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A Guide to Home Choice Welcome to Home Choice the easy way to find a home to rent in Rochdale, Middleton, Heywood, Littleborough and Milnrow. * Under our lettings criteria we allocate properties to make best use of our stock. For example, a three bed house would normally be offered to a household who need three bedrooms. We also only allocate houses to those families with children 18 and under. What does Home Choice Offer?
Back to the top How do I apply?You can pick up an application pack:
You can also complete an application form on-line by clicking here. However, you do need to print the form off, sign it and send it to the Homechoice Team, The Old Post Office, The Esplanade, Rochdale, OL16 1AE. Once we have received your application it will then be assessed to see if you are eligible for rehousing. If you are subject to immigration control, or owe any debts to any landlord or have caused a serious nuisance then you may be classed as ineligible for rehousing. We will write to you to let you know whether your application has been accepted. If your application is accepted we will then look at your circumstances to see whether or not you have priority under the law. Back to the top Priority ApplicantsPriority is given to people with urgent or special rehousing needs. Rochdale Council tenants with long standing tenancy points will also be given priority. If you have priority you may be offered up to 3 properties. The offers will be made in writing and you must respond to us within 5 working days. If you do not respond the property will be allocated to someone else. If you refuse all of the reasonable offers we will review your application. Priority applicants can also find a home in the same way as choice applicants. Back to the top Choice ApplicantsIf your application has been accepted but you have been assessed as having no housing priority you will be a choice applicant and you can look for a choice property at any time. Choice properties are available on a first come first served basis* Back to the top I am already a tenant, can I move with Home Choice?Yes. Simply fill in an application form. The rules for awarding priority for long standing tenants have changed. If your application was registered before the end of March 2002 and you have lived in the same tenancy since that date you will be a priority applicant if your application is accepted. If your application has been registered after March 2002 you will be eligible for priority status after you have been in your current tenancy for 20 years. Back to the top Where can I look for a choice property?You can look for a choice property:
The hotline will be open Monday to Friday 9am - 4.45pm. The Property Shop is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9.00am - 4.45pm but Tuesdays 9.00am - 3.45pm. The Home Choice website is available to view 24 hours a day. The list at the end of this information shows the area housing offices opening times. Back to the top How do I choose a choice property?There are 5 easy steps to finding a choice property. 1. Complete an application form. Forms are available at our property shop, our local housing offices, on line, by post or you can request a form over the telephone. 2. Once your application has been accepted you will be able to look for a choice property. Choice properties will be advertised at our property shop, on our website and in our area offices. You can also give us a ring to find a home that suits you. 3. Tell us which home you are interested in - by calling into the property shop, by phone, by email or on the website. 4. If no other applicant has expressed an interest in the property you will be guaranteed first choice of whether you want the tenancy. If someone else is interested in it you can join a list for that property. You will be added to the list in order of the date and time you expressed your interest in the property. You can only be guaranteed first choice of 1 property at any one time but you can join the list for up to 5 properties. 5. Once you have viewed and chosen your property you will be given a date to sign up for the tenancy at the local housing office. Back to the top If I view a property and do not like it, will I be penalised if I refuse it?No. Home Choice aims to help you choose a home of your choice. However, if you are a priority applicant and refuse 3 reasonable offers or you do not express an interest in any property then we will review your application either by letter, telephone or interview. In some circumstances we may need to remove your priority status but you will still be able to find a home to rent as a choice applicant. Back to the top What If I am not happy with a decision made?If we have advised you that we cannot put you on the Home Choice register or we need to take your name off the register because you are not eligible for Council housing or we have removed priority from your application you have the right to request a review of the decision. You should complete a 'notice of review' form within 21 days of receiving the decision letter. A senior officer who was not involved in making the original decision will review your case and will write to you with the outcome of the review within 8 weeks. See our leaflet 'Your Right to Appeal' for more information and a 'notice of review' form. Back to the top |