Housing >> Housing Advice

Homemove - Choice Based Lettings

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What is Homemove?

Homemove is our choice based lettings scheme.

Home-seekers are given choice with Homemove as they bid for vacant properties advertised in a free fortnightly magazine and online.  The scheme is also very flexible as home-seekers can bid online, using text messaging, on the phone or by post.

Applicants are put into one of four bands (A, B, C or D) according to their housing need and properties are offered to the bidder with the highest housing need.  You will be sent a scheme user guide when you register, but there is a useful introduction to Homemove on this page.

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How does Homemove work?

There are five steps to finding a home:

1. Membership: you may be a council or housing association tenant wanting to transfer or applying for the first time.
2. Registration: fill in a new Housing Application Form and we will send you a welcome pack and details of your band.
3. Choosing and bidding: see all the available properties in the area and bid for the ones you are interested in (maximum of 3 bids per cycle)
4. Offer: if you are at the top of our shortlist, we will contact you to view the property
5. Feedback: the details of how properties were let will be published

If there are a number of applicants from the same band bidding for a property, consideration will be given to those having a local connection and the length of time registered.

Properties will be advertised with details of the property size, whether there are any adaptations, whether it is ground floor accommodation or sheltered accommodation.  You can bid on any property unless the advert states otherwise.

You can find more information on the Sussex Homemove website.

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How long will I have to wait for an allocation of Social Housing through Hastings Homemove?

The waiting time varies in accordance with the type and availability of property.

Lettings between 01 July 2009 and 30 June 2010

Band A:	Number of lets	Shortest wait	Longest wait	Average wait
Sheltered accommodation	8	7 weeks	8 years	18 months
Studio general needs*	3	7 weeks	4 months	2 months
1 bed general needs*	55	15 days	7 years	7 months
2 bed flat/maisonette	14	16 days	5 years	9 months
2 bed house	8	3 weeks	32 months	4 months
3 bed flat/maisonette	0
3 bed house	19	3 weeks	32 months	4 months
4 bed house	3	7 months	4 years	24 months
5 bed house	0

Band B:	Number of lets	Shortest wait	Longest wait	Average wait
Sheltered accommodation	22	5 weeks	24 months	6 months
Studio general needs*	5	8 weeks	3 months	11 weeks
1 bed general needs*	21	6 weeks	35 months	7 months
2 bed flat/maisonette	106	3 weeks	3 years	5 months
2 bed house	15	9 months	3 years	19 months
3 bed flat/maisonette	3	3 weeks	9 months	4 months
3 bed house	34	8 weeks	3 years	13 months
4 bed house	6	15 months	5 years	33 months
5 bed house	0

Band C:	Number of lets	Shortest wait	Longest wait	Average wait
Sheltered accommodation	39	15 days	35 months	9 months
Studio general needs*	11	6 weeks	13 months	4 weeks
1 bed general needs*	36	9 weeks	8 years	16 months
2 bed flat/maisonette	26	5 weeks	8 years	12 months
2 bed house	0
3 bed flat/maisonette	4	6 months	30 months	17 months
3 bed house	2	10 months	3 years	25 months
4 bed house	1	7 months	7 months	7 months
5 bed house	0

Band D:	Number of lets	Shortest wait	Longest wait	Average wait
Sheltered accommodation	0
Studio general needs*	1	24 months	24 months	24 months
1 bed general needs*	0
2 bed flat/maisonette	10	12 weeks	3 years	12 months
2 bed house	0
3 bed flat/maisonette	0
3 bed house	0
4 bed house	0
5 bed house	0

*A significant number of these applicants have been rehoused into accommodation reserved for people aged over 50 years.

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How do I apply?

Anyone over 16 can apply.  You need to complete the Housing Application Form, which can be downloaded or picked up from our Housing Information Point.

If you'd like an application sent through the post, please contact us.

If you need help filling in the form, please contact the Homemove team

We will send you a letter every year asking you if you want to stay on the Homemove list.  If we do not hear from you, then your details will be removed.

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What if I have health problems that affect my housing situation?

You will need to complete an Assessment Form and return it to us.  The information you give on this form will be taken into account when your application is being assessed and banded.

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Where can I get help?

Contact our Homemove team for help and advice with Choice Based Lettings.

You can also find more information on the Sussex Homemove website where properties will be advertised.