Allocations

Allocations: Please note that the housing register and allocating is only dealt with at Borough of Poole, Civic Centre, Poole, and not at PHP.

1. How do I get on the housing register list?

2. How do I get on the transfer and MX list?

3. How do I know where I am placed on the list?

4. Where do I find information on properties available?

5. How do I place an interest in a property?

6. I have been nominated for a property, I've now seen something else I prefer can I continue biding?

7. What happens if I refuse the property?

8. When can I view the property?

9. When can I sign up for the property?

10. Will I get decorating vouchers?

1)How do I get on the housing register list?

To be registered on the housing waiting list you will need to complete a registration form. The form is available to download from the Borough of Poole web site. Or you can pick up a form from the Civic Centre or the reception at Beech House.

The application form must be fully completed. If the application is not fully completed or signed or have not included all the documents needed for proof, it will be returned for amendment and the application will not be registered until everything is complete.

The information and evidence provided will be used to assess your application, so it is a good idea to give us as much information as possible during the early stages. For details of the documents that are required as proof please refer to the registration document.  All proof must be dated within the last 4 weeks.

If your application has to be refused you will be notified in writing and given the reasons for this refusal.

If you fulfil the criteria set out above, the details on your form will be put onto the computer system. (this system is maintained in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.) A letter will be sent to you advising you that your application has been accepted.

2)How do I get on the transfer and MX list?

To get on the transfer list you will need to fill in a transfer registration form. The form is available to download from the Borough of Poole web site. Or you can pick up a form from the Civic Centre or the reception at Beech House.

To go on the Mutual Exchange list you can fill out a form on the Homeswap web site, or come to Beech House, or the Civic Centre to fill out a form. If you already know of someone willing to swap with you then contact the Estate Management Officers who will register the interest.

3)How do I know where I am placed on the list?

Housing Community are unable to provide an applicant's position on any shortlist. You can though check out the likelihood of your success by looking at the Lettings Results which provides information about properties which were allocated recently.  This will give you how long the successful applicant has been on the waiting list and how long you may have to wait to be successful.

Any further information please contact Donna Gould 01202 633436 or Sheona Craig 633819.

Homechoice:

4)Where do I find information on properties available?

Every Tuesday a new list is published on the Borough of Poole web site under Homechoice. A copy of this list is put up in libraries, Civic Centre, and at Beech House. You can also phone the HomeChoice phone line on 0870 240 6883.

5) How do I place an interest in a property?

To place an interest in the property you need to bid for it. The bid needs to have been received before the 12:00 midday Monday deadline stated in the advert (or Tuesday if Monday is a Bank Holiday).  No late bids can be accepted. The information needed on the biding form are:

1) Your application number and your name and address

2) Street name of the property you wish to bid for from the advert

3) The property code from the advert

You can bid for a property by:

1) Posting the coupons that were sent to you when your application was registered to the Civic Centre.

2) In person, using your coupons at the Housing and Community Services Reception in the Civic Centre

3) Email direct to homechoice@poole.gov.uk we will acknowledge your email bid once received, should you not receive an acknowledgement by the closing date for that week, please contact us on 01202 633805

Successful applicants will usually be notified within 2 weeks of the closing date by the appropriate landlord.  Due to the volume of bids you will not be contacted if you are unsuccessful.  We are unable to provide an applicants position on any shortlist.

Before biding check your eligibility for the property i.e.: -

1) Family accommodation, known as General Needs, or Sheltered properties for the over 60's (in some cases over 55's).

2) Your family size and how it is made up.

3) The band your application falls into, according to the date you registered on the list

0 - 2 years = red band

2 - 10 years = amber band

10 years and over and applicants with Priority Status = green band

6) I have been nominated for a property, I've now seen something else I prefer can I continue biding?

The only way that you can continue to bid for a property is by refusing the property that you have successfully bid for. Please consider question 7 if refusing the property.

7) What happens if I refuse the property?

If an applicant unreasonably refuses two offers of suitable general needs accommodation within a 12-month period their application will be suspended for 12 months. No offers will be made during that time.

If an applicant unreasonably refuses four offers of suitable Sheltered accommodation within a 12-month period their application will be suspended for 12 months. No offers will be made during that time.

If you have been awarded a priority card and have not taken up reasonable accommodation within the time limit of the priority card then you will loose priority status.

Homeless applicants will be made only one offer of permanent accommodation. If they wish to refuse that offer, they should contact their housing advisor to discuss this.

8) When can I view the property?

You will be notified when the property is available to view by PHP. The Lettings Officer will contact you by letter or phone call.

9) When can I sign up for the property?

You can only sign up for the property after a final check has been done, and the property has been deemed ready to let. This can take place anything from two weeks to a couple of days of being provisionally offered the property. The Lettings Officer will give a rough time scale of when the property should be ready when viewing the property.

10) Will I get decorating vouchers?

This all depends on the decorative condition that the property was returned in. The Lettings Officer should confirm at viewing whether decorating vouchers will be issued at sign up.