Bradford
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- how to use the service
- frequently asked questions
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frequently asked questions
1. who can apply ?
2. how will my application be assessed ?
3. what kind of checks will be carried out ?
4. what are the different housing needs bands?
5. how will I know which band I am in ?
6. what is a bid ?
7. how are properties allocated ?
8. how will I know which properties are available and if I am eligible to bid for them ?
9. I have children. How many bedrooms are they entitled to?
10. what is a property cycle?
11.what do I do if I see a property I like ?
12. do positions change during the cycle ?
13. how long will I have to wait for a reply to my bids ?
14. what if I don't hear anything from homes ?
15. if I am offered a property, can I view it before making up my mind ?
16. what if I don't like the property when I view it ?
17. what if I am homeless or threatened with homelessness ?
18. what if I am disabled or my reason for applying is due to my disability ?
19. what if I am not happy with a decision you make ?
20. what if I am currently suspended from applying from open moves or housing association accommodation ?
21. how can I change the details on my application ?
22. how do I renew my application ?
23. help! I've forgotten my username or password
24. how will I know what has happened to the properties advertised?
25. what if my home is too big for me ?
26. how do I rent a garage ?
27. I am already a Housing Association tenant, how do I swap my home with another tenant ? (sometimes called a mutual exchange)
28. How long will I have to wait for a property?
1. who can apply ?
Anyone who has been accepted on to the open moves housing register is able to use the service. To apply to join the housing register applicants should be over 18 years of age. However, in certain circumstances and, subject to a housing options interview and assessment, applicants aged 16 to 18 may be able to apply.
If you are moving into your first independent home we may set you up with a tenancy support plan and help you with certain things like contacting gas and electricity suppliers or completing housing benefit forms. This additional support will give you a great chance to make your tenancy a success.
To register and look for your new home simply:
login to your account or complete the online application form. If you prefer you can call our helpline on 0845 141 6666 where a member of staff will be happy to assist you.
You should be aware that before you can start bidding for a home, you may be required to provide proof of identification and circumstances.
2. how will my application be assessed ?
We will assess and verify the information that you provide to us on your application form to assess your level of priority.
It may be necessary to visit you at home to check the information.
If it is relevant and you allow us to do so, we will talk to your social worker, doctor, occupational therapist or carer to get more information about your housing or medical needs.
After your application has been assessed you will be placed in one of four priority bands as explained in Q4 below.
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3. what kind of checks will be carried out ?
They may include references from a current or previous landlord and confirmation that the details you have given are correct. Any previous or current rent arrears, property damage and anti-social behaviour will also be looked in to.
Before you are offered a property you will be asked to proved further documents to support your application. We will tell you what documents to provide and when to provide them.
All documents provided must be originals, up to date and valid. If you do not fill in the application form properly it will be returned to you. Your registration date will be the date the fully completed form is received.
If you do not provide us with the documents required your application may be accepted on to the housing register but will not be awarded any priority. Once the documents are received your application will be assessed and placed in the appropriate band from the date the documents were received.
You should be aware that any details provided will be shared with other Housing Associations on the open moves scheme.
(Incommunities is registered to do this under the Data Protection Act 1998. A copy of the Incommunities registration is held for inspection at our Head Office address: Incommunities, Trust House, 5 New Augustus Street, Bradford, BD1 5LL)
4. what are the different housing needs bands?
Following the assessment of your application, you will be placed in one of the following priority bands:
- Band A; urgent need
- Band B; high need
- Band C; medium need
- Band D; general need
Details of each band are given below:
Band A; urgent need
- People who are homeless and owed the 'full duty' as defined by s193 Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended by the Homeless Act 2002) and/or people who are threatened with homelessness and owed a duty under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended by the Homeless Act 2002) should they become homeless
- Housing association tenants who are under-occupying flats & maisonettes suitable for children in high demand areas or houses by one or more bedrooms (properties vacated through this initiative will be allocated to customers in Band A and Band B)
- Clients ''bed blocking'' in hospital requiring urgent discharge (bed blocking is where a client is occupying a hospital bed that they no longer need, but cannot be discharged home due to unsuitability of their present accommodation)
Band B; high need
- People who need to move on medical or welfare grounds, including grounds relating to a disability (including disabled/complex health or welfare needs requiring specialist/accessible accommodation, which will be let by able living)
- People who are overcrowded by 2 or more bedrooms
- Applicants fleeing domestic violence as per the district-wide protocol
- Care leavers and children assessed by Social Services as in need or at risk (where housing is a factor)
Band C; medium need
- Other homeless - homeless under part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended by the Homeless Act 2002) but not owed the 'full duty'
- People who are overcrowded by 1 bed, or who are occupying unsanitary and unsatisfactory housing conditions
- People residing in an insecure tenancy that is coming to an end
- People leaving supported accommodation
- Assessed disability/health need
- People who need to move to a particular locality in Bradford, where failure to meet that need would cause hardship to themselves or others. This includes the need to move to a specific location (for example to gain employment, or to give or receive evidenced care)
Band D; general need
- All customers not in first three bands
5. how will I know which band I am in ?
Once the housing options team or able living have assessed your current circumstances, they will write to you to confirm the band you have been placed in.
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6. what is a bid ?
This is the way that you register your interest in an available property.
Please use your bid wisely as you are only allowed 2 bids on each cycle.
hint: the time you bid on a property during the cycle has no effect on your final bid position, so don't rush in at the beginning of the cycle when its likely our helpline and website will be very busy with enquiries. Please take your time to assess what choices of properties are available and remember that it may be better to place your bids towards the end of the cycle when you will have a better idea of your bidding position.
To see what properties you are eligible to bid for you must login to your account. If you do not have an account you can register by clicking here or contacting the helpline. Click how to contact us for contact details and opening hours.
7. how are properties allocated ?
Due to the shortage of social housing to rent in Bradford, we aim to ensure that the homes that are available are offered to those in the greatest housing need and that we continue to offer choice.
Vacant properties will therefore be allocated through two routes -
1) The housing needs route
Preference will be given in the following order -
- Band A; urgent need
- Band B; high need
- Band C; medium need
- Band D; general need
Waiting time on the register will be taken in to account when determining priority between customers in the same band.
75% of available properties will be advertised through this route.
2) The waiting time route -
Preference will be given to customers who have waited the longest.
25% of available properties will be advertised through this route.
These percentages are reviewed on an annual basis.
8. how will I know which properties are available & if I am eligible to bid for them ?
Properties shown on the website have a description including the number of bedrooms, minimum age requirements, special features, local facilities and the weekly rent to help you decide if a property is suitable for you.
Each property will feature a lettings criterion (e.g the minimum and maximum number of occupants) whether children or pets are allowed in order to ensure that the property is let appropriately to those that are eligible for it.
You can click on the property search tab to see all available properties on the current cycle but you will need to login to your account to check if you are eligible to bid for a property.
9. I have children. How many bedrooms are they entitled to ?
A standard number of bedrooms are allocated to each household in accordance with its age/sex/marital status composition and the relationship of the members with one another.
A separate bedroom is allocated to:
- each married or cohabiting couple
- any other person aged 21 or over
- each pair of adolescents aged 1 - 20 of the same gender
- each pair of children aged under 8 regardless of gender
- adolescents aged 9 - 20 of different genders will qualify for their own bedroom
Households including a pregnancy will be allowed to bid for appropriately sized properties in anticipation of their future needs. Proof of your pregnancy will be required before the extra bedroom entitlement can be awarded.
Foster carers; long term foster carers are eligible to bid for properties to reflect their future needs. Relevant evidence on the placement of foster children must be provided before the extra bedroom/s entitlement can be awarded
10. what is a property cycle ?
Properties are advertised on a weekly basis. This period of advertising is called a 'cycle'. A new cycle starts every Wednesday at 12.01am and finishes the following Monday evening at 11.59pm.
There are no properties advertised on a Tuesday.
11. what do I do if I see a property I like ?
If you see a property you like and want to bid, you can do this in a number of different ways.
You can login to your account on your own computer or by visiting any one of our access points.
If you prefer you can call the helpline on 0845 141 6666 and press 3 'housing application' from the options menu, where a member of staff will place your bid for you.
12. do positions change during the cycle ?
Yes. Please remember that once you have bid for a property, the position you hold may change as the cycle end approaches. For example, someone else in a higher priority band or with more waiting time may bid at a later date in the cycle and be placed above you.
13. how long will I have to wait for a reply to my bids ?
Once the cycle has ended, the property will normally be offered to the person at the top of the bidding list.
If you are a successful bidder and you are short listed for a property, you will be asked to provide evidence to verify the details you have given. If the details you have provided are incorrect, we will not be able to make you an offer.
14. what if I don't hear anything from homes ?
If you don't hear anything a week after the cycle has ended, you should assume you have not been successful and should try again on the following cycle.
15. if I am offered a property, can I view it before making up my mind ?
You will only be asked to view the inside of the property if your bid has been successful. This may include you if you are one of the top 10 bidders. You are welcome to view properties from the outside and it is often a good idea to have a look around the area to see the local amenities.
16. what if I don't like the property when I view it ?
If you view the property and decide that it is not suitable for you, you will remain on the housing register and be able to bid for other properties in the future.
Please note - you will only be allowed to refuse 3 reasonable offers of accommodation. If you reach this maximum your application will be suspended for 12 months.
If you have been accepted as statutorily homeless with Band A priority, only 1 reasonable offer of accommodation will be made. If this offer is refused, you will be placed in Band C and allowed a maximum of 2 further refusals of reasonable offers.
Please note that if you are in temporary accommodation, you may be asked to leave.
17. what if I am homeless or threatened with homelessness ?
If you are looking for a home because you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, we will deal with your case under homelessness law.
The law says that in some circumstances we have a duty to provide assistance for people who are homeless. open moves homes fulfils this role on behalf of Bradford Metropolitan District Council.
In the first instance every effort will be made to help you avoid becoming homeless - this could include working with your current landlord,parents, relatives or friends etc to enable you to stay in your current home.
If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness you can contact the housing options team to arrange an interview. Click how to contact us for contact details and opening hours.
18. what if I am disabled or my reason for applying is due to my disability ?
Some people have particular housing needs because of a medical condition or a disability. If you have such needs, your application details will be considered and, if applicable, you will be referred to the able living team.
able living will assess your requirements for specialised accommodation and help you obtain a property suitable for your needs.
If you would like to talk to someone about your particular needs you can contact able living at able.living@openmoves.co.uk or by calling the helpline on 0845 141 6666.
19. what if I am not happy with a decision you make ?
We aim to make all decisions in accordance with the stated policy. However, if you feel that we have made the wrong decision, you can ask for it to be looked at again. Before asking for a review it may help you to contact our helpline to talk to us about a decision we have made. Click how to contact us for contact details and opening hours.
If after the initial telephone contact you still feel that your matter has not been dealt with to your satisfaction, you may make a written request detailing the nature of your appeal within 21 days of being informed of the decision.
An officer senior to the one who has made the decision will carry out the review within 28 days from the date the request is received.
Any matters relating to a homelessness decision are separate to this and are subject to a statutory review under part 7 of the Housing Act 1996. Any appeal relating to this should be made within 21 days of the receipt of the notification of the decision.
Please contact a member of our helpline at enquiries@openmoves.co.uk or by calling the helpline on 0845 141 6666 if you require further information.
20. what if I am currently suspended from applying for open moves or housing association accommodation ?
If you have been suspended from the open moves or any other housing association waiting lists, you will not be eligible to bid for properties through the open moves scheme. However, if you contact us or the housing association that has suspended you and arrange to repay any outstanding debts, or resolve any other outstanding issues that have caused your suspension, we will review your situation and you may be allowed to bid for properties.
If you want your suspension reviewed, you should write to the Strategic Housing Needs Manager within 28 days of the date of the suspension, giving full details of why you think the decision is wrong and and supplying any additional information which you feel might help your cause.
You will be notified of the review decision within 10 working days. Click how to contact us for contact details.
21. how can I change the details on my application ?
You will not be able to change any details on your application form once it has been submitted.
If you wish to make a change please contact the helpline. Click how to contact us for contact details and opening hours.
22. how do I renew my application ?
You need to update your details and any changes to your housing circumstances every year. Make a note of your registration date and renew your application by contacting the helpline. Click how to contact us for contact details and opening hours.
23. help! I've forgotten my username or password
You must contact the helpline and speak to one of our advisors who will be able to help you.
Please do not re-register as you will only be creating a duplicate application with a new registration date which will place you in a lower bidding position.
Click how to contact us for contact details and opening hours
24. how will I know what has happened to the properties advertised?
You can find results of all the previous cycles by clicking on the recently let properties tab, including how many people applied for a property and confirmation of their application date and banding.
This will give you a better idea of how popular a particular property or area is and how long you will generally have to wait. You may then decide to look for other types of property or areas where you may not have to wait as long to be re-housed.
You can also find this information in our newsletter.
back to top 25. what if my home is too big for me ?
able living can help you move to a smaller and more suitable property in your chosen area and in some circumstances we will help you with the cost of moving and decorating and carpeting. For more information contact the helpline for details and to arrange an appointment with the Housing Solutions Officer. Click how to contact us for contact details and opening hours.
26. how do I rent a garage ?
You can find details on all garages available to rent by clicking on the property search tab or you can contact your local housing office.
27. I am already a Housing Association tenant, how do I swap my home with another tenant ? (sometimes called a mutual exchange)
You can see all mutual exchange adverts by clicking on the 'homeswap' icon.
To register an advert you will need to login to your account and click on 'my mutual exchange'. If you are not already registered you can do this by clicking here.
Please note: it will not be necessary to complete a housing application form but will need details of your current home and requirements.
28. How long will I have to wait for a property?
This can depend on the type of property you need. We have put together a property type and bid information leaflet to assist you with bidding for a home.
The information in the downloadable leaflet shows you;
- property types and bid information between March 2010 – August 2011
and lets you know if the successful applicants waited under or over 1 year.
We encourage you to read this information before placing your final bid for a home.
Please note: This leaflet is intended as a guide only and the length of time that you wait for a property can be dependant on the following:
- Your housing circumstances and the housing needs band you are allocated in accordance with the Bradford Allocations policy
- Your housing needs band which determines your finishing position in the majority of cases
- The area that you wish to live in
- The size and type of home you require
To view and download the leaflet, please click here .
Keighley
Due to the various areas within Keighley, we have put together the same information for you, but have broken it done to specific lettings areas.
Please click here to see this information.back to top