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. - A handy HomeChoice card to keep your details on

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)
• - Visit any office of The Gateshead Housing Company
• - E-mail homechoice@gatesheadhousing.co.uk

What are the HomeChoice "Categories"?

There are four housing need categories in HomeChoice.

Critical Housing Need - Applicants who qualify on more than one ground would be considered first.

• - Applicants with a critical medical need who must be rehoused in order to be discharged from hospital or a care home
• - Applicants who are experiencing severe harassment, and have been assessed as being at risk unless rehoused
• - Applicants who must be rehoused to prevent a child being taken into care or to ensure the safety of children under the terms of current legislation
• - Urgent homeless cases, where Gateshead Council needs to discharge its statutory duty as a matter of urgency.

Urgent Housing Need - Applicants who qualify on more than one ground would be considered first.

• - Statutorily homeless
• - Applicants threatened with becoming homeless
• - Applicants with a severe medical need who are at risk in their current home
• - Cases of severe overcrowding
• - Proposed demolition of home/change of use agreed by Gateshead Council
• - Single Gateway ? Gateshead?s supported tenancy scheme
• - Leaving Care ? where Gateshead Council has parental responsibility to minors
• - Leaving a Gateshead Council Tied Tenancy (imminently)
• - Leaving Armed Forces (imminently)
• - Applicants who are entitled to alternative accommodation ? instead of succeeding to a tenancy
• - Best use of housing stock ? to release a property in high demand, and move to one in lower demand
• - Domestic Violence

Substantial Housing Need - Applicants who qualify on more than one ground would be considered first.

• - Non-priority homeless (but not intentionally homeless)
• - Applicants with a medical need that may be worsened by living in current home
• - Overcrowded (but not severely)
• - Leaving a Gateshead Council Tied Tenancy (but not imminently)
• - Leaving Armed Forces (but not imminently)
• - Children in multi storey flats
• - Intentionally homeless in a priority need group. You are homeless but as a result of your own actions (only considered after other applicants within this category)

General Housing Need

• - Out of Borough cases
• - All other applicants

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. - Text your bids to 07624 804167 (standard network charges apply)
3. - 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 Thursday to Monday each week
3. - The more waiting time members build up, the better their chance of making a successful bid
4. - Properties are advertised with preference to either housing need applicants (adverts with no icon) or length of waiting time someone has been on the scheme (those with the clock symbol)

General Needs applicants can still bid for properties that are advertised with preference to Housing Need applicants, but will only be considered if there are no eligible bids from applicants with Housing Need awards.

How are adverts set?

The majority of available properties will be advertised through HomeChoice, and some of these will be advertised with preference to Housing Need applicants. The proportion of properties to be advertised with preference to Housing Need applicants is determined by Gateshead Council and the proportion (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 "Direct Lets".

What is a "Direct Let"?

A Direct Let 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 Direct Let may apply:

• - Emergency
• - Multi-Agency Public Protection Agreement
• - Request for, or release of, specially adapted property
• - Threat of or fear for Life
• - Key workers
• - Domestic Violence/Abuse
• - Social Care preventative Lettings
• - Homelessness
• - Extenuating or unusual circumstances

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 a housing need award on health grounds.

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

Homelessness appears in more than one category of housing need awards. Our colleagues at Gateshead Council carry out the assessment of Homeless applicants; it is their statutory duty to carry out this function.

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.

What happens if I refuse an offer?

If you are offered a property following a successful bid and then refuse the property, your General Needs status will be unaffected, however if you have a housing need award (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 Housing Need award.

Furnished tenancies

We offer some 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.

There is also an option to sign up for a `furniture package' for properties that have been let as unfurnished, charges will vary depending on the package of furniture that is requested.

Mutual Exchanges

A Mutual Exchange is when two or more tenants swap their homes and take on the conditions of each other's tenancy. This offers customers increased choice of where they would like to move.

HomeXchange Tyne and Wear is a mutual exchange service that allows you not only swap homes with a tenant from your own local authority, but also to advertise for an exchange with a tenant from another area.

The five main Tyne and Wear authorities; Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland and their respective housing organisations have joined together to bring you more choice when looking for homes to exchange with.

For full details of the HomeXchange Tyne and Wear scheme please log on to www.homexchangetyneandwear.org.uk (opens in new window)