Applying for Housing Easy Read Guide

Shared Lettings Policy Easy Read Guide

CARTREFI

NPT

HOMES

Applying for Housing

Contents

Who Can Apply for Housing?

NPT Homes’ Banding System What is a Category?

How Do I Bid for a Property?

What Happens Next?

Contact Us

NPT Homes provides a range of accommodation across the Neath Port Talbot Borough. We work closely with other charities and the local authority to provide suitable accommodation based on the needs of each individual.

NPT Homes operates a choice based lettings service which gives applicants the opportunity of choosing the home they would like to rent from us.

The Shared Lettings Policy outlines in detail how NPT Homes allocates its properties and under this policy, applicants are placed into one of four bands of housing need according to their circumstances.

This easy read guide was created by staff and the tenants below to outline the key points of the Shared Lettings Policy and to answer some common questions people may have.

Easy Read Tenant Group

Who Can Apply for Housing?

As a social landlord, NPT Homes provides accomodation for people based on their needs.

To apply for housing you will need to contact NPT Homes.

You can contact NPT Homes by telephone, by email, via our website or in person at

0300 777 0000 housingadmin@npthomes.co.uk www.npthomes.co.uk

6 Forge Road Port Talbot SA13 1NU

23 Windsor Road Neath SA11 1NB

To be eligible for rehousing you have to be a legal UK citizen and habitually resident (living) in the UK. However, if you are being discharged from the armed forces and currently living abroad you can still apply for housing with NPT Homes.

If you are unsure whether you might be eligible, please contact us.

What If I am a Transfer Tenant?

We welcome applications from existing NPT Homes tenants who wish to move home providing there are no breaches of your tenancy agreement (i.e. rent arrears, anti-social behaviour (ASB), condition of garden/property etc.)

If I am Eligible for Housing, What Happens Next?

An appointment will be made to assess your application and reasons for moving, taking into consideration local connection and affordability.

Other factors considered are: t t t t t

Where you want to live The amount of bedrooms you need The type of property you live in and the type of property you need Whether you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless Whether we are able to help

You may be required to provide documents to support your application. Failing to pregnancy, Police National Check etc. will affect which band you are placed in.

You will be contacted via your preferred method of communication and a letter to category will be sent to you once you are eligible to bid for properties.

What is an Individual Application Number? (IAN) Please make sure your keep IAN safe.

This is a number individually allocated to your application. You will be asked to quote the number when contacting NPT Homes regarding your housing application.

NPT Homes’ Banding System What is Lead Need and Banding?

NPT Homes operates a banding scheme where your application is placed into one of four bands of housing need according to your circumstances. Your lead need is This will be discussed with you during the assessment of your application. Once your lead need is known, your application will be placed into the appropriate band.

Urgent Band Priority within this band will be by date of entry into the Urgent Band and not original application date (if different).

Only applicants with a “local connection” with Neath Port Talbot.

Urgent Priority Homeless Applicants - Applicants who are

owed a duty to be secured accommodation after being found to be in priority need and unintentionally homeless.

MARAC Cases – Cases subject to a MARAC

where the applicant is at risk.

Welfare Case (Urgent) – Deemed to have a

very high social circumstance that is seriously affected by their current housing.

Health Case (Urgent) – Seriously affected by

their current housing, severe long term illness, or permanent substantial disability that makes existing accommodation unsuitable.

Armed Forces Service Personnel who have

been seriously injured or disabled in action and who have an urgent need for social housing.

Existing NPT Homes tenants who are under

occupying and are prepared to downsize to a property with fewer bedrooms and appropriate hardship.

Housing Conditions Notice – Category 1.

Health and Safety Hazard – Any

accommodation where the housing authority was taking formal action with regards to a Category 1 Hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.

Gold Band Priority within this band will be by date of entry into the Gold Band and not original application date (if different).

Only applicants with a “local connection” with Neath Port Talbot.

Gold Priority t Other Homeless/Threatened With

Homelessness Applicants – (a) All homeless applicants who do not fall within the Urgent Band. (b) Applicants who are threatened with homelessness and eligible so that the housing authority owe them a duty to take reasonable steps to secure that their accommodation does not cease to be available for their occupation. t Welfare Case (high) – Moving home will greatly t Health Case (high) – Moving home will greatly

benefit applicant and/or members of their household who have a serious health ailment(s) that would be significantly improved by moving to suitable accommodation. t Housing Conditions – Category 2 Health and

Safety Hazard – Any accommodation where the housing authority is taking formal action with regards to Category 2 hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.

Silver Band Priority within this band will be by date of entry into the Silver Band and not original application date (if different).

Only applicants with a “local connection” with Neath Port Talbot.

Silver Priority t Sharing Facilities - Applicants who have never

left the family home will not get priority for sharing facilities unless there is evidence to suggest a newly forming household. t Lack of Amenities/Facilities – applicants

lacking any of the following: Cooking facilities Bath/shower A toilet or A hot water supply. t Applicants Lacking a Bedroom - Having

regard to the bedroom standard unless the accommodation they have applied for would have the same number of bedrooms as their current accommodation. t NPT Homes tenants who are under-occupying

their current accommodation by at least one bedroom having regard to the bedroom standard unless the accommodation they have applied for would have the same number of bedrooms as their current accommodation. t Welfare Case (medium) – Moving home will t Health Case (medium) – The applicant and/or

members of their household who have a minor health ailment that would be improved by moving to suitable accommodation.

Bronze Band Priority within this band will be arranged in order of date application.

Bronze Priority t Any applicant that does not fall within one of

the top three bands. t Applicants who do not have a local connection

with Neath Port Talbot.

Local connection is defined as one of the following: ·

An applicant or a member of their household currently living in the Neath Port Talbot Borough

·

An applicant or member of their household is employed within the Borough. This refers to where they work and not where the employer’s head office is located. Employment will only qualify under this section if it is permanent or long term work and for a minimum of 15 hours every week

·

An applicant or member of their household has a close relative (mother, father, brother, sister or adult child) who live in the Borough and have done so for the past 5 years on a continuous basis

·

The applicant has just been or is about to be discharged from the British Armed Forces and has previously lived in the Borough immediately before joining the Armed Forces

·

The applicant has special circumstances, such as medical or support services that are only available in the Neath Port Talbot area. Cases of this nature are considered to have a local connection on exceptional grounds

·

The applicant is owed a full homeless duty under Section193 of the Housing Act 1996 / section 75 of the Housing Act (Wales) Act 2014 by the Council. 5.11.3

What is a Category?

What is a Category?

Each applicant is given a category for their housing circumstances. the category is a number that refers to the number of bedrooms you require.

Household Size

Single person Single person with overnight access to one child + Single/couple who are pregnant 20+ weeks Couple 2 single adults 3 single adults Single adult/couple + 1 child or non-dependent Single adult/couple + 2 children (different sex, aged under 10) Single adult/couple + 2 children (same sex aged under 16) Single adult/couple + 2 children (different sex, one child aged 10+) Single adult/couple + 3 children Single adult/couple + 4 or more children Other family households that qualify for 4 bedrooms

Bedsit

Flat/Maisonette/ Bungalow 1 Bed

2 Bed

3 Bed

House 1 Bed

2 Bed

3 Bed

3 Bed Parlour Type

Person Category Classification D G

O

Suitable Applicants Disabled facilities required by applicant as agreed by NPT Homes.

General needs applicants accommodation.

Older applicants and family members aged over 55 years (60+ in certain sheltered schemes). We will be particularly where an applicant who does not meet the age criteria has mobility problems.

S

Applicants whose accommodation needs after joint assessment cannot be met through an NPT Homes tenancy but can be through supported accommodation.

For example: If you are a couple with one child your category would be 2G. or If you are a single older applicant, your category would be 1O. The categories are used when you bid for properties in Homes By Choice.

What If My Circumstances Change?

If your circumstances change, it is your responsibility to notify NPT Homes of these changes so we can reassess your application.

What If I Have Children That Don't Live With Me? You may qualify for a home with an additional bedroom providing you supply written evidence that your children stay overnight at least twice a week or the average overnight stay equals this.

Written evidence can include a letter from the partner who the child/children normally live with, a Solicitor, Social Services or Court Order detailing access arrangements.

If you already have children in your household, but also have access to other children, you may be entitled to further bedrooms if there is a health or social need.

What If I Need an Adapted Property?

Your application will go through the application process outlined in this guide. If you your needs directly without going through Homes by Choice.

Where we are not able to directly match an adapted property then it will be included on the Homes by Choice scheme for people to bid. If you are placed in the disabled category you will still be able to bid for a home.

How Do I Bid for a Property?

What is Homes By Choice and How Do I Bid? Once your application is live you will have the opportunity to view available properties in our Homes By Choice catalogue at www.npthomes.co.uk or at one of You can only bid for properties suitable for your needs and that match your category.

Can I View a Property I Have Bid For? Successful applicants will be asked to view the property before accepting an offer.

During the bidding period, applicants can view available properties online.

How Do I Accept an Offer?

You will be contacted via your preferred method of communication if your bid is successful. You will need to make contact within 48 hours to arrange a viewing and after the viewing, you have a further 48 hours to refuse/accept an offer.

What Happens Next?

What Happens If I Refuse an Offer?

You must contact NPT Homes regarding your refusal in writing, giving details of why you have refused the property. NPT Homes will then assess your refusal and your application may be put on hold for 3-12 months depending on your reasons. *It’s really important that you only bid for properties in areas that you are interested in*

What Happens After I Accept an Offer?

Once you have accepted the offer in writing and the property is ready to let, you will be contacted to arrange a convenient time to sign the Tenancy Agreement and relevant paper work.

What If I Want to Appeal a Decision or Make a Complaint?

If you are unhappy with our decision after the application process you have 21 days to appeal. If you would like to appeal a decision, please contact the NPT Homes member of staff who has advised you of the decision you’re appealing.

Applicants should follow NPT Homes’ complaints procedure which can be found on our website: www.npthomes.co.uk

Contact Us

CARTREFI

NPT

HOMES

You can contact NPT Homes by telephone, by email, via our website or in person at

0300 777 0000 housingadmin@npthomes.co.uk www.npthomes.co.uk

6 Forge Road Port Talbot SA13 1NU

(31041R) Welsh Government registration No. L154.

23 Windsor Road Neath SA11 1NB