Welcome to the Gateway to Homechoice website. 

This is the website for the Gateway to Homechoice choice based lettings scheme.  This section of our website  gives information if you are looking for housing in the areas of Babergh, Braintree, Colchester, Ipswich, Maldon, Mid Suffolk, Suffolk Coastal and Waveney.   Below is some useful information regarding the scheme.  Please click on the links for further details.

Important information - changes to the way properties are advertised on the Gateway to Homechoice website
Allocation Policy Review - proposed recommendations and consultation
Looking for accommodation in Southminister?  Channel 4's "The Great British Property Scandal"
Current application processing times
Updating your application form
New features on the Gateway to Homechoice website
Need advice on your housing options, money or work?
Looking for a mutual exchange?
Waiting to hear if you are successful?
Can't make an arranged viewing?
Signing up for your new home
Moving through Gateway to Homechoice
Retirement home - Down Hall, Bradwell on Sea, Essex
Shared Ownership opportunity - 3 bed property in Rams Farm Road, Fordham
Shared Ownership opportunity - 3 bed property in Needham Market
Intermediate Rent opportunity - 1 bed properties in Great Cornard

Important information - changes to the way properties are advertised on the Gateway to Homechoice website

In the next few months there will be some changes to the way properties are advertised on the Gateway to Homechoice website.

Why the change?

• The Government has recently made some changes to the way Councils and Housing Associations can rent out their homes.
• These changes have been introduced to help Housing Associations and Councils manage their existing housing stock, build new homes and continue to help people who are most in need of low cost housing.

What are the changes?

• Rent type
  Properties will now have two types of rent:
  - Social Rent
  - Affordable rent
            and
• Tenancy type and length
  There will now be two types of tenancy with different lengths and terms:
  - Life time tenancies
  - Fixed term tenancies

Rent Type

What is the difference between social rent and affordable rent?

• At the moment, Councils and Housing Associations rent their homes at a social rent level, which is typically less expensive than in the private sector.
• The new affordable rent will be higher than social rent, but will be less expensive than properties in the private sector.  Affordable rents will be set at up to 80% of the market rent.  (Market rent is the average in an area that someone would pay if renting a property from a private landlord).
• Housing Associations are now able to charge affordable rent on new properties and on some of their existing properties.
• Affordable rent properties are likely to be offered as with a fixed term tenancy.  Please see below for further details.

Can I still claim housing benefit if I live in an affordable rent property?

• If you are eligible for housing benefit, you will be able to make a claim.  Housing benefit claims will be assessed as normal and based on the household circumstances.
• If your housing benefit does not cover the full rent, then you will be responsibile for paying any shortfall.

Tenancy type and length

What is a life time tenancy?

• This is a Council or Housing Association tenancy which, providing the tenant meets all the conditions of the tenancy agreement, will allow them to rent the property for as long as they want.

What is a fixed term tenancy?

• This is a new tenancy which is fixed for a set period of time.  The length of the tenancy will be set by the landlord and will depend on the circumstances of the household.
• The tenancy length will be for a period of at least 2 years and usually reviewed after a period of 5 years.

What happens at the end of a fixed term tenancy?

• The landlord will be responsible for carrying out regular reviews of your situation during the period of your tenancy.  This is to make sure you can afford the property and ensure you are meeting the agreed conditions for living in the property (as set out in your tenancy agreement).
• Before the end of the tenancy period, your landlord will assess your circumstances.  Depending on your situation at that time, your landlord may decide to renew your tenancy or offer you further advice and support on your housing options (e.g low cost home ownership or private renting).

How will affordable rent properties and fixed term tenancies be advertised?

• If a property is advertised as an affordable rent property, this will be displayed in the banner at the top of the advert.  The type of tenancy and length of the tenancy will be added to the information section of the property advert.  It is very important that you read the advert details carefully. 
 
• All Council and Housing Association properties will be advertised on the Gateway to Homechoice website.
• You will still be able to view your eligible properties and place bids in the normal way.
• We are currently consulting with customers and our partners to ensure property adverts give all the information you need to choose a property and make appropriate bids.

Existing Council or Housing Association tenants

Existing Council or Housing Association tenants interested in any affordable rent/fixed term tenancy properties, are advised to contact the advertising landlord of the property to get further information about the property and its tenancy terms.   

How do I get further information about affordable rent properties and fixed term tenancies?

• For further information, you can contact your local Council.  Council contact details can be found under the Partner Landlords section of the website.
• If you wish to discuss a specific property, please contact the advertising landlord.  Contact details can be found on the property advert.

Review of our Allocation Policy - proposed recommendations and consultation

Gateway to Homechoice has now completed full review of the Allocation Policy. We will now hold a period of consultation with our customers and partners on the proposed recommendations. The consultation period will be from 8th May 2012 - 30th July 2012.

Please find below a summary of the recommendations and our full review report. If you would like to give your views on the proposed recommendations, please complete the feedback document below and return by post or by email by 5pm on 30th July 2012. (Details for returning completed feedback documents can be found below).

If you would like to contact any of the Local Authority partners regarding the Allocation Policy Review or the proposed recommendations, please click here to view a list of contact details.

Looking for accommodation in Southminister? Channel 4's "The Great British Property Scandal : Revisited"

Are you looking to put down roots in Southminister (Maldon District area), but finding the lack of affordable/social housing a problem?

Have you noticed empty homes in your area? Have you located an empty property and tried to find out why it is empty and if you might be able to move into it?

Tiger Aspect is making a follow up programme for Channel 4 and would like to hear from individuals, couples and families who live in Southminster or have close links to the village but are struggling to find a home due to the limited availability of affordable/social housing.

If you would be interested in taking part or finding out more, please contact John Swords at Maldon District Council
(Telephone 01621 854477 or email john.swords@maldon.gov.uk).

Current application processing times

Due to increasing numbers of applications received by our partners, our processing times may exceed 28 days. We apologise for this inconvenience and ask for your patience during this busy time.

Updating your application

If you need to update your application, you can now do this online. To access this facility, please log on using your reference number and memorable date and then click on "My CBL". You will have the option to update your application.

New features on the Gateway to Homechoice website

The website has recently been updated and contains some new features, which include:

• advertising of social and affordable rent properties (see section on changes to the way properties are advertised)
• updating your circumstances on line (available from the "My CBL" section of the website)
• renewing your application on line (available from the "My CBL" section of the website)
• viewing recent lets
• self running demonstration of how to use the website.  To view the demonstration, please click here or visit the "How to use the service" section of the website).
• new section to record your local connection to areas in the sub region.  (Please note, you will be asked to provide details of your local connection to any areas you select on the application form).

Need advice on your housing options, money or work? 

Click here to access a free online "Housing, help and work" service, which provides easy access to information and advice on a range of issues linked to housing, money and employment.  Examples of the information and advice available are:

• general housing advice
• shared ownership
• private rent accommodation
• accommodation for older people
• mortgage advice
• aids and adaptations to help you remain in your home
• money and benefits advice
• training for work
• employment searches

Looking for a mutual exchange?

Gateway to Homechoice have joined Houseexchange! Houseexchange has people registered across the country looking for exchanges and also specialises in three way swaps- helping you find the home you are looking for. 

Please visit the website at www.g2h.houseexchange.org.uk to register. 

The mutual exchange adverts have finished on Gateway to Homechoice.  You now have to register on Houseexchange to look for a mutual exchange.

Waiting to hear if you are successful?

You will be contacted by the landlord of the property if you are eligible for a viewing.  You will not be contacted by letter or telephone if you are not successful that time.  You should carry on bidding.

Can't make an arranged viewing?

If something comes up and you cannot get to an arranged viewing of a property, please contact the council in the same area as the property.  You can find their contact details under Partner Landlords.

Moving through Gateway to Homechoice

If you have already moved through Gateway to Homechoice, you can apply to move again using your old login number.  Log in and you will see a link to 'complete a CBL application'.  Please make sure that you complete the form with your new details.

Signing up for your new home

Please note that you may be asked for a week's rent in advance when signing up for your new home.  If you usually claim housing benefit then please take proof of this instead.

Retirement home - Down Hall, Bradwell on Sea, Essex

Down Hall offers accommodation in a caring environment. As a registered home for older people (registered with CQC), Down Hall is currently offering hotel styled retirement rooms with a care package available. Rent ranges from £300 - £475 pcm plus a service charge. For further information please contact Mrs Karen Johnson (Down Hall) 01621 776509 or Mr John Swords (Maldon Housing Department) on 01621 876207.

Shared Ownership opportunity - 3 bedroom property in Rams Farm Road, Fordham

A 3 bedroom property is currently for sale in Rams Farm Road, Fordham. The minimum share is 73% at £135,050, with rent of £117.00 per month. Applicants will need to have a local connection to Fordham in the first instance, failing that, to one of the adjacent parishes. For further information, please contact Rural Housing Trust Ltd on 01462 742099.

Shared Ownership opportunity - 3 bedroom house in Needham Market

A 3 bedroom house is currently for sale in Needham Market. The minimum share is 50% to a maximum of 75%. The full market value of the house is £148,000. Full details can be viewed by visiting www.orbithomebuyagents.co.uk or by contacting Flagship Housing on 01603 255444.

Intermediate rent opportunity - 1 bed flats in Great Cornard, Suffolk

Flagship recently advertised a small number of 1 bedroom flats for intermediate rent within Applegate Mews, Poplar Road, Great Cornard. Due to funding restrictions, the shortlist for these properties has been withdrawn and the flats will now be allocated as shared ownership opportunities. If you are interested in applying for one of these properties and would like further information, please contact Flagship on 01603 255444 or visit www.orbithomebuyagents.co.uk.