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Applying for rented housing

If you are currently an Aldwyck tenant and you need to move from your present home you can call Customer Services on 03005 006262 to discuss your housing needs. We will arrange for a member of the Housing Management Team for your area to visit you if you tell us that you are:

• suffering domestic abuse or serious harassment and would be in danger if you stayed in your property;
• suffering from a serious medical problem or disability which means that your home is totally unsuitable for your needs
• interested in moving to a scheme for older people.

It is also important that you register as soon as possible with your local council (or the council where you wish to live), as Aldwyck lets all its properties through Council choice-based lettings schemes. If you are not registered with a council you will not be offered another property, either by Aldwyck or any other housing association or council.

A list of local authority websites across our area of operation can be found in our useful Links section.

Once you are registered you will receive details from the Council of how to use its Choice Based Lettings scheme. Click here for some general information on Choice Based Lettings, and also for links to local Choice Based Lettings websites.

You may also want to consider other ways of moving, such as:
• through an exchange with another tenant (this is explained in ‘Exchanging your home with another tenant’ in this section); or
• by buying a low-cost home ownership property.

You can get more information on low-cost home ownership from the following organisations.
• For properties in Hertfordshire - Lea Valley Homes (website or phone on 01582 869440)
• For properties in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire - Orbit First Step (website or phone on 0345 850 20 50)
• For properties in Buckinghamshire - Catalyst Housing Group (website or phone on 0845 601 7729)

If you are interested in low-cost home ownership in any other areas, staff at Lea Valley Homes will be able to tell you to the appropriate organisation to contact.

If you currently have an intermediate rent or keyworker assured shorthold tenancy and you need to move, you can re-register with one of the above organisations. You can also register with your local council.

What will happen once you have been offered a property through Choice Based Lettings?

If you are successful in bidding for a property, you will be contacted by the landlord of the property to make arrangements to go and see it. This may happen straightaway if the property is empty and in a condition where it is safe for you to visit. If the outgoing tenant is still living at the property, or there are major works being undertaken, you may have to wait until the property is ready for you to visit.

Once you have seen the property you will need to let the landlord know quite quickly whether you want to accept it or not. In most cases you will need to do this at the viewing – or within a day of visiting the property. Sometimes a landlord will ask you to view the property and sign your new tenancy agreement on the same day.

If you accept the property, the landlord will make arrangements for you to sign a tenancy agreement.  If you are already a tenant with a Council or Housing Association, you will need to give notice that you are giving up that property – this is usually 4 weeks. You should therefore contact your current landlord as soon as you are offered another property.

Things to be aware of if you are thinking of moving…

Moving home – whether it is to a rented or owner-occupied property -will always cost money.  Even if you are not going to use a removal company, you may have the following expenses:
• New curtains
• New carpets or flooring
• Redirection of your post
• Packing boxes and materials
• Contents insurance may increase if you are moving to a larger property or a different area
• If you are buying a property you will also have legal costs and other costs related to setting up a mortgage

It is therefore worth considering putting some money aside – perhaps each week or each month – so that when you get an offer of a property you are in a position to move.  You may want to think about using a local Credit Union (click here for details), or setting up a savings account at a bank, building society or post office.

What happens once you have signed up for a new property?

Once your moving date is set up, you will need to set up arrangements for paying your new rent.
If you currently qualify for Housing Benefit (or you think you may qualify) you need to complete a new Housing Benefit form BEFORE you move.  This will ensure that you get help with your rent from the beginning of your new tenancy and that you don’t build up arrears on your account.

If you do not qualify for Housing Benefit (or you qualify for only part of your rent) you will need to talk to your Aldwyck – or your new landlord – about how you want to make payments.  If you have a bank account, the easiest way is to set up a Direct Debit so that your rent payments are made automatically every month. You can also pay your rent using a Swipe Card, which you can take use at any Payzone (these are usually located at local shops, garages etc).