A1 Housing / Bassetlaw

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

1.    What is Choice Based Lettings?

Choice Based Lettings (CBL) is the new way of allocating properties.  The principle is to advertise available properties and give applicants requiring accommodation the opportunity to be actively involved in getting a home in their area of choice.

2.    What is HomeFinder?

This is the name of Bassetlaw District Council’s Choice Based Lettings Scheme, which will be managed by A1 Housing on behalf of Bassetlaw District Council.

3.    When did HomeFinder start?

HomeFinder began on 19th March 2009.

4.  Do I still get points?

No. Giving priority to applicants in housing need will no longer be based on points.  Under HomeFinder you will be placed in band A to E according to your current circumstances.  Your position within bands A and B will be determined by the date you entered the band. Your position in Bands C, D and E will be determined by the date of your application.

5.      What will the Bands be?

A brief summary of the bands is:

Band A – Applicants with Severe/Urgent needs for re-housing

Band B – Applicants with High housing needs

Band C – Applicants with Some housing needs

Band D – Applicants with Low housing needs

Band E – Applicants with No Housing Needs

6.      How will I know when properties will be available?

Vacant properties will be advertised to ensure all applicants have a reasonable chance to ‘bid’ for a property.  ‘Bidding’ for a HomeFinder property means an applicant expressing an interest in an available property, it does not mean a financial bid.  The adverts will be available at various points throughout Bassetlaw and on the website.  The properties will be advertised starting Thursday and closing the following Tuesday.  The adverts will tell you about the size, type and location of the property, usually with a photograph.

7.      How can I bid for a property?

There will be several ways to ‘bid’ for a property, including on the A1 Website, in person at one of the A1 Property Shops at Retford and Worksop and by a dedicated phone line.  You can express an interest in up to a maximum of 3 properties in any single bidding cycle (Thursday noon to Tuesday midnight).  

Please note that if you owe money in relation to a current or former Bassetlaw District Council tenancy your bid will not be eligible. To make a repayment agreement or clear your debt in full please telephone A1 Housing's Income Recovery Team on 01909 534468 or 01777 713201.

8.      Does it matter when I bid?

No.  You can bid at any time within each weekly bidding cycle.  The time at which the bid is received in each cycle has no bearing on the selection process.  However bids received after the closing date will not be considered in that cycle.

9.      Will I be able to monitor my position on the shortlist?

Yes.  You will be able to view your current position on the website or enquire at one of our Property Shops.  However your position may change throughout the bidding cycle as other applicants bid.

10.    How will I be allocated a property?

Once the bidding cycle has closed the HomeFinder team will offer the property to the first eligible person.  However, prior to the offer of accommodation, further checks will be carried out to make sure all information on your application is correct and up-to-date.

11.    How will I know if I have been successful?

Successful applicants will be contacted shortly after the closing date to arrange an accompanied viewing of the property. If you like the property you will be asked to sign up for the tenancy. If you refuse the offer of a property you will not be penalised. However if you have been given Band A or Band B status and have refused one or more properties, your Band A or Band B status may be cancelled. 

12.    How will I know if I’m unsuccessful?

Unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted.  However the results will be published so you can see the banding and waiting time of the successful applicant and get an indication of how long you may have to wait for a particular locality/dwelling type. No personal information about the applicant will be shown.

13.    Do I still have to be 60 years or over to qualify for a bungalow or senior citizen flat?

Yes.  Bungalows or senior citizen flats will normally only be allocated to applicants 60 years or over.  

14.    What if I don’t agree with the band I’ve been awarded?

If you do not agree with the band you have been awarded you should contact the HomeFinder Team on 01909 533426 or 01777 713202, so we can discuss your housing application and make sure we are aware of all your circumstances and if necessary, check that we have all the supporting documentation required.

15.    Will those in a higher band get all the available properties?

No. The Council wants to enable as many people as possible to get a property of their choice.  A proportion of all available properties will be let to applicants in Bands A, B, C & D in line with an overall allocations target.  These targets will be subject to regular review and amendment.  Band E applicants will only be considered in the absence of any successful bidders from Bands A, B, C, & D

16. Do I have to pay rent in advance?

New tenants, not entitled to benefits, are required to pay the first week's rent when they receive the keys at the tenancy Sign-Up interview. This will enable the rent account to be set up without showing any arrears.

For new tenants on benefits a calculation will be made to assess Housing Benefit eligibility. If part entitlement to Housing Benefit is indicated, the new tenant will be asked to pay the outstanding rent due, plus £2 to allow for variance, until the actual benefit amount is confirmed.

17. When are properties advertised and when can I bid?

Properties are advertised on a weekly basis. The advertising cycle runs from every Thursday at noon until the following Tuesday at Midnight. You can view all available properties and place a bid on any that you are eligible for, regardless of band during this time. On a Wednesday, no properties will be shown on the Website as we will be between cycles.

18. I have tried to Log onto the HomeFinder Website using my personal Log in details but it will not let me in. What am I doing wrong?

If you have an existing Housing Application with A1 Housing you will have been sent your own personal Login details with which to access and bid for properties. Firstly please make sure you are entering your details correctly, particularly your Pin which is the Primary Applicant’s date of birth. You must enter it as follows DD/MM/YYYY or for example 15/02/1938 otherwise it will not be recognised by the system

If your application has been suspended for any reason the Website will tell you this and that you must have an active Housing Application in order to view and bid for properties.

19. I have seen a property I am interested in and I have tried to bid but it says I am ineligible, why?

If you Log onto the HomeFinder Website, www.a1homefinder.org.uk using your personal registration details before clicking on the following: -

• ‘Click here to search for properties’
• ‘Click here to search for all CBL A1 properties’

You will then be able to view all the properties you are eligible for. If you are not eligible for any reason it will tell you why you are not eligible.

If we are in the process of offering you a property following a successful bid you will be unable to bid on another property during this time and this information will also be included on your ineligibility reasons on the Website.

20. Can I monitor where I am on the shortlist and how does it work?

Once you have found a property that you are eligible for your needs and you have placed your bid you can then monitor your position on the shortlist by logging in on our website. Your queue position on the shortlist may change as other applicants bid on the property.

Properties are usually advertised with a preferred band and therefore applicants within this band will be at the top of the shortlist. If two applicants within the same Band then place a bid on a property the applicant with the earliest Registration Date i.e. the longest waiting time will be considered first.

Your position within the shortlist may change to reflect this until the bidding closes at Midnight on Tuesday.

21. If I am successful in my bid when will I be contacted?

Successful applicants will be contacted within a few days of the closing date, usually via phone at first and then a letter will be sent confirming the offer. A viewing can then be arranged with the Neighbourhood Housing Officer.

Unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted, however, once the property has been tenanted the results will be published showing the Band and Registration Date of the successful applicant.