How to apply for housing
Following Board approval in September 2022, we now have a new lettings policy, this aims to bring greater transparency to the lettings process.
We will now be lettings homes both via South Gloucestershire Council’s HomeChoice system and directly to applicants.
HomeChoice
All applicants in need of urgent rehousing are advised to apply to their local homechoice or equivalent scheme in addition to joining the KBHA waiting list due to the limited number of voids we have available each year.
For South Gloucestershire Council’s HomeChoice, please see https://homechoice.southglos.gov.uk/
Or for Bristol, please see: https://www.homechoicebristol.co.uk/
We will be advertising at least half of all out re-lets in South Glos via HomeChoice. This will be assessed and prioritised by HomeChoice, however applicants will still need to meet our eligibility criteria, e.g., age restrictions.
Direct Applicants
To join our waiting list please click here for a copy of our housing application form. This will need to be signed using an electronic signature and emailed to
Eligibility Criteria
All applicants will need to meet our eligibility criteria, please see below.
|
Eligible Candidates |
Ineligible Candidates |
|---|---|
| Age over 55 (or over 60 at Edgeware Road) | All required information is not supplied within specified timescales. |
| Valid proof of identity supplied. | Certain criminal convictions or cautions within the last 3 years. |
| Valid proof of right to rent supplied. | Eviction, possession order or injunction made in the past 5 years for serious anti-social behaviour (ASB) or domestic abuse (DA). |
| Will not hold more than one tenancy | Tenancy enforcement action taken in the past 3 years due to DA or other unacceptable behaviour. |
| Not own any property (exceptions apply) | Engaged in illegal drug usage or dealing within the past year. |
| Must be ready and willing to move | KBHA or another housing provider has commenced legal action for breach of tenancy within the past 3 years. This excludes a notice of seeking possession for rent arrears. |
| Have savings /income <£25,000 per annum | Has net debt with KBHA or another housing provider. |
| Must be able to afford rent and associated costs. | There is evidence of violence or threats of violence, harassment, inappropriate behaviour or intimidation towards an employee, board member or contractor of KBHA in the past 5 years. This includes any behaviour during the lettings process. |
| Good references will need to be provided for external applicants. | Ex-offenders may have offers restricted where it would be inappropriate or not in the best interests of our existing residents or community. |
| Pets and mobility scooters will be considered in line with relevant policies | Had a debt relief order or bankruptcy order within the past 18 months. For an IVA proof of adherence for the last 6 months will be required. |
| Should not have a probationary tenancy. | Social housing fraud is a criminal offence, and anyone found to have deliberately lied, provided false information, or withheld information as part of an application will not be accepted as an eligible applicant by us. |
Please note in exceptional circumstances, for instance escaping domestic abuse or for an internal decant, exceptions may occur, please add notes to your application form if you believe this applies to you.
We will allocate properties according to the size of the household, if you need an additional room e.g. due to medical need, please provide supporting documentation.
Prioritisation
Once you have submitted your application and supporting documentation, you will be awarded a priority. These are urgent, high, medium or no priority. Within these categories date order will be applied. In the case of a property with disabled adaptations, we will also take into consideration an applicants need for adaptations.
|
Priority |
Existing KBHA customers |
External Customers |
|---|---|---|
| Urgent | Age over 55 (or over 60 at Edgeware Road)Victims of crime, serious Anti-Social Behaviour, hate crime or domestic abuse and at risk to life or limb and it is no longer safe to remain where you are. No evidence will be required to prove domestic abuse. | |
| You must be rehoused to allow major repairs to be conducted or because the property needs to be refurbished or redeveloped. Including decanting decanting residents. | ||
| An urgent medical need or disability which means that you cannot access and continue to occupy your current home. Relevant medical evidence maybe required | ||
| High | A medical condition or disability which means that your current home is unsuitable i.e., you cannot leave the home without help; but could do so if you lived in a more suitable property. Relevant medical evidence maybe required | A medical condition or disability which means that your current home is unsuitable i.e., you cannot leave the home without help; but could do so if you lived in a more suitable property. Relevant medical evidence maybe required |
| You cannot afford your current home due to having more bedrooms than you require and need to move to avoid falling in to or increasing your arrears. | You are at risk of homelessness because you are unable to afford your current accommodation. Proof of current rent and income/savings will be required, plus notice/court order where applicable. | |
| You are an ongoing victim of hate crime or domestic abuse, but no risk to life or limb. | You are an ongoing victim of crime, serious Anti-Social Behaviour, hate crime or domestic abuse. | |
| You are living in poor quality accommodation, which the housing provider has refused to repair or improve. We will require written verification from the Local Authority’s Environmental Health Department that the home is unsatisfactory, and that the housing provider is not taking action to get it repaired within a reasonable timescale. | ||
| Medium | You are overcrowded in your current accommodation. | You are overcrowded in your current accommodation. |
| You need to live closer to someone for whom you are the main carer, or from whom you receive care. | You need to live closer to someone for whom you are the main carer, or from whom you receive care. | |
| You are living in housing adapted for disabled persons, and do not need the adaptation. | You are at risk of homelessness in your current accommodation and have received notification of this from your housing provider. This only applies where the applicant is not at fault. I.e., not due to breach of tenancy conditions. | |
| No priority | None of the above criteria are met | None of the above criteria are met |
Please note this is not a comprehensive list, for further information please contact KBHA to discuss your individual circumstances. Supporting information may be required from the police or other agency. In these cases, we may only offer a limited choice of properties.
Supporting Documentation
We may require supporting documentation as proof – please do not post any original documents to us
Offer of property
Please note if you are invited to view a property or offered the tenancy, you will be asked to complete and income and expenditure form and will need to be ready to proceed at short notice. We are not able to place offers on hold and may need to move onto the next person on our waiting list, if you do not respond or are unable to progress with the lettings process in a timely manner
Reviews
Applications will as standard be reviewed on an annual basis, if no response is received the application will be removed from the waiting list. If there is a change in your circumstances, or you would like to expand the areas you will consider please contact us
Suspensions and Cancellations
Where two reasonable offers of KBHA properties have been declined in the last year, you will be suspended from the list for 6 months. If two further properties are declined or you are removed for any other reason, a new application will not be considered for 1 year.
Appeals
If you wish to appeal against a decision made, please contact us within 14 days. Please note the property will not be held for you while an appeal is ongoing.
Exchanges
If you have an Assured or Secure tenancy, have a clear rent account, and do not owe us any money for other debts and aren't in breach of any other tenancy requirements, you can swap your home with another council or housing association tenant age 55+. You will need to have permission to do this from KBHA and any other housing association involved. Please contact your Housing Officer for additional information.
Disclaimer
Please note this is an overview of our process and is not intended to be a fully comprehensive guide. For further information, please contact KBHA.