A guide to applying to the Housing Register

Introduction

Thanet District Council has a team of Housing Options Officers based in Margate and available at Thanet Gateway.

The Housing Options Officers can help with advice and information regarding your best Housing Option. If it is likely that you will not be successful in obtaining Social Housing they will be able to provide advice on accessing other types of housing.

Our Responsibilities are:

Ensure the widest possible access to social housing by offering people choice of accommodation, this includes alternative options in the private sector.
Give prospective tenants the opportunity to express their preferences about accommodation (wherever possible), whilst allowing us to meet the local needs of Thanet.
Not discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, sex or marital status, sexual orientation or disability.
Ensure that Choice Based Lettings gives you a choice and a stake in where you live to assist in creating more stable, viable and inclusive communities.
Share information we receive with other registered social landlords, organisations which handle public funds and other departments within the authority to cross reference data. We will treat personal information confidentially, however, we will also share information with the Police & Social Services where we believe there is significant risk of harm, but not with any other party.
Set out clear standards for services so that everyone knows what to expect (Appendix 1)
Direct applicants to the appropriate team or agency where specialist advice is required eg, debt advice, welfare rights.
Meet our legal and strategic requirements whilst considering the needs of the local community.
Confirm in writing any decision made in relation to an application for housing.
Reflect on the service provided by the Housing Options Team and plan into the future, allowing for continuous improvement.
Reflect the aims of the homelessness strategy
Ensure that, where discretion is used, the decision reflects policy and is consistent and transparent.

Your Rights and Responsibilities are:

You have the right to request a review on a decision made regarding access to the housing register, or offers of accommodation made.
You should provide full and accurate details on all forms or correspondence in relation to your application for housing.
You should tell us immediately if your circumstances change in any way, e.g. your address, family details, medical condition.
You should reply to all correspondence sent from us needing a reply.
If you are made an offer of property or nominated to a housing association, you should always advise the Housing Officer of your decision within the specified time scale.
When refusing an offer or nomination you need to put your reasons into writing if you feel this would prevent you moving into the surrounding areas so that the Housing Options Team are aware of why the property or location is not suitable.

Next: Supply and demand

Contents

Introduction

Supply and Demand

Housing Register

Choice Based Lettings

Definition of a Household

Property Categories

Local Connection

Offer of a property

Leaving Social housing

Complaints