Harborough Homesearch

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for properties through Harborough Homesearch?
You must have been accepted onto Harborough Homesearch’s Housing Register to be able to apply for either rented or low cost home ownership properties through Harborough Homesearch. Anyone aged 16 years or over may apply to join the Housing Register.

How do I apply to join the Housing Register?
You will need to complete an application form.  These can be downloaded by clicking here or obtained from the Home Search Property Shop. Click How to Contact Us for contact details and opening hours.

What other documents do I need to provide?
Along with your application form you will need to provide the following:

• Proof of identity for all household members (e.g. passports, birth certificates)
• Proof of current address (e.g. recent utility bill)
• Evidence of your right to reside in the UK if you are not a British Citizen (e.g. passport & other relevant Home Office documentation)

Before you are offered a property you will need to provide additional documents to support your application. We will tell you what documents to provide and when to provide them.
All documents provided must be originals, up to date and valid. For a full list of acceptable documents contact the Home Search Property Shop.

What happens if I do not provide the required documents?
Providing you have properly completed your application form it will be processed but placed in the potential (lowest) band, until the documents are received, when it will be moved into the appropriate band from the date they are received. If your application form is incomplete it will be returned to you. The date it is later accepted from will be the date the fully completed form is received.

How do I know if I have been accepted onto the Housing Register?
You will receive a letter confirming that you have been accepted onto the Housing Register. This will tell you the band you have been placed in, the date your application has been registered from and the size and type of property you are eligible for.

Can you refuse to accept me onto the Housing Register?
There are some people who are not eligible to be included on the Housing Register. These are:

• Certain people who are subject to Immigration Control under the 1996 Asylum and Immigration Act.
• Certain people from abroad who are not subject to immigration control but who are not habitually resident in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland.
• People (including members of their household) who have been guilty of unacceptable behaviour that makes them unsuitable to be a tenant.

For more detailed information contact the Home Search Property Shop.

What are priority Bands?
Your application will be assessed according to your level of housing need and placed in one of 4 bands. We will also take into account whether you have a local connection with the Harborough District and the extent of this and whether you are able to afford to resolve your own housing problems.

What do I do if my circumstances change?
It is very important that you tell us of any changes in your circumstances so that we can amend your application. We will tell you if this results in your application moving to a different band. If you move up a band the date used will be the date you move into that band. If you move down a band, the date used will be the date that applied when you were previously in that band.

• Do I need to renew my application each year?
  Yes, once a year, normally on the anniversary of your application you will be sent a declaration form, which you must complete and return within 28 days. If you fail to return the form we will write and tell you that your application has been cancelled.
  

What if someone in my household has a medical condition?
If someone in your household has a medical condition you will be asked to provide details for assessment. You can continue to choose which properties to express an interest in but must be mindful of your condition and only express interest in suitable properties such as ground floor flat or bungalow if you cannot climb stairs.

How often are properties advertised?
Properties available for rent are advertised normally every two weeks.  Properties are advertised during the notice period.

Where are properties advertised?
Properties are advertised in the following ways:

Online at www.harboroughhomes.org.uk 

In the Housing Options Booklet available from the Home Search Property Shop and the following display/collection points.

What information will the property adverts contain?
The adverts will tell you the landlord, location, size, rent and other features of the property. Where available a photograph of the property or a similar house type will be provided and you will be able to access information about the local area and facilities. The advert will also tell you if there are any special requirements that the applicant must meet, such as age requirements, which bands may bid for the property and which will be given priority for the property. It also tells you the number of bedrooms that applicants applying for the property need to be entitled to. If your bedroom entitlement is different to this you will not be able to bid for that property. 

• How do I apply for a property?
  You can express your interest or bid, as it is also known, in the following ways:
  • Online through our website: www.harboroughhomes.org.uk 
  • Through our 24hr automated telephone service on 0300 011 0129

• How many properties can I express an interest in?
  You will be able to express an interest in a maximum of two properties each time properties are advertised. However, you will only be able to express interest in properties that are suitable for your family.
• How long will I have to bid for a property?
  Properties will be advertised from midnight on a Tuesday and you will be able to register your interest in properties up until midnight the following Monday.
• Will I know how many other people are interested in the same property?
  Yes, when you bid for a property you will be told where you are in the queue. This is likely to change frequently due to other people bidding for the same property. Using this information you may decide to withdraw your bid for one property and bid for a different property for which you are higher placed in the queue. You can do this at any time before the closing date.

How do you decide who is offered a property?
Once the closing date for bids has passed a shortlist of interested applicants is drawn up. The shortlist is in order of eligibility according to the criteria stated in the advert details for that property. The applicant at the top of the list will normally be offered the property.

• If I successfully bid for a rented property, can the landlord refuse to let it to me?
  You may not be invited to view the property for the following reasons:
  • You owe rent or have other housing related debts
  • You are a Council or Housing Association tenant and legal action has been taken against you because you have broken your tenancy conditions
  • You have sufficient resources to solve your own housing problems
  • You have not provided the required documentary evidence to support your application by the date given
  • Your circumstances have changed and this results in a reduction in your level of priority. 
  • You have provided incorrect or misleading information, which has resulted in your application being awarded a higher priority than it deserves.
• If I am offered a property, will I be able to view it before making up my mind?
  Yes. You will be given an opportunity to view the property and decide whether you would like to accept it.
• What if I don’t like the property when I have seen it?
  You will not normally be penalised for refusing a property that you have been offered and will still be able to express interest in properties that become available.
• How will I know what has happened to the properties advertised?
  Information about homes that have been successfully let or purchased through shared ownership is published. We tell you the number of applicants that expressed an interest in each property, the band and the registration date of each property. To see the results of properties that have been let click Recent Lets.
• How will this information help me?
  It will give you a better idea of how popular a particular property or area is and how long you would normally have to wait. You can then decide whether to look for other types of property or areas where you may not have to wait as long.
• Are carpets and appliances provided?
  You will normally have to provide your own carpets and appliances.
• What other options are there for housing?
  Most applicants on the Housing Register will have to wait a long time for re-housing and many of those in the lower bands will still have little chance of re-housing in the local area. Depending on your circumstances you may wish to consider other options such as renting in the private sector. We may be able to help you with a deposit for private rented if you meet certain criteria. Interviews to discuss your housing options are available by appointment from the Housing Advice Centre.

What if I become homeless?
Households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness should contact the Home Search Property Shop to arrange an interview to discuss their circumstances. We will work with you to try to prevent you becoming homeless and will discuss your housing options with you. If this is unsuccessful you may be offered temporary housing. You may still express an interest in properties through Harborough Homesearch, providing your application has been accepted on the Housing Register, but in most cases it is unlikely that this will be in time to resolve your homelessness, as most applicants will have to wait a long time before being successful.

How do I request a review of a decision?
If you disagree with any of the following decisions you can request a review:

• You are not eligible to join the housing register
• You are not eligible for an offer
• Your application has been cancelled other than at your own request
• You think that you have been placed in the wrong band or given the wrong priority date

To request a review you must contact the Home Search Property Shop within 21 days of the date you are notified of the decision and the reason for it. You may provide additional information in writing that you wish to be taken into account when the review is carried out. You will normally be advised of the outcome of the review within 8 weeks. You may not request a further review.