Housing Allocations / Housing Register

Details on how you can apply for affordable housing with housing associations in Elmbridge and information on the Council's Housing Register scheme is below.

Elmbridge Borough Council operates a banding scheme to prioritise cases on the Housing Register. The Council moved from a points scheme to a new banding scheme in January 2009. All households who were on the Housing Register were invited to complete a new Housing Register form to enable their case to be reassessed under the new banding scheme. All existing applicants who had completed and returned new Housing Register forms were banded.

The Choice Based Lettings Scheme will be a partnership between Elmbridge Borough Council, |Runnymede Borough Council, |Spelthorne Borough Council, |A2 Dominion Housing Group and |Elmbridge Housing Trust and is known as the SEARCH Moves scheme. The Banding Scheme consists of five bands ranging from A to E according to housing need and local connection.

The following link will provide further information in relation to the |SEARCH Moves Choice Based Lettings Scheme.

|If you would like to find out when each bidding cycle begins and ends please see the following document.

For information on the SEARCH Moves Common Allocations Policy for the North Surrey Choice Based Lettings Scheme please see the following document: |SEARCH Moves Common Allocations Policy

For information on the housing register appeals/review procedure please see the following document: |Housing Allocations Review Process

How to Join the Housing Register:

If you would like to be placed on the Councils Housing Register you will need to complete an Elmbridge Borough Council Housing Application form.

The Elmbridge Borough Council Housing Application Form can be downloaded here:

• |Housing Register Application Form

Please note that we cannot accept completed application forms via e-mail at this time.

In order to process and add an applicant to the housing register, we will require certain documents to be provided along with the form. |The following link highlights the information that must be provided along with the application form. You must also ensure that all parts of the application form are completed - if a section does not apply to you write "Not Applicable". If an application form is received without the required documentation or incomplete it cannot be fully assessed and you will be unable to bid for properties until this has been provided.

A summary of the banding scheme and Allocations Policy can be found here |All about the Banding Scheme leaflet available on this website. This provides an outline on how to apply, who is eligible to be considered for housing and how we assess cases on the Housing Register. A full copy of the Allocations Policy is available.

The Housing Allocations Team are available to answer enquiries and can be telephoned on (01372) 474591 or 474596. You can also contact the team via e-mail: |Allocations Generic Contact

For an overview of the number of properties that we have received within a twelve month period, please access the property analysis details which may assist you when deciding your areas of choice: |Housing Register Property Analysis
For a list of Housing Associations (also known as Registered Social Landlords) that operate within the Elmbridge Borough please see the following link: |Housing Corporation - Elmbridge Housing Associations

Homebuy

If you are interested in purchasing a property but cannot afford to buy on the open market you may want to register for accommodation under the HomeBuy programme. HomeBuy is a low cost home-ownership programme which offers a number of products aimed at first-time buyers, key workers and others who cannot afford to buy a suitable home in the area where they live or work. Please visit the |Homebuy section or telephone |Catalyst Housing Group 0845 601 7729 for further information and to register your interest in Homebuy.

Retirement Accommodation

If you are interested in living in retirement accommodation (also known as sheltered accommodation) owned by a Housing Association you can apply to the Council for assistance through through the Choice Based Lettings scheme. Housing Association retirement accommodation is open to applicants aged 55 years and over and is primarily bedsit and 1 bedroom properties although 2 bedroom vacancies occasionally become available. Generally, it would be easier to be rehoused to sheltered accommodation than general needs/ordinary housing via the housing register using Choice Based Lettings. If you are successful in bidding for a retirement property the housing association may carry out an interview to assess your current needs/circumstances. For further information please see the following page: |Housing Options for Older People