Homesearch Team
Adult Social Services & Housing
Bath and North East Somerset Council
PO Box 3343
Bath BA1 2ZH

HOMESEARCH POLICY CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

The Council’s Housing Register is called Homesearch and is based upon the principles of choice based lettings.  That means we aim to give applicants choice wherever possible, while prioritising applicants on their housing need.

Homesearch is committed to giving choice to people who need housing by providing an open and accessible lettings service for affordable housing in Bath & North East Somerset.  We aim to:

• provide a simple, clear and fair way to affordable housing within Bath & North East Somerset.
• give you enough information so that you can make informed choices about your housing options.
• help to build sustainable communities by looking at the needs of communities as well as the needs of individuals and by making better use of the existing housing stock.
• ensure that vulnerable people are fully supported through the process, so that they are not excluded.

Anyone wanting to be considered for affordable housing in Bath and North East Somerset must complete an application form.  The quickest and most effective way of doing this is by visiting www.homesearchbathnes.org.uk  and completing the application form online.  This will then automatically add you to the system.  Alternatively you can telephone 01225 396296 to request a paper copy of the application form.

THE HOMESEARCH PARTNERSHIP

Homesearch is a partnership between the Council and the Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) working in the Bath & North East Somerset area.  Applying to Homesearch partnership means that you will be considered for housing by any of the following Registered Social Landlords:

• Anchor Housing Association
• Bath Self Help Housing Association
• Bristol Churches Housing Association
• English Churches Housing Group Ltd
• Hanover Housing Association
• Kennet Housing Society
• Knightstone Housing Association
• Methodist Homes Housing Association Ltd
• Orbit Housing Association
• Redland Housing Association
• Rural Housing Trust
• Sanctuary Housing Association
• Somer Community Housing Trust
• Sovereign Housing Association
• The Guinness Trust
• United Housing Association
• Western Challenge Housing Association

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR JOINING HOMESEARCH

• Anyone aged 16 years or over can apply to join the Homesearch scheme even if they do not currently live in the Bath and North East Somerset area.  However, people under the age of 18 will need a Guarantor before being offered accommodation.
• Joint applications can be made by opposite-sex couples or same-sex couples, or by brothers and sisters who want to live together.  Joint applications will not be accepted from friends who want to live together or where government rules mean that one of the people has no right to social housing in the United Kingdom.  Parents and adult children can make an application together but they will not be considered for a joint tenancy.
• You can see what size accommodation you would be eligible for in Appendix
•  If you currently hold, or have previously held, a tenancy with a Council or Registered Social Landlord you can still apply to Homesearch.
•  If you are from abroad you may be considered for housing if you have exceptional or indefinite leave to remain in the UK or have been granted refugee status or are habitually resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Republic of Ireland.
• People who are subject to immigration control may not join the Homesearch register.  This includes asylum seekers, people with restrictions or conditions on their leave to enter or remain in the UK, people who have entered the UK illegally or who have outstayed their leave and people who are not habitually resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Republic of Ireland.
• If you are in prison you can make an application if you are within the last 6 months of your sentence. However, your application will be suspended until 1 month before your release.  This means that you will not be able to bid for a property until 1 month before your release.  If you are already registered on Homesearch and you are sentenced to imprisonment, your application will be suspended until 1 month before your release.   
• Military Services personnel can make an application within the last 6 months of their contract.  However, their application will be suspended until 1 month before the end of their employment. This means that you will not be able to bid for a property until 1 month before your release.

THE GROUPING SYSTEM

When we receive your completed Homesearch application form we will assess it and place it in either Group A, B, C or D depending on your personal circumstances.

 A summary of the Groups is shown below and full details are in Appendix 2.

• Group A           

This Group includes people who need affordable housing as a result of a specific statutory requirement or those who are at a serious risk to their health, safety and well-being due to their housing situation.  Applicants in this band will have their priority reviewed on a regular basis     

• Group B

This Group includes people who have a medium level need for housing and where there are no statutory requirements.  It includes people whose current housing situation is causing a risk to their health, safety and well-being and this can be verified.  Applicants in this band will have their priority reviewed on a regular basis

It also includes people who are eligible for the Assisted Move-on Scheme, a strategic management move or are at imminent risk of becoming homeless.  

• Group C

This Group includes people who want affordable housing and have a genuine need to live in the Bath & North East Somerset area.

• Group D

This Group includes people who do not meet the criteria for inclusion in Groups A, B or C and students who have moved to the area to study at one of the colleges in Bath and North East Somerset

Nominations to vacant properties will be made on a rotational basis between the groups.  The proportion of properties going to each Group is shown in Appendix 3.  The Homesearch Team Leader will monitor the number and type of properties being offered to each Group to ensure that the yearly quotas are being met.  However, we may need to change the proportion in response to need.  This may only be done by the Executive Member for Housing.

EFFECTIVE APPLICATION DATE

The day when the Homesearch Team receives your completed form will be the effective application date.  However, if your application moves from one Group into a higher Group your effective application date will change to the date you changed Groups.

This is so that people in the higher Groups have an effective date that is relevant to their situation and grouping at that time.  If you move down a Group your original effective application date will be used.

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