Who can apply?

Anyone over 16 years old can apply to go on our housing register. Please note however that we only re-house under 18’s in exceptional circumstances.

You may not be eligible to have your application accepted onto the housing register if you:

·       Are subject to immigration control (unless you fall within a class of persons prescribed in regulations made by the Secretary of State); or

·       Are not a permanent resident of the UK; or

·       Have a history of unacceptable behaviour which may include.

Ø      If you have significant rent arrears or former tenant arrears (12 months would normally be considered significant).

Ø      Serious anti-social behaviour.

Ø      If you or someone living at or visiting your home has been convicted of a criminal offence that has involved using your home for illegal or immoral purposes.

Ø      If you or someone living at or visiting your home seriously damages the property.

Please note that in considering your application we will consider any tenancies you have held over the past five years.

 

How do I apply?

If you would like to join our housing register, please ring or call into your local housing office and an appointment will be made for you to attend an interview with a Lettings officer.

 

Simms Cross 120-124 Widnes Road Simms Cross Widnes Cheshire WA8 6AX	Runcorn Grange House 930 Grangeway Runcorn Cheshire WA7 5LT
Tel: 0151 510 5026	Tel: 0151 510 5027

 

The Lettings officer will able to answer your questions and help you complete the application form.  We can also provide useful information on the likely costs of running your home and suggest ways to help you reduce these costs

 The Lettings Officer will discuss your housing options with you and provide you with an estimated length of time it   takes to be housed by the Trust. 

     In order to support your application you will be asked to provide the following information:

Essential Information

We will be unable to process your application without this information.

·        Proof of Identification i.e. passport or drivers’ licence or benefit book

·        If you are unable to provide photographic ID, we will accept a passport sized photograph of you. If you are applying for accommodation with a partner, please provide a passport sized photograph of them as well.

·        A recent bank statement or utility bill to confirm you are residing at the address you will be applying from.

·        If you are living with parents, friends or will be using a property as a ‘care of address’, please provide a letter from the head of household and supporting proof of their Identification.

·        A reference from your current landlord, to include information about your current rent account, and references from any previous landlord’s over the past five years.

·        If children are included on your application, please provide proof of Child Benefit and/or Child Tax Credit.

·        National Insurance Numbers must be provided for all applicable members of the household.

Depending on your current circumstances, you may also need to provide us with some further information. 

Please read carefully and bring any supporting information with you to the appointment that you feel is relevant to your application.

·        If you have a child/children who you regularly have access to, please provide verification of this and provide proof at your appointment, e.g. Solicitors Letter, Child Benefit documents, letter from the child’s parent/guardian confirming access.

·        If you, or a member of your family wishing to move with you, suffers from a chronic illness or disability which would be helped by re-housing, please provide a letter from your GP/Specialist outlining your condition, a prognosis for your future condition and a list of your current medications, along with the dosage and strength of each. For example, e.g. Paracetamol, 100mg, Once/Twice Daily.

·        If you are due to be evicted and you have been issued with a Section 21: Notice to Quit, please provide a copy of this document.

·        If you are currently pregnant please provide proof including your Estimated Date of Confinement (EDC), supplied by your Doctor or Midwife.

·        If you have any further information which you feel is relevant to your application please bring documents to your appointment.

If you are unable to visit one of our offices, staff can visit you in your own home.

If you live outside of the Halton area and are unable to attend an interview please contact the Lettings Office on 0151 510 5193.

What happens to my application?

When you have been interviewed we will confirm in writing that we have registered your application and provide you with details about the number of points you have been awarded.

When an application is received through the post we will send you an acknowledgement letter to tell you that we have received your application.

If appropriate we will arrange to see you, at our offices or during a home visit, to discuss your application form..

If you meet the criteria you will be added to the housing register and your application will be processed within 15 working days.

You will then be awarded points which determine your priority for being offered a Halton Housing Trust home. Further detailed information on the breakdown of points is available in the Housing Application pack.

If you are not accepted on to our housing register we will contact you by letter explaining in detail the reasons for the decision.

What should I do if my circumstances change?

Please let your local housing office know if you no longer need re-housing or if your housing situation changes, as this could have a bearing on the number of points you receive. 

If your circumstances do change we will reassess your application and your points. 

Every 12 months we will write to you to check your housing situation and confirm that you wish to stay on the housing register. If we don’t hear from you within four weeks of sending you the letter, we have to assume you no longer wish to remain on the register and your application for housing will be cancelled.

What do I do if I’m not happy with a decision made about my application?

If you are unhappy with the outcome you can ask us to review our decision. The review will be carried out by a member of the Housing team who was not involved in the original decision; in most circumstances this will be the Manager for the Lettings Service. We will keep you fully informed during the review process.

If, after the review, you are still dissatisfied you can make a formal complaint to us under our Complaints Policy