HOUSING REVIEW FORM
The council’s Cabinet approved a new model for allocating social housing in September 2007. The new system will be introduced in April 2009 and in order to assess everyones application against the new criteria, Review forms are being sent to all applicants on the Housing Needs Register. Once your form arrives, you can contact us with any queries about completing it by calling the following free phone number 0800 121 6453. This number will connect you to an answer phone which is available 24 hours a day. Please quote the reference number at the top of the letter accompanying the form to assist us with your enquiry. We will return your call within three working days.
Alternatively you can come to one of our open days where officers will be available to help you. The dates, times and venues are listed below:
Date Time Venue
Tuesday 18 November 2008 2pm until 7pm Gill Nethercott Centre, Whitchurch
Thursday 20 November 2008 2pm until 6pm Tadley Community Centre
Tuesday 25 November 2008 2pm until 8pm Fieldgate Centre, Kingsclere
Wednesday 26 November 2008 2pm until 7pm Council Offices, Basingstoke
Thursday 27 November 2008 2pm until 7pm Overton Community Centre
Tuesday 2 December 2008 2pm until 7pm Preston Candover Village Hall
Thursday 4 December 2008 2pm until 7pm Council Offices, Basingstoke
Please Note We will not be able to tell you how your individual application will be affected until the new system goes live in April 2009. The open days and free phone number are being made available to help you complete the review form.
What happens to the normal service while all this is happening?
There will be some changes to the way we are able to deal with queries during this time. This will enable us to focus our resources and deal with as many queries as effectively as possible. Housing Officers will be available Monday to Friday between 10.00am and 12 noon in order to deal with telephone enquiries. There will also be a Housing Officer on hand to deal with your queries in person at the Parklands enquires desk during these specific hours. The situation will be reviewed at the end of November and we will keep you advised of any further changes.
Providing Affordable Housing For Local People
The Borough Council has a long history of enabling the development of new and improved housing services, working in partnership with local housing associations and other partners to provide affordable housing for local families.
The Council works to improve the quality of life through investment in housing, leisure and community facilities and by providing safe communities to live in.
Providing New Homes
In March 2006 The Borough Council was allocated over £13 million towards new housing. With subsequent allocations, the current level of funding from the Housing Corporation to housing associations is over £30 million. This means that we are likely to exceed the current target of 250 homes per year.
The HARAH Partnership (Hampshire Alliance for Rural Affordable Housing)
HARAH was set up to make a difference to the provision of affordable housing in the villages of Hampshire. Many villages have the experience of local people being unable to afford to live in the places where they were brought up, work or have family connections.
Rural housing schemes often take a long time to come about because of difficulties finding sites, the length of time taken to negotiate land, obtaining planning permission and securing funding. This has resulted in rural communities losing members because they have had to find housing elsewhere.
The Partnership involves several local authorities across Hampshire and was set up to speed up the process of delivering rural housing, and to increase the amount of funding available in the county.
There are several rural schemes in progress within the borough as a result, including schemes at Headley, Preston Candover and Charter Alley.
For more details on HARAH, please visit www.harah.org.uk
The Housing Market Assessment (HMA)
The Council is also working in partnership with other Hampshire local authorities to produce an assessment of the housing market and housing need. The final report will be available in mid-October, and will help us to decide future priorities for the Housing Strategy.
Housing for Special Needs
The Borough Council recognises the importance of joint working with Social Services and the North & Mid Hampshire Health Authority to co-ordinate a range of housing and other services to meet the special needs of people with disabilities and mental health requirements.
Housing Advice
Providing advice to residents in the borough including help on tenancy matters, homelessness, debt counselling, mediation, private sector renting, nominations and information about housing associations.
Housing Register
The Borough Council provides a common housing register for all local housing associations acting as a focal point for new applicants and existing tenants seeking alternative accommodation.
Housing Survey of Ethnic Minorities in Basingstoke
The council recently conducted a survey of members of ethnic minority communities who live in the borough of Basingstoke and Deane, to help us understand their needs and establish priorities for the next housing strategy. Click here to see the results