1. home and garden

How to use the Durham
Key Options scheme
Summary of our policy
How to complete your application form
How to use the scheme
Contact details
Equality and diversity
All Durham Key Options documents can be provided in large print,
audio tape or CD, electronically via email or in Braille. We can also
provide an induction loop, BSL interpreter, same-gender interview or
home visit if required.
If you would like us to provide this information in your first language, or
would like us to provide a translator and meet you to discuss its
contents, please contact us on the relevant Durham Key Options
phone number as listed below. We can also provide same-gender
interviews and home visits in County Durham when needed.
Chester-le-Street
0191 385 1900
livin
0800 587 4538
Derwentside
01207 521 100
Teesdale
01833 694 400
Durham City
0191 301 8470
Dale & Valley
0800 083 0333
East Durham
0800 032 0835
Accent Foundation 0845 678 0571
3
Contents
Section 1
Page
Summary of the Durham Key Options policy .............................. 6
What is choice-based lettings? ........................................................ 6
Which landlords advertise their properties through
Durham Key Options? ..................................................................... 6
Who can apply? .............................................................................. 7
Assessing applications .................................................................... 7
Bands .............................................................................................. 8
Local Lettings Policies ................................................................... 11
Advertising and bidding ................................................................. 11
Notifying applicants ....................................................................... 11
Banding quotas ............................................................................. 12
Offering accommodation to an applicant........................................ 12
Giving applicants feedback ........................................................... 12
Direct lets ....................................................................................... 13
Refusing an offer of accommodation ............................................. 13
Appealing a decision ..................................................................... 13
Monitoring the scheme .................................................................. 14
Other housing options ................................................................... 14
If an applicants circumstances change ......................................... 14
Removal from the housing register ............................................... 15
Section 2
How to complete your Durham Key Options
application form ...........................................................................16
If you need help to use the scheme ................................................16
What information do I need to provide? .........................................17
Assessing your application ............................................................ 20
When your application has been assessed ................................... 21
4
Contents
Section 3
Page
How are properties advertised? .................................................... 22
What will the advert show?............................................................. 22
Explanation of symbols ................................................................. 23
When can you bid?......................................................................... 23
How many properties can I bid for in each weekly advertising
cycle? ............................................................................................ 24
What properties can I bid for? ....................................................... 24
How do I bid for a property? .......................................................... 24
Can someone else bid for me? ..................................................... 24
How do I bid using Digi-TV? .......................................................... 25
How do I bid using the website? .................................................... 26
How do I bid using the automated telephone service? .................. 27
How do I bid by text message? ..................................................... 28
Can I change my mind once I have placed a bid? ........................ 29
What happens at the end of the weekly bidding cycle? ................ 29
When will I know if my bid has been successful? .......................... 30
When will I be able to view the property? ...................................... 30
Can I find out what happened to the properties I bid for? .............. 30
If your circumstances change ........................................................ 31
Section 4
Contact details for our partner organisations .......................... 32
5
Section 1 – Summary of the Durham Key Options policy
What is choice-based lettings?
Choice-based lettings is a way of enabling people looking for a home
to ‘bid’ for available properties in their chosen areas, with many
different landlords, including private landlords. It also offers other
options, such as exchanging homes with another tenant and low-cost
home ownership.
Which landlords advertise their homes through Durham Key
Options?
The following landlords advertise their properties through Durham Key
Options:
Main landlords
Accent Foundation
Cestria Community Housing Association
Dale and Valley Homes
Derwentside Homes
Durham City Homes (Durham County Council)
East Durham Homes
livin
Teesdale Housing Association
For a full list of landlords who advertise through Durham Key Options,
please visit www.durhamkeyoptions.co.uk or contact a Durham Key
Options partner organisation.
6
Other landlords
Anchor Housing Association
Broad Acres
Cheviot
Durham Aged Miners Homes
Endeavour Housing
Fabrick Group
Hanover Housing
Home Housing
Housing 21
Johnnie Johnson
Nomad E5 Housing
Places for People
Railway Housing
Riverside North East
Sherburn House Charity
Tees Valley Housing
Three Rivers HousingAssociation
Two Castles Housing Association
Details of all applicants looking for housing with Durham Key Options
are held on one register. Applicants need to apply only once to join the
register. They can then bid for any property they are eligible for.
Who can apply?
Anyone aged 16 years or over can apply to join Durham Key Options.
However, in line with the law, some applicants may not be eligible to
join the scheme because of immigration control or their unacceptable
behaviour.
Assessing applications
We will assess the information applicants give us on their application
form, and any other relevant information we are allowed to take into
account under the law. Applicants will need to provide proof of some of
the information they provide. After we have assessed the application,
we will decide the applicant’s priority (how urgently they need housing)
and tell them which housing priority band they qualify for.
Other applicants will qualify for bands D or E. Applicants with a recent
history of anti-social behaviour or significant rent arrears will go into
band F, which is the lowest priority band.
As part of the application process, Durham Key Options (and its
partner organisations) will decide the type and size of property the
applicant can bid for.
7
Bands
We place applicants into one of 6 bands according to their needs and
entitlement.
Within the bands, we give priority to applicants in the + category. For
example, we give applicants in band A+ priority over those in band A.
Band
Qualifying criteria
Band A+
High priority need
●
Band A
High priority need
Urgent medical reasons.
● Supply and demand transfers (tenants
who are underoccupying their property
may be placed in Band A to help them
move more quickly to release their
current property).
Urgent medical reasons have priority over
supply and demand transfers.
Band B+
Multiple housing need
Applicants we accept as homeless
under law and who we have a full duty
to house under homelessness law
because of violence or threat of
violence.
Or you must have one of the following
needs and at least one need from the list
for Band B.
● Applicants who have a high medical
need to move.
● Applicants overcrowded by at least 2
bedrooms.
Regeneration schemes in County
Durham (applicants who are losing their
property permanently as a result of
demolition / disposal in a designated
regeneration area).
●
●
8
Band
Qualifying criteria
Band B
Multiple housing need
Applicants with 2 or more housing needs
from the following groups:
● Applicants we have accepted as
homeless under law and who we have a
full duty to house under homelessness
law.
● Applicants who are in housing that is
overcrowded by at least one bedroom or
that is unsanitary, or otherwise
unsatisfactory.
● Applicants who need to move because
of medical or welfare reasons in line
with the framework for medical priority in
appendix 2 of the lettings policy.
● Applicants who need to move to a
particular area to avoid hardship.
Band C+
Single housing need
Applicants in one of the following groups:
● Applicants who need to move because
of high medical need (see appendix 2 of
the lettings policy).
● Applicants overcrowded by at least 2
bedrooms.
● Applicants we accept as homeless
under law and who we have a full duty
to house under homelessness law but
who do not have multiple housing
needs.
● Applicants living in intensive supported
housing whose support plan states they
will be able to successfully move into an
independent tenancy.
● People leaving care.
9
Band
Qualifying criteria
Band C
Single housing need
Applicants in one of the following groups:
● Applicants who are in housing that is
overcrowded by at least one bedroom or
that is unsanitary or otherwise
unsatisfactory.
● Applicants who need to move because
of medical or welfare reasons in line
with the framework for medical priority in
appendix 2 of the lettings policy.
● Applicants who need to move to a
particular area to avoid hardship.
● Applicants who are homeless but who
we do not have a legal duty to house.
Band D
General housing need
Applicants who have a housing need that
does not put them in one of the preference
groups mentioned in bands A, B and C:
● Applicants leaving the armed forces who
are not homeless under law and have
served at least 3 years, or who have
been discharged for medical reasons.
● Applicants wishing to live independently
and who have no other housing need.
● Applicants needing larger
accommodation (outside the
overcrowding criteria) and who have no
other housing need.
● Relationship breakdown with no other
housing need.
● Applicants threatened with
homelessness within 3 months, to
prevent actual homelessness.
10
Band
Qualifying criteria
Band E
No housing need
Applicants who are adequately housed
and have no housing need.
Band F
Reduced priority
Applicants whose housing priority has
been reduced because of rent arrears (not
caused by exceptional hardship) or
unacceptable behaviour.
Local lettings policies
In some cases a partner landlord may introduce a Local Lettings Policy
to ensure good management of stock. This may happen, for example:
●
in areas where there is little available housing
●
to ensure communities have a good mix of residents and to prevent
anti-social behaviour
●
because of differences in housing affordability and the demand for
properties in the area.
If a local lettings policy applies to a property an applicant wants to bid
for, the advert will say so. More information about that policy will be
available at durhamkeyoptions.co.uk or from the landlord’s offices
(see Contact details starting on page 2).
The areas covered by local lettings policies are in the Durham Key
Options Areas List.
Advertising and bidding
All available properties across County Durham are advertised weekly
and eligible applicants can bid in various ways (see Section 3 – How to
use the Durham Key Options scheme).
11
Notifying applicants
All applicants are notified in writing of the outcome of their application
and given the right to appeal.
Banding quotas
A banding system helps ensure we give preference to applicants in
greater housing need, and ensures communities have a good mix of
residents.
This is done by allocating a particular number of properties to each
preference band. So, for example, band A is awarded overall
preference for any property, then an agreed proportion of properties is
advertised with preference to bands B to D. This means most of the
properties are offered to those in greatest housing need, with a much
smaller proportion given to applicants with less housing need.
Offering accommodation to an applicant
Once the advertising cycle has closed, the computer draws up a
shortlist of all applicants who have bid for that property.
We produce a shortlist according to the advertised band and date of
application or priority date.
If no bids are received from the advertised band, we will consider the
shortlist in band order.
We consider adapted properties differently and allocate to the most
suitable applicant.
If an applicant refuses a property, we will offer it to the next qualifying
applicant on the shortlist until it is accepted.
If an offer is accepted, that applicant will no longer be able to bid for
other properties.
Giving applicants feedback
Each week we will publish information on our website giving details of
how properties have been let.
This information is designed to help applicants decide which areas and
property types to bid for.
12
Direct lets
In exceptional circumstances a property may be let directly to
an applicant, if the Durham Key Options partner landlord has agreed to
this. This may happen, for example:
● when the property has had significant adaptations
●
if a tenant is succeeding to the tenancy but the property is no
longer appropriate for them
●
if an applicant has a special or urgent need.
These properties will still be advertised to ensure fairness and
openness (but applicants will be unable to bid for them).
Refusing an offer of accommodation
There are no penalties for refusing offers of accommodation,
except some direct offers and offers to statutorily homeless applicants.
Appealing a decision
Applicants are entitled to appeal:
●
a decision that they are not eligible to join the housing register
●
if they think they have been treated unfairly in the letting process
●
if they have been removed from the register other than at their own
request.
An applicant has 21 days from being given a decision to request an
appeal (in writing).
At each stage, the appeal will be considered by the following people:
Stage 1 – an officer of appropriate seniority from the assessing
partner organisation
Stage 2 – a senior officer from the assessing partner organisation
Stage 3 – Head of Housing, or an appropriate member of staff from
the Strategic Housing Service.
13
Appeals from statutorily homeless applicants are dealt with by the
Housing Solutions Team at Durham County Council.
Monitoring the scheme
We will monitor the scheme to ensure it meets its aims and objectives.
Other housing options
Mutual exchange
Tenants with secure or assured tenancies have the right to exchange
their property as long as they comply with the conditions of their
tenancy and meet the relevant legal conditions.
For more about the mutual exchange scheme, please contact your
nearest Durham Key Options partner organisation.
Low-cost home ownership and shared ownership
For information on how you may be able to buy all or part of a home,
contact the relevant partner organisation (see Contact details starting
on page 2).
Nominating an applicant to a housing association property
Durham Key Options works alongside housing associations across
County Durham and has an arrangement with them to nominate
applicants from our housing register for properties they own. These will
be advertised through Durham Key Options in the same way that
partner landlords’ properties are.
For more information on which housing associations have properties in
County Durham visit www.durhamkeyoptions.co.uk.
If an applicant’s circumstances change
You must notify the Durham Key Options partner organisation of any
change in your circumstances that may affect your application.
Changes in circumstances may affect your banding priority. This will
also mean a change to your application / priority date, which is used in
the shortlisting process.
14
If you move into a higher band, the new date for shortlisting is the date
that Durham Key Options were made aware of that change of
circumstances.
If you move to a lower band, the original application date will be used.
Durham Key Options will review all applications annually to ensure
applicants’ details are correct.
Removing an applicant from the housing register
If a Durham Key Options partner landlord is considering removing you
from the housing register, they will notify you in writing, giving you 28
days to reply.
You will be removed from the register under any of the following
circumstances:
●
You ask to be removed.
●
You accept an offer of accommodation.
●
You fail to reply to a request for further information.
●
You illegally occupy a property owned by a social housing provider.
●
You or a member of your household who will be rehoused with you
become ineligible under the terms of this policy.
●
You have given false information on the application form or in any
supporting document.
If a decision is made to remove you from the register, you will be
notified in writing and given details of the appeals process.
15
Section 2
How to complete your Durham Key Options application form
You can apply to join Durham Key Options by completing a Durham
Key Options Application Form, which is available from any Durham
Key Options partner organisation. You can also complete the form
online at www.durhamkeyoptions.co.uk
Please complete all the sections of
the form that apply to you and
anyone who is being rehoused with
you, otherwise we may have to
return the form to you and this will
delay your application.
If there is anything on the form you do not understand, please contact
a Durham Key Options partner landlord who will be happy to explain.
If you need help to use the scheme
You can ask someone else to help you use the scheme. If so, please
give their name and contact details on the application form and tick the
relevant box to give them authority to act for you.
If you would like Durham Key Options to help you complete the
form or use the scheme, please tell us how we can help.
16
Information you need to provide
Identity
You must provide proof of your identity, date of birth and current
address.
You must provide original documents, not photocopies. If you send
them by post, we recommend you use registered mail. Alternatively,
you can bring them into a local office where we will copy and return
them to you.
You only need to provide one document from each of the sections
below:
Identity and
date of birth
●
●
●
●
Current address
●
●
●
Birth certificate, or
Passport, or
Driving licence
NHS medical card
Utility bill (from the last six months), or
Bank statement (from the last six
months), or
Letter from the person you are 'living in'
with
Other supporting information
For the sections on the form that have
next to them, you will need
to provide more evidence. The table on the next few pages tells you
what kind of evidence you will need to provide. You should submit this
evidence with your form.
17
Circumstance
Evidence needed
●
Immigration status
Access to children
Pregnancy
●
●
Letter from your ex-partner or your solicitor
confirming joint custody
●
MAT B1 form, or
Letter from your doctor
●
●
Asked to leave by
landlord
●
●
●
●
Care leaver
●
Discharged from hospital
Need to leave supported
housing
Forces discharge
Passport, and/or
Letter from the Home Office – kind of
letter may vary depending on status
●
Notice to Quit from your private landlord,
or
Letter from your landlord stating why you
are being given a Notice to Quit, or
Relevant papers from the County Court
Letter from your social worker, or
Letter from your personal advisor giving
the date you are leaving care and any
relevant information from your Pathway
Plan
Name and contact details of the person
dealing with your discharge
Any documents to confirm you can
manage a tenancy
●
Any documents to confirm you are ready
and able to live independently
●
Discharge papers from HM Forces – these
documents must confirm the date of
discharge and that you have served for at
least 3 years or are being discharged on
medical grounds
18
The name and address of the friend or family
member, and
● Details of why you need to move closer to
them, and
● Supporting evidence from any other agencies,
such as your doctor, social worker or other
professional working with you
The evidence must clearly state the benefits of
moving closer to give or receive support.
●
To give / receive
support to a friend or
family member
●
Loss of tied
accommodation
●
●
Release from prison
●
●
●
●
Cannot afford rent/
mortgage/ upkeep
●
●
●
●
Eviction order/
repossession
●
To be nearer to work/
training
●
●
●
To move nearer to
special facilities such
as school/hospital
●
●
Notice to Quit or a P45 for the employment,
and
Letter from employer stating that the
employment has ended or is ending.
Expected release date, and
Release papers, and
Probation officer's name and contact details
Proof of income and spending, and
Letter or statement from bank/building society
/ mortgage provider showing arrears, or
Proof from a court or solicitor of any
legal proceedings, or
Proof of other debt, or
Financial assessment form
Letter from bank / building society /
mortgage lender confirming the
repossession, or
Relevant papers from the County Court
Letter from employer confirming the job, or
Letter confirming acceptance onto the
training course
Name and address of the special facility, and
An explanation of why you need to move
closer, and
Supporting evidence from any other agencies,
such as your doctor, social worker or other
professional working with you
19
If you, or anyone who wants to be rehoused with you, have any
convictions, other than ‘spent’ convictions, you need to give us details
– we may check this information. (A 'spent' conviction is one that does
not have to be declared, according the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
1974. Ask us for details if you are not sure.)
If you have declared a medical condition, we will assess your condition
based on the information you have given. If you wish to get extra proof
from your GP or medical specialist you may do so, but they may
charge you for this. It is your decision and responsibility to provide this
proof.
Assessing your application
We will assess your application in line with the Durham Key Options
Lettings Policy, and place it in one of the following bands.
Band A – High priority need
Band B – Multiple housing need
Band C – Single housing need
Band D – General housing need
Band E – No housing need
Band F – Reduced priority
See Section 1 (starting page 8) for more about bands and the criteria
we use to assess your band.
We will also assess your application for the type and size of property
you need.
20
When your application has been assessed
Once we have assessed your application, you will get a letter telling
you whether you have been accepted onto the Durham Key Options
Housing Register.
If we have accepted you, the letter will give you your band, your
application date, a memorable date, and your Durham Key Options
housing application number.
Your memorable date will be the main applicant’s date of birth, but this
can be changed if you wish.
Keep your application number and your memorable date in a safe
place – you will need them to bid for a home.
21
Section 3
How to use the Durham Key Options scheme
If we accept your application, we will place you on the housing register.
How are properties advertised?
We advertise properties every Thursday in the following ways:
●
On the Durham Key Options website www.durhamkeyoptions.co.uk
●
In the Durham Key Options property paper available in some public
buildings.
●
In Durham Key Options partner landlord offices.
●
On boards in some public buildings.
If you think you won’t be able to view the advertised properties in any
of these ways, please contact one of the partner landlords and they
will be happy to help (see Contact details starting on page 2).
What the advert will show
The advert will show:
●
band(s) to which preference will be given
●
landlord
●
location (a map link will be available on the website)
●
property size
●
rent
●
other property features such as parking or garden
●
Council Tax banding
●
energy performance rating (where available)
●
details of any disabled adaptations eg stairlift, flat-floor shower.
22
The advert will also say if there are any bidding restrictions, such as
age requirements or adaptations that make the property suitable only
for disabled or elderly applicants.
Explanation of symbols
0
4
MAX
16
MAX
75
Maximum age
SUP
Supported housing
MIN
16
MIN
75
Minimum age
S
Sheltered housing
P
Bedrooms
Garden
Pets not allowed
Adapted for
wheelchairs
Off-street parking
When you can bid for a home
Properties will be advertised from Thursday morning until midnight the
following Tuesday evening. This is called the ‘advertising cycle’.
You can bid for an advertised property at any time during the
advertising cycle. The time when you can bid is called the ‘bidding
cycle’. We consider bids equally, whatever day or time you bid, there is
no first-come-first-served policy.
23
How many properties can I bid for in each weekly advertising
cycle?
You can bid for as many properties as you wish during the advertising
cycle. At the end of the cycle we will consider you for properties you
have bid for. If you bid for more than one property and come at the top
of the shortlist for more than one, you will have 24 hours to tell us
which property you prefer.
What properties can I bid for?
You can bid for any property you are eligible for. The letter you receive
when we accept you onto the housing register will tell you which
properties you are eligible for. This will be based on the number of
people in your household and your circumstances.
How do I bid for a property?
You can place a bid for a property using any of the following methods:
● Using Digi-TV.
●
On-line at www.durhamkeyoptions.co.uk
●
Using the automated telephone service, on 0845 270 1603
(local rate number).
●
In person at a Durham Key Option partner landlord office.
●
By texting 07781 484 604 (see page 26 for details).
●
Using the Looking Local phone app
Can someone else bid for me?
Yes. If you have an advocate, they can bid for you. Applicants with
exceptional support needs can bid using assisted bidding. For more
information on assisted bidding, please contact us.
A friend or family member can also bid for you, but they will need your
application number and PIN number to do so.
If your bid is succesful, we will contact you to make the offer unless
you have asked us to contact someone else for you.
24
How do I bid using Digi-TV?
If you have Sky, Virgin or an interactive Freeview box, you can access
Durham Key Options Choice Based Lettings service to bid for a home
in County Durham.
●
Sky viewers go to Channel 539 and press the red button.
●
Virgin viewers press the Home button, select Interactive #7, select
News and Info, then select Looking Local #6.
●
Interactive, Wii, PC or any web-enabled phone:
http://lookinglocal.gov.uk
Important notes
You can bid 24 hours a day during the bidding cycle.
We consider bids equally, whatever day or time you bid.
Follow the on-screen instructions and locate Durham Key
Options. You will need your login in reference and date of
birth when placing a bid on a property.
If you need help to access this service, please contact
Durham County Council on 0300 123 7070 or
e-mail: [email protected]
25
How do I bid using the website?
Simply go to durhamkeyoptions.co.uk and follow the instructions on
screen. You will be asked for your application number and memorable
date, so make sure you have them to hand. If you’re not sure how to
use the on-screen instructions, there is an online guide that gives more
information.
Important notes
You can bid 24 hours a day during the bidding cycle, using the
website.
We consider bids equally, whatever day or time you bid.
Before placing a bid(s) on the property/properties you are
interested in, make a note of the property reference number(s)
as you will need to include this in your bid.
You will need your housing application number to place your
bid(s).
26
How do I bid using the automated telephone service?
The telephone service is a user-friendly automated system. When you
ring the automated telephone bidding line you will be given several
options to choose from. These will take you through the simple, stepby-step bidding process. Just follow the clear instructions to make your
bids.
You can bid using any of the 10 languages at the front of this
guide. You will be asked which language you want at the start of
the call.
Main points
You can bid 24 hours a day during the bidding cycle using the
automated telephone service.
You can bid 24 hours a day during the bidding cycle using the
website.
We consider bids equally, whatever day or time you bid.
Before placing a bid(s) on the property/properties you are
interested in, make a note of
the property reference
number(s) as you will need to
include this in your bid.
You will need your housing
application number to place
your bid(s).
27
How do I bid by text message?
To place a text bid:
●
Start a new text message on your mobile phone.
●
Enter your housing application number followed by a space.
●
Enter your date of birth in the format ddmmyyyy followed by a
space (eg for 30 January 1989 enter 30011989).
●
Enter the property reference number of the property you want to bid
on, followed by a space.
●
If you are bidding on a second property enter the reference number
for the second property, followed by a space.
Main points
You can bid 24 hours a day during the bidding cycle, using text
messaging.
We consider bids equally, whatever day or time you bid.
Before placing a bid(s) on the property/properties you are
interested in, make a note of the property reference number(s)
as you will need to include this in your bid.
You will need your housing application number to place your
bid(s).
You can bid for two properties per text message. If you want to
bid for more than two properties, you will need to do so using one
or more further text messages.
28
Example
John and Jane want to bid on two properties.
John is the main applicant and his applicant reference number
is 001234.
His date of birth is 30 January 1989.
The reference numbers for the two properties
they are interested in are 112233 and 445566.
To bid for these properties, John will start a text
message and type in:
001234 30011989 112233 445566
He will then send his text message to
07781 484 604
Can I change my mind once I have placed a bid?
Yes. During any weekly bidding cycle, you can withdraw your bid if you
change your mind about a property. You will still be able to bid for other
properties in the same weekly cycle.
What happens at the end of the weekly bidding cycle?
Once the advertising cycle has ended, all applicants who have bid for
each property are put on a shortlist. The shortlist is created according
to the advertised band and each applicant’s date of application and
priority date.
The applicant at the top of the shortlist will be offered the property. If
they refuse the property, we will offer it to the next applicant on the
shortlist until the property is accepted.
29
If I am offered a property, must I accept it?
Unless you have been assessed as ‘statutorily homeless’, there are no
penalties for refusing an offer. If you refuse a direct offer as a
‘statutorily homeless’ person, this may affect your housing priority. For
more information contact any Durham Key Options partner landlord
(see Contact details starting on page 2).
We recommend you think very carefully before refusing an offer, as
some types of properties do not become available very often and you
may not be as successful in later bidding cycles.
If you are shortlisted and offered a property, you will not be able to bid
for any more properties until you have decided whether to accept the
offer.
When will I know if my bid has been successful?
We will contact the successful applicant as soon as possible after the
weekly cycle ends, usually within a week.
If we have not contacted you, usually within a week of the close of
bidding, this means you have not been successful this time. Keep
bidding until you are contacted with an offer.
When will I be able to view the property?
A viewing will be arranged as soon as possible after you have been
offered the property.
Can I find out what happened to the properties I bid for?
Yes. Every week we will provide information about the properties that
have been let. The information will include:
● street and/or area
●
property type
●
number of bedrooms
●
number of applicants who bid for the property
30
●
whether the property was covered by a Local Lettings Policy
(details can be found on the Durham Key Options website and in
the Lettings Area leaflet)
●
the band, application date and priority date of the successful
applicant.
This will help you decide which properties to bid for, because it gives
you an idea of how popular a property type or an area is and how
long you would normally have to wait. This information is available
on the Durham Key Options website at www.durhamkeyoptions.co.uk
or rom the relevant partner organisation (see Contact details starting
on page 2).
We may let a property to an applicant from a band it was not
advertised for. This may happen, for example, if no applicants in the
advertised band made a bid for the property.
If your circumstances change
You must tell us if your circumstances change as this may affect
the band you are in. If we offer you a property based on incorrect or
out-of-date information, we may withdraw the offer.
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Section 4
Contact details for our partner organisations
Accent Foundation
Accent Foundation, 52 - 54 Middle Street, Blackhall,
Hartlepool TS27 4EA
Telephone: 0845 678 0571
(or 0345 from your mobile)
Website:
www.accentnene.org
Chester-le-Street area
Cestria Community Housing Association
Bowes Offices, Lambton Park, Chester-le-Street,
County Durham DH3 4AN
Telephone: 0191 385 1900
Website:
www.Cestria.org
Derwentside area
Derwentside Homes Ltd
Greengate House, Amos Drive, Greencroft Industrial Park
Stanley, County Durham DH9 7YE
Telephone: 01207 521 100
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.derwentsidehomes.co.uk
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Durham City Homes area
Durham County Council
Lumley House, Whitfield Court, St Johns Road
Meadowfield Industrial Estate
Durham DH7 8XL
Telephone: 0191 3018470
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.durham.gov.uk
East Durham area
East Durham Homes
Head office:
2 Meridian Court, Whitehouse Business Park, Peterlee
County Durham SR8 2RQ
Customer service outlets:
Peterlee Town Centre – 29 Yoden Way, Castle Dene Shopping
Centre, Peterlee, County Durham SR8 1AL
Murton Resource Centre – 16/17 Woods Terrace, Murton,
County Durham SR7 9AD
Telephone: 0800 032 0835 (free phone)
Telephone: 0191 518 5497
Email:
[email protected]
www.eastdurhamhomes.co.uk
Website:
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Sedgefield area
livin Housing
Farrell House, Arlington Way, DurhamGate, Spennymoor
County Durham DL16 7NL
Telephone: 0300 111 2344 (mobiles – charges vary)
0800 587 4538 (free from landline)
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.livin.co.uk
Teesdale area
Teesdale Housing Association
14a Redwell Court, Harmire Industrial Estate, Harmire Road
Barnard Castle, County Durham DL12 8BN
Telephone: 01833 694 400
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.teesdaleha.co.uk
Wear Valley area
Dale and Valley Homes
27 Longfield Road, South Church Enterprise Park,
Bishop Auckland, County Durham DL14 6XB
Telephone: 0800 083 0333
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.daleandvalleyhomes.co.uk
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Notes
35
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