Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Details

HomeChoice can be contacted in a variety of ways:

1. - Via our website www.ghchoice.co.uk,
2. - By telephone 0191 433 5345, or
3. - At any office of The Gateshead Housing Company

Choice-based Lettings

HomeChoice is a 'Choice Based Lettings' scheme - a much easier way to let properties in Gateshead. The idea is to offer people who want to rent housing more choice over which property and area they would like to live in by allowing them to bid for properties.

Basically, you no longer just join our housing list and wait for us to come and offer you a property. Instead, you look at properties being advertised and tell us which ones you want to be considered for. HomeChoice advertises available homes in a variety of ways every week, and scheme members can bid for them. You don't bid with money, but with the time you have built up as a HomeChoice member. So the longer you stay in the HomeChoice scheme, the more chance you have of making a successful bid. As well as properties managed by The Gateshead Housing Company, adverts are placed by private landlords and Registered Social Landlords (Housing Associations) who have available properties in Gateshead.

How to join

To join HomeChoice applicants will need to complete an application form, provide proof of ID and references for any current or previous tenancies (this information is required for everyone in the household who is aged 16 or over). When applicants are accepted onto the scheme they receive a membership pack which contains:

1. - A membership & PIN number - these are important as you need them to make bids
2. - Confirmation of your HomeChoice membership date
3. - Details of what band you are in
4. - A sample of the weekly HomeChoice newspaper
5. - A handy HomeChoice card to keep your details on
6. - A complete guide to HomeChoice and the Lettings Policy

There are several ways for you to join the FREE scheme:

• - Use our online Housing Application Form - to apply online you will need a valid email address
• - Call HomeChoice on 0191 433 5345
• - Text 0762 480 4167 (keyword CBL and include your name and address)
• - Call HomeChoice on 0191 433 5345
• - Visit any office of The Gateshead Housing Company
• - E-mail homechoice@gatesheadhousing.co.uk

What are the HomeChoice "Bands"?

There are just two bands in HomeChoice.

Band 1 Customers with an urgent need for housing or high priority, including:

1. - Applicants accepted by Gateshead Council as being statutorily homeless
2. - Applicants living in severely overcrowded accommodation, or a property in substantial disrepair
3. - Applicants who are at risk in their current home because of substantial or critical medical needs

Band 2 All other members of the HomeChoice scheme.

How to bid for a home

Bids can be made in a variety of ways:

1. - Via the internet. Log onto www.ghchoice.co.uk
2. - By telephoning the automated HomeChoice bidding service on 08459 400530 (calls are charged at the local rate)
3. - Text your bids to 07624 804167 (standard network charges apply)
4. - Visit your nearest housing office

To make a bid members will need their membership number; their PIN number, and the reference number(s) of the property(s) they wish to bid for.

How does HomeChoice work?

1. - Available properties are advertised every week
2. - Members can bid for up to three properties from Friday to Wednesday each week
3. - All eligible bids will be considered, but the bidder with the most waiting time will be successful
4. - The more waiting time members build up, the better their chance of making a successful bid
5. - Properties that are advertised with preference given to Band 1 applicants are clearly marked in adverts

Band 2 applicants can still bid for properties that are advertised with preference to Band 1, but will only be considered if there are no eligible bids from Band 1

How are priorities set?

The majority of available properties will be advertised through HomeChoice, and some of these will be advertised with preference to Band 1 applicants. The proportion of properties to be advertised with preference to Band 1 applicants is determined by Gateshead Council and the propertion (or ratio) may be altered in order to enable the council to meet its statutory duties.

A small number of properties are not advertised through HomeChoice, and are let as "Management Moves".

What is a "Management Move"?

A Management Move is where a property is offered directly to an applicant without being advertised. This will only happen where there are exceptional circumstances and the applicant's need to move cannot be met through HomeChoice within a reasonable period of time. The following list gives some examples of where a Management Move may apply:

1. - Supported and emergency tenancies
2. - Multi-Agency Public Protection Agreement
3. - Request for, or release of, specially adapted property
4. - Witness Protection Scheme
5. - Key workers
6. - Emergency plan

What is an eligible bid?

An 'eligible bid' means that the property is an appropriate type and size for the applicant. For instance, some sheltered accommodation has a minimum age limit; a three bed house would not be suitable for a single person, and a family of four couldn't live in a one bedroomed flat! A full copy of the eligibility criteria can be found in the Lettings Policy.

What about homes for members with special medical needs?

Some of the homes advertised have adapted features. Adapted properties are homes that have had relevant adjustments made to enable tenants to live independently at home (such as a level-access shower or stair lift). Adapted properties have preference to HomeChoice members who have received Band 1 status on health grounds. Members have medical priority due to critical or substantial illness, including:

1. - Those who are currently in hospital and cannot be discharged because their current home is not suitable for their needs. (Bed blocking) This also includes members being moved to respite care, immediate care or other short-term solutions.
2. - Members who have been assessed by a specialist health professional to have a risk to their life if they do not move. This includes illnesses like Parkinson﾿s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, acute medical conditions which relate to failure of major organs and other serious illnesses.
3. - Applicants who have been referred to a consultant psychiatrist who has recommended that if they do not move their life could be at risk due to psychological ailment.

The adverts for all adapted properties are clearly marked with the medical priority symbol, and contain a full description of the adaptation and who the property would be suitable for.

Homelessness

Our colleagues at Gateshead Council carry out the assessment of Homeless applicants; it is their statutory duty to carry out this function. If an applicant has been assessed as being Homeless and in Priority need, they will be given band 1 status from the date that they presented themselves as being homeless. Other 'homeless' applicants will remain in band 2 and can be given what is known as 'reasonable preference'. This is done by giving applicants an extra 12 months waiting time to give them a better chance of making a successful bid.

How many animals/pets am I allowed to keep?

This depends on the type of property you live in. You can keep one dog and one cat but NOT in shared entrance properties. Permission from your Housing Office is required for two dogs or two cats. We don't have specific numbers for other animals e.g. fish or rodents. You must not keep any animal that is unsuitable for your home or garden. Your animal must not annoy or frighten other people.

In most cases it comes down to common sense. We don't mind people having an animal that is well behaved, quiet and kept securely - as long as it is not banned by law or other rules. However if the animal annoys or frightens other people we will take action. The tenant will have to get rid of the animal or risk legal action for anti-social behaviour.

You must not breed animals or birds at the property. Detailed information on keeping animals is available by following the link below.

Keeping animals in your home (opens in new window)

What happens if I refuse an offer?

If you are offered a property following a successful bid and then refuse the property, your band 2 status will be unaffected, however if you have a Band 1 priority status (Homeless or Medical) you will be contacted by your relevant caseworker from Gateshead Council Housing Services who will advise you accordingly, as you can lose your Band 1 status.

Furnished tenancies

We offer a number of properties through HomeChoice as furnished tenancies, typically these will have carpets and curtains through out, a cooker, fridge, settee and armchair, table and chairs, double bed, wardrobe and chest of drawers. There is of course a charge made on the rent account for these items. We can provide furniture for properties that have been let as unfurnished and an appropriate charge will be made via the rent account.

Mutual Exchanges

In an effort to help customers maximise their housing options we are introducing a new Mutual exchange system. A Mutual Exchange is when two or more tenants swap their homes and take on the conditions of each other's tenancy. This would offer customers increased choice of where they would like to move.

Mutual exchanges will be advertised in HomeChoice and on our website.