Housing waiting list requirements Thanet District, East Kent

If you apply for housing your application will be assessed according to various criteria and you will be allocated to a priority band.

How long do I have to have lived in the area before I can apply for housing?

We have an open Housing Register so that anyone can apply for social housing even if you do not live in Thanet, but you may be placed into a low priority band if you do not have a local connection to Thanet.

Moving here from outside the district

You may apply and join the Housing Register for housing in Thanet, however, your application may be given a lower priority on the waiting list than local applicants.

Do I have to be a certain age to become a Council tenant?

In most circumstances you must be 18 years old to be offered a tenancy from the Council.  If you are 16 or 17 years old, you may be considered for a tenancy if you can get a responsible adult to act as trustee for the tenancy. You may also be asked to provide details of a responsible adult to to act as a guarantor for you. This can also be the trustee.

Savings, Capital or Mortgage

If you have savings, capital or have your name on a mortgage, you may not be considered in priority need for housing. However the value of your home, capital or savings will be taken into consideration when assessing your application.

Priority Bands

The Council undertakes to ensure that certain types of applicants are given reasonable preference under the allocations scheme as required by section 167 (2) of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended). This includes the following groups:

• People who are homeless (within the meaning of Part 7 of the 1996 Act); this includes people who are intentionally homeless and those who are not in priority need.
• People who are owed a duty by any housing authority under section 190(2), 193(2) or 195(2) of the 1996 Act (or under section 65(2) of the Housing Act 1985) or who are occupying accommodation secured by any housing authority under section 192(3).
• People occupying insanitary or overcrowded housing or otherwise living in unsatisfactory housing conditions.
• People who need to move on medical or welfare grounds.
• People who need to move to a particular locality in the district of the housing authority, where failure to meet that need would cause hardship (to themselves or to others).

Once your application has been registered, it will fall into one of four categories:

• Band A: Immediate re-housing need
• Band B: Urgent re-housing need
• Band C: Moderate housing need, or
• Band D: Low re-housing need.

More information is available by telephoning the Housing Options team on 01843 577277 or e-mail us on housing@thanet.gov.uk

Kent Homechoice - Choice Based Lettings

If you have been accepted onto the Housing Register, you will be eligible to see and bid for available social housing properties using Kent Homechoice.

Kent Homechoice gives you more choice about where you want to live. You have the chance to express an interest in vacant homes that are suitable for you. It also gives you a better idea of the properties available in your area.

Every fortnight Kent Homechoice will advertise all empty council and housing association homes that are available to let. Properties will be advertised on the internet, digital television, Thanet's Gateway Plus and personalised free-sheets. You can look at the adverts and bid for any homes you wish to be considered for.

We will provide feedback on previous properties that have been advertised so you will be able to see the band that the successful bidder for each property was in and length of time the applicant had been in that priority band.

Where there are no expressions of interest from eligible applicants, a property will be re-advertised.

Why are some applications suspended?

Applications can be suspended if the application owes money to Thanet District Council or another Local Authority or Housing Association, for rent arrears or damage to property.

If I obtain a letter from my doctor saying I need to move because of a medical condition or disability will I get extra priority?

If you have a medical condition or disability, which is being made worse by your current accommodation, you may be awarded higher priority on the Housing Register. We would ask you to complete a Self-Certification Medical Form and supply, where possible, any supporting medical information to assist us with an assessment into your housing need due to medical grounds. Please contact the Housing Options Team for further advice.

Changes in Address/Circumstances

Please fill in a new application form if you move home.  You must do this as soon as possible.

Your application will be assessed using the information you provide us with on your Housing Register application form. In order for us to offer you the best possible service we need to be informed of any changes in your circumstances such as moving home, partner moving in with you or having a baby. If you are unsure whether a change in your circumstances will affect your application, please contact us immediately.

Housing Options Team

E-mail:

housing@thanet.gov.uk

Tel: 01843 577277

Fax: 01843 577340