Homefinder Somerset is the new way of finding a home to rent. It lets you apply for a home of your choice instead of waiting for an offer that somebody else thinks is suitable. It is designed to give people in the greatest need the highest priority.
From December 2008 the five councils in Somerset – Mendip District Council, Sedgemoor District Council, South Somerset District Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council and West Somerset District Council – have set up a new way to allocate homes, called Homefinder Somerset. The councils are working with local housing associations in the area, including Flourish Homes.
All available homes are advertised every week. You can find the homes:
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online at the Homefinder Somerset website here
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in a weekly newsletter which you can pick up at Mendip District Council or at our office at Kilver Court in Shepton Mallet
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by phoning 0845 241 5948 for a recorded message of what is available
You can bid for homes if you are registered on the Homefinder Somerset register. Bidding is what we call it when you say you are interested in one of the properties that are advertised.
Up to now homes are allocated to people on the Housing Register according to their need and they are given points depending on their personal circumstances. Homefinder Somerset replaces the old points system with bands – Gold, Silver and Bronze. People in the Gold band have the highest priority while those in the Bronze band have the lowest. There is also an Emergency band for people who need an urgent move for their own safety and welfare.
You can find out more about the banding system here.
How do I apply?
How do I know I'm able to bid for homes?
What if I don't like the council's decision about me?
How do I bid for a home?
What's the selection process?
What happen's if my bid is successful?
When will I get the keys?
Why am I not successful?
Almost anyone can apply to join the scheme. You could be one of our existing tenants wanting to transfer to another of our properties, you might be renting from a private landlord, be an owner occupier, or living with friends or family or be homeless.
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To apply to join the Housing Register you must be over 16 years of age
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You will need to complete an on-line application form which is available on www.homefindersomerset.co.uk or you can get a copy from Mendip District Council or our offices
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Once you have filled in the form you will get a letter saying you are registered. It will tell you:
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The priority band you are in (gold, silver or bronze)
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Your Housing application number
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Your application date
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The size of home you can apply for
You must tell the council if there are any changes in your circumstances so that your application can be looked at again. It may change your band and application date.
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If you don’t agree with the Council’s decision about whether you can apply or your banding then you can ask the Council to look at it’s decision again.
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If you are registered for Homefinder Somerset you will be able to bid for a property. The advertisements (newsletter), the web site and the phone system all give details about:
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The homes that are available
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Where they are
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The weekly rent and which band they are in
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Size
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If there are special requirements the applicant must meet
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If there are any restrictions
Properties are advertised each week on
You can only bid for properties that you are suitable for. For example, if you only need one bedroom, you cannot bid for two-bedroom homes. The symbols that appear on the adverts indicate any restrictions about who is able to bid for a property.
You can bid for up to three homes each week. You can withdraw your bids and re-use them on another property up until the close of bidding.
A Tenancy will not be given to applicants who are under 18 without a guarantor, such as Social Services, a parent, guardian etc.
If the property is a sheltered housing home the advert may state that only applicants with support needs would be suitable or where there are other support needs due to physical or mental disabilities. An adapted property suitable for someone in a wheelchair may be labelled to say that applicants must need that kind of property.
A certain number of properties advertised will be labelled so that they give preference to transfer applicants.
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All bids received will be put in priority order to produce a list of eligible applicants for each property advertised. The landlord of the property will carry out any outstanding eligibility checks; e.g rent checks, household circumstance checks.
If there is more than one applicant for an advertised home, we select the one in the highest band who has been registered the longest.
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If your application is selected a housing officer will visit to check the details on your application, before making a formal offer. You will not normally be offered a property if you have rent arrears or legal action is being taken against you for Breach of Tenancy conditions.
If you are the successful applicant, you will be invited to view the property.
If you decide to refuse the property it will be offered to the next person on the priority list. You will not normally be penalised for refusing a property and will be able to continue to be able to bid for properties advertised.
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If you accept the property, you will be advised when you can move in. The Housing Services Officer will arrange to meet you at your new home so you can sign your tenancy agreement and receive your keys.
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Each week the Homefinder Somerset website will publish details of how many people applied for previously advertised properties and the date that successful applicants registered. Using this information, applicants will recognise where properties are likely to become available and help develop realistic expectations about their chance of success.
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