Changes to the Housing Allocation Policy
What is Trust HomeChoice?
Trust HomeChoice was launched on 12 November 2009.
Trust HomeChoice is a new Choice
Based Lettings Scheme and a partnership between Cheshire West and
Chester Council, Chester and District Housing Trust and Weaver
Vale Housing Trust. The new scheme works with a Common Allocation
Policy and advertises available homes across the Cheshire West and
Chester area. It makes finding a home as simple, fair and open as
possible.
What are the changes in Chester?
- Chester HomeChoice has now become part of Trust
HomeChoice.
- Chester and District Housing Trust will continue to use
the existing CBL scheme but with the new common policy.
- Existing applicants have been automatically transferred
to the new system and can now apply for housing across the Cheshire
West area.
- New applicants will apply on a new common application
form and can apply for housing across the Cheshire West
area.
What are the changes in Vale Royal?
Trust HomeChoice in Vale Royal is being administered by WVHT.
They are now the main point of contact for applicants and will deal
with all rehousing enquiries.
- All existing WVHT and Cheshire West and Chester
applicants have been automatically transferred onto the new
system.
- The old points system has been replaced by the new
banding scheme.
- New applicants only need to complete one application form
to apply for housing across Cheshire West.
- All vacant properties will be advertised on a weekly
basis and applicants can bid for any property which meets their
requirements.
What are the changes in Ellesmere Port?
The former Ellesmere Port and Neston area will be joining the
scheme in April 2010.
- The current Home Seekers register for housing in the Ellesmere
Port and Neston area closed on 15 January 2010 and will not be
accepting any new applications. For all applicants already
registered, your housing application will continue to be dealt with
in the normal way by the Rehousing team.
- All existing Home Seeker applicants have been written to and
invited to join Trust HomeChoice by March 2010, by applying online
at www.trusthomechoice.co.uk
or by collecting a paper application from their nearest housing
office.
- For all current Home Seeker applicants that do not apply to
join Trust HomeChoice by March 2010, we will assume that you no
longer require housing and your application will be cancelled.
- Any new customers wishing to be housed in the Cheshire West
area, including Ellesmere Port and Neston, and have not already
applied to join Trust HomeChoice, will need to do so.
- The old points system will be replaced by the new banding
scheme.
- All vacant properties will be advertised on a weekly basis and
applicants can bid for any property meeting their
requirements.
How are properties advertised?
Available homes are advertised in a variety of ways,
including:
- Through the Trust HomeChoice website –
www.trusthomechoice.co.uk
- Local newspapers:
The Chester Standard and The Chester Evening Leader
The Northwich and Winsford Guardians
The Ellesmere Port Standard, from April 2010
- All local partner housing offices in:
Chester, Blacon, and Lache (Chester & District Housing Trust
Area Offices)
Northwich and Winsford (Weaver Vale Housing Trust Area
Offices)
Ellesmere Port, Neston and Westminster (Cheshire West and Chester
Council Area Offices) from April 2010
How can applicants bid for a property?
- Customers must be on the Trust HomeChoice register to
bid.
- Adverts will confirm which household groups can apply for
a vacancy.
- Applicants will need their application number and the
reference number of the property in order to bid.
- Applicants can bid at Trust
HomeChoice.
What happens next?
Properties are offered to the interested 'applicant' who is in
the highest band in line with the Common Housing Allocations
Policy. Applicants will only be contacted if they are successful,
but feedback will be provided on weekly basis about how each
property has been allocated. This should give applicants a better
idea of how quickly they are likely to receive an offer, and of the
areas in which expressions of interest are most likely to be
successful.
Who to contact
If you need additional help, support or
guidance regarding these changes, please contact your local partner
office to discuss the extra help on offer.
- Chester and
District Housing Trust
Centurion
House, 77 Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HQ
Tel: 0808 1007701
- Weaver Vale
Housing Trust
Gadbrook Point,
Rudheath Way, Gadbrook Park, Northwich, CW9 7LL
Tel: 01606 813300
Bidding
Hotline: 0800 232 1837
-
Cheshire West and Chester
Council
Ellesmere Port
Landlord Services, 4 Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BE
Tel:
0300 123 8 123
Further information