if I am in immediate or urgent housing need?
10. What if I have changed my circumstances or address?

1. Can anyone apply to go on the housing register?

Anyone aged 16 or over can register on the scheme. Your eligibility will be checked on application.
Housing applicants with a current or former debt of £400 or
more including rent,housing benefit overpayment and / or
rechargeable repairs will be referred to the landlord to whom they owe money and will not be able to register.
Customers with a debt below £400 must establish an agreement to pay and maintain regular payments.

2. How do I register?

You need to print off and complete a registration form to join the scheme. When you have completed and returned this form you will be sent a letter containing your registration date and number. Keep this safe when it arrives.

3. Where will properties be advertised?

They will be advertised:

on the Homes for Bolton website: www.homesforbolton.org.uk
on posters in local housing offices - a list of housing offices is available on request
in the Central Library
in the Town Hall

4. How will I know if the property is suitable for me or not?

Each property will have a short description including the address, the type and size of the property including the number of bedrooms, any special features, the rent and the name of the landlord. There may also be special criteria set (for example, you might have to be over a certain age to live there). Check the address is in an area where you want to live. If the property has special criteria you must check that you meet this criteria before you express an interest in the property concerned.

5. How do I apply for properties I am interested in?

You can do this in a number of ways:

telephone the Find a Home team on: 01204 335811
text the Find a Home team on 07789 031545 with your name, date of birth, registration number, property reference and address
call in person to 1 Silverwell Lane Bolton
call in person to any Housing Office in Bolton
register your expression of interest on the Homes for Bolton website: www.homesforbolton.org.uk

You have a full seven days to express interest in a property from the date it is advertised. All expressions of interest must be received no later than 4.00pm on the Tuesday following the Wednesday advert.

You can express interest in one or two properties in any one advert.

6. What happens next?

Generally the offer of the tenancy will be made to the person who has been registered the longest with the Choice Based Letting scheme.

People who are assessed as being in immediate or urgent housing need are considered before other applicants.

If you are going to be offered a tenancy, you will be contacted within seven days of the advert deadline. The housing officer will check you meet the criteria and ask you to provide two references. The details provided by you may be shared with other public bodies, including the police for the prevention and detection of crime.

NB: Any previous or current arrears, property damage or anti social behaviour will be taken into account when allocating a property.

Unfortunately, we are unable to tell you straight away whether or not you have been successful so please bear with us while we process the applications.

7. Can I refuse an offer of a property?

You will be given an opportunity to view the property by appointment only.

If you decide it is not suitable you must let the housing officer know as soon as possible for you to remain on the register and express interest in other properties.

NB: Please be aware that failure to respond to two offers or refusing three offers could result in your registration being cancelled.

8. How can I find out what position I came for a property I have expressed an interest in?

You can view information about previously advertised properties in the 'Expression results' section of this website. This shows the number of people expressing interest in each property and the earliest registration date of those customers who expressed an interest. It is important that you consider this information when expressing an interest. Some properties will require a longer date of registration than others and will attract more expressions of interest than others.

9. What if I am in immediate or urgent housing need?

The council may have a legal responsibility towards people who have nowhere to live or who are at risk in their current accommodation. If you need help or want further information contact:

Homeless Welfare on 01204 335830 or
Housing Advice Service on 01204 335900 or
Customer Support Team on 01204 335814

We also advertise 'Homes Available Now' properties that have been previously advertised and are available on a first come, first served basis.

10. What if I have changed my circumstances or address?

If you have a change in your circumstances or address please fill in the change of circumstance and/or change of address forms and return them to the Find a Home team.

If you feel you have been treated unfairly or have been offered a property and the housing office has refused to
accommodate you please look on the website or contact the Find a Home Team to discuss the appeal process.