Homefinder

Homefinder is our home letting service.

We have produced a short film which gives an overview of how the Homefinder service works. You can view our Introduction to Homefinder here.

You can visit our Homefinder Website if you would like to view available properties or make a bid or you can view the latest Homefinder Advert here.

Our new letting system will place the customer in the driving seat when looking for a new home.

Introduction to Homefinder

We have produced a booklet to introduce the Homefinder service. You can view our Guide to the Homefinder service here.

Guide to Homefinder Letting Service

You can view our Guide to Homefinder Letting Service in Blyth Valley here. The guide explains how the Homefinder service works the policies and procedures that are in place to consider applications for housing.

We have translated this leaflet into a number of community languages.

    Arabic - Guide to Homefinder

    Bengali - Guide to Homefinder

Chinese - Guide to Homefinder

   Punjabi - Guide to Homefinder

Türkçe   Turkish - Guide to Homefinder

Guide to Finding a Home

You can view our Guide to Finding a Home to Rent in Blyth Valley using the Homefinder service here. It explains how you apply for homes using our Homefinder service. It tells you what sort of homes you can apply for, how you apply and what happens next.

Background to Homefinder

Our Homefinder letting policy was developed after extensive consultation. You can view our lettings consultation report here.

You can view our Homefinder letting policy here.

We have produced Homefinder News which contains some useful information about the Homefinder Service.

You can find out about our Homefinder service if you English is not your first language on the following links.

  Bengali

     Hindi

  Punjabi

       Urdu

Homefinder - Equality Impact Assessment

We have undertaken an Equality Impact Assessment of the Homefinder Service to ensure that our Homefinder service is delivered fairly to all sections of the community and that there are no barriers to access.

You can view our Equality Impact Assessment here. The assessment shows the barriers we identified and the actions we put in place to overcome them. 

Homefinder Latest Consultation Results

Applicants on our housing register were sent information on our new Homefinder service to be launched in early 2005. They were asked to complete a survey requesting views in 3 key areas:

• Advertising Preferences
• Service standard on the assessment of their housing application.
• Service standard on the time taken to review any of our decisions.

You can view the Survey Results which will be used to develop our Homefinder service.

HOMEFINDER - Your Questions Answered

Homefinder, the new letting service of Blyth Valley Housing, will be launched in early 2005. We hope that you find these questions to be useful.

We have produced an information leaflet for applicants "An introduction to Homefinder".  

What is Homefinder?

It is the new lettings service to be provided from early 2005. Similar systems are in place in the rest of the country – examples in the North East are Sunderland and Newcastle – and have been welcomed by applicants.

It’s simpler and easier to understand. You have more choice by actively finding a suitable home for you, rather than waiting for the Council to find you one.

Why did you have to change the system?

Applicants told us that they found the present system complicated, confusing and frustrating. They didn’t like the way their position on the housing list kept changing without explanation or having two lists – meaning that being top of one list didn’t automatically get them the next offer a home. You didn’t like the points system. 1 in 5 of all our complaints were about the way we let homes. Government inspectors criticised our methods. Things had to change.

I've already applied for housing once. Is this just a way of changing my points and priority?

No, it's about trying to give you more choice and, hopefully, making it simpler for you to get a home you want. There will be one list in future. The points system will no longer operate but your level of priority will still be decided by how great your housing needs are.

The original date you applied to join the housing list will be retained, so you won’t lose out.

How will priorities be assessed under Homefinder?

With Homefinder we will put applications into 1 of 3 bands:

• Band 1 Urgent & Immediate Need such as people who are homeless, or in urgent need of a move for health reasons or fleeing domestic violence
• Band 2 Those who are in housing need but which isn’t so urgent, such as people needing an extra bedroom, or help to improve a medical condition, people living in with relatives
• Band 3 those with little or no need exists such as people wanting a like for like move

Those in Band 1 will have their priority limited to 3 months.

Why do you limit the time for Band 1 applicants? Can it be extended?

Since their need is so urgent, they need to have a home very quickly. We believe three months is a reasonable time for them to find a suitable home. If they don’t find a home within 3 months we may review the time and extend it but only in exceptional circumstances.

I was near the top of the waiting list under the points system. Will I have to start all over again?

You won't be starting all over again. If your housing needs are still the same or higher than when you originally applied for housing, then your housing need Band will reflect this.

When will I find out how it will affect me and which Band I’m in?

We will write giving you full details early next year. We will also give you full information about the changes, how to bid for empty homes and where to look.

We will also invite you to a Homefinder Open Day where you can find out more and have your questions answered

If you can’t tell me how it affects me now, why bother telling me about it?

We are working hard to introduce the new scheme. We can’t give you full details of how it will affect you until early in 2005. However keeping you informed is one of our top priorities. We wanted to tell you now about the changes so it didn’t come as a surprise at the last minute.

Do I have to apply again? What happens to my application in the meanwhile?

No, you don’t have to apply again. If you’re on the housing list already, the changes won’t affect you until we introduce the new system in early 2005. Until then, homes will continue to be let under the current system.

How will I find a home to rent with Homefinder?

We listened to our tenants and applicants and designed our system to try to meet your needs.

• Our empty homes will be advertised every week giving details of where it is, its size and type and how much rent is payable
• Our ads will say who the home will be suitable for, for example a 3 bedroom house would be suitable for a family with children not a single person
• You look for a home that suits you and that you want.
• You apply for, or bid, for the home that you want to be considered for
• We select the top applicant from all those that bid according to much simpler criteria who will be offered the tenancy of the home

Where will homes be advertised?

We will advertise homes every week.

We will be publishing a leaflet on where homes are to be advertised and how you can bid which will be sent to all existing applicants and be available on request. Homes will be advertised in a number of ways:

• In the local free press – News Post Leader
• Through local housing or council office – window posters and leaflets
• Through our Homefinder website if you are connected to the Internet.
• Voice recorded message on a special advert telephone hotline

What are the new rules on how homes are let?

Once bidding has closed we will select the top successful applicant against two simple rules:

• The Band the successful applicant is in. Priority will be given to those applicants in Band 1, then Band 2 and finally Band 3
• If more than one applicant bids for the same home, then we will decide the successful applicant by their registration date. This is the date they first applied to join the housing list NOT the date they put their bid in.
• For Band 1 this will be the date their urgent priority was awarded not the date of registration of their housing application

This way it is fairer, by using your housing application registration date, this makes sure the successful applicant is the one that has waited the longest.

If this is about me having more choice why are their so many rules?

We have tried to keep the number of rules to a minimum.

The Council can’t let homes on a first come first serve basis. We must follow the law by giving priority to people in housing need. We have introduced a banding system to replace the complicated points system.

But, with a limited number of homes coming up for letting, there have to be some rules as to who can bid for what, and some homes are only suitable for particular groups of people. Even so, there will be far more choice for people through Homefinder than under the old letting system.

What is bidding?

Bidding simply means putting your name forward for properties you are interested in.
Bids are nothing to do with money.

If my bid is not successful, how can I find out?

If you haven’t heard within 2 weeks of the bids closing you are unsuccessful

Every month we will publish a list of the homes we have let, to what Band & the date the successful applicant first joined the housing list.

Do I have to be registered with Homefinder to put in a bid?

Yes. You must be registered with Homefinder otherwise you will not be able to participate and put in bids.

What are the benefits of Homefinder? Will it be better?

When we consulted applicants and tenants they thought it would be better. The benefits of Homefinder are:

• You will know what homes are available through our adverts
• You choose for yourself where you want to live and what homes you want to be considered for rather than us making the choice for you
• Once on the housing list your position is fixed it cannot change
• Simpler and easier to understand
• Because there is less red tape, staff will have more time to explain the service, advise and support you with any aspect of the Homefinder service

Are Housing Association homes included in the Homefinder scheme?

Not immediately. Housing Associations will be invited to participate in the Homefinder scheme. The details have yet to be finalised. We’ll keep you up to date with what’s happening

I am a Council tenant on the transfer list, how will it affect me?

There will be only one housing list not two under Homefinder. Your application will be assessed under the new rules. You will have the same opportunity to bid for homes as any other applicant. We’ll tell you the impact on your application in early 2005.

I'm disabled or have special needs, can I get a bit more help or support to fill in forms or look for homes to rent?

We recognize that some people because of their disability or special needs may require further help looking for a home to rent.  Homefinder has a special support officer who, with the help of other agencies, will make sure extra help and support is provided.

If English is not your first language then we can arrange for an interpreter to help you with the form.

The information on Homefinder will be made available on audiotape, in Braille and in large print

What do I do if I am homeless?

If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, you should contact the Blyth Valley Housing’s Homeless Section, telephone 01670 542095. If you have other circumstances which mean you need to move urgently we will assess your circumstances and look at whether we can give you priority for Housing ahead of other people on the housing list.

If I am unhappy about the Band I have been placed into, can I appeal?

We know that peoples circumstances change. If at any time you are unhappy about the assessment of your application and want your priority reviewed, simply request a review of the decision by putting your request in writing or by contacting the Homefinder Team.

How can I be awarded a higher priority band on medical grounds?

Priority for housing on medical grounds is considered when assessing your application. We may need to write to your doctor for further information. Priority will usually only be awarded where the current housing circumstances are having a detrimental effect on the persons health.

Further Information

You can obtain further information from the following:

Homefinders, Blyth Valley Housing, Dinsdale House, 75 Marine Terrace, Blyth NE24 2LN.

Telephone: Homefinder Hotline 01670 542242 or Lo-Call telephone number 0845 606 6546

Typetalk service prefix number 18001

EMail: Homefinders