Housing Services

Your introduction to housing services in Lichfield District

www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/housing

There are lots of housing options available to you in Lichfield District.

Housing options

From finding a new home, to getting help to stay in your own home, we can help you to find the best housing option for you.

Difficulty in paying your rent

Our benefit team can tell you if you qualify for housing or council tax benefit. Even if you are working full time, you may be entitled to claim. Find out now by calling the team on 01543 308900 or emailing benefits@lichfielddc.gov.uk

If your landlord is trying to evict you please contact our housing options team - see back page for contact details.

Or, if you have other financial concerns, please read our leaflet Money Worries, which offers advice and introduces organisations that may be able to help you.

Problems paying your mortgage

If you are finding it hard to afford your mortgage each month, read our Mortgage Advice leaflet for more information. Please seek advice before the situation gets any worse.

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) LHA replaced housing benefit for private tenancies in 2008. To find out if you are entitled to claim, please call 01543 308900 or visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/benefits

Employment that comes with accommodation If your current job is with tied accommodation, it is probable that you would need to find a new home if you were to lose your job. If you need some help, contact our housing options team - see back page for contact details.

How do I apply for social rented housing? Social rented housing is when you rent a property from a housing association or from a local authority. Lichfield District Council does not own any houses for social rent. We transferred our housing stock in 1997 to HomeZone - which is now known as Bromford Living. In Lichfield District you must register on UChoose to apply for social rented housing. Joining UChoose allows you to access a choice-based letting system, so you can apply for social rented housing in the district and southern Staffordshire and north Warwickshire.

How do I apply to UChoose For more information about UChoose, and to apply online to join the choice-based letting system, visit www.uchoosehomes.co.uk or call Bromford Living, who manage the scheme on our behalf, on 0330 1234 034.

How do I move if I’m a housing association tenant? If you want to move, but wish to remain a housing association tenant, you have three options. 1. If you are staying in southern Staffordshire or north Warwickshire, you can apply to move through UChoose. 2. Most housing associations have a mutual exchange programme. This is when two properties and tenancies, between two or more tenants of a local authority or housing association, are swapped. As a general rule you are allowed to register for mutual exchange if: • your rent account is not in arrears • there has been no legal action taken against you regarding your

tenancy • you would not significantly over or under occupy the property you wish

to move to To find out more about mutual exchange, please contact your landlord. 3. Alternatively, the national organisation, Homeswapper, can also arrange mutual exchanges. Find out more at www.homeswapper.co.uk

Renting privately Did you know that you can also rent from a private landlord?

Types of tenancy The most common type of tenancy in the private rented sector is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. This type of tenancy is set for a fixed amount of time, and after this initial fixed period (usually six months) your tenancy can be renewed or ended.

Where can I find a privately rented property? If you decide you want to rent privately, you can look for privately rented properties in: • local newspapers • estate and letting agents • property websites For more information on renting a property from a private landlord, please see our leaflet Private Rented Sector.

Low cost home ownership High house prices and the uncertain economic climate mean that buying a home is out of reach for many people. Do not despair - there are a number of schemes that could help you get onto the housing ladder.

Shared ownership Shared ownership is a way for you to buy a home, with the help of a housing association, if you cannot afford to buy it on your own. It is aimed at people with a regular income, as you will need to be able to get a mortgage. The usual minimum share is 25%, but you can buy more shares until you own the property outright. Orbit Homebuy could help you to buy your own home through shared ownership, or another scheme. Find out more by calling 0345 850 2050 or emailing ofs@orbit.org.uk www.orbithomebuyagents.co.uk

Difficulty managing or coping in your home From managing your benefits and bills to getting up the stairs, if you are finding it hard to mange in your home, there is lots of support available to you.

If you are aged over 55, please contact Bromford Support on 01543 255069 who may be able to offer you free help and support.

Don’t struggle in your home, contact our housing options team who can point you in the direction of help.

Home repairs and adaptations If your home needs some work, there are schemes that can help you to do the work - if you qualify for extra help.

Home improvements If you are a Lichfield District homeowner, and aged over 60, disabled, or live with someone who is disabled, you could get help to repair or adapt your home through Your Home - Your Choice. For impartial expert help, access to approved contractors and low risk loans, call Metropolitan Care and Repair on 0203 353 3670.

Adapting your home If your home needs to be adapted to meet your needs - for example grab rails, a stair lift or a level access shower - please call Social Care & Health on 0300 111 8010 for a free assessment.

Lifeline alarm If you are concerned about living alone, or worry when your family go out, you could get peace of mind from a Lifeline. For a small weekly charge, the Lifeline pendant alarm connects you to an emergency call centre who can help 24 hours a day. To find out more and to book your Lifeline, call Welbeing on 0132 364 422 or email tamworthtelecare@welbeing.org.uk

Home security and fire safety To make sure your home is secure, contact your local police station and ask for a visit from a crime prevention officer, who can give you expert advice on how to improve your home’s security. Or, if you are worried about fire, contact Staffordshire Fire Service on 0800 0241 999 to book a free home fire risk check. They can also install a free smoke alarm for you - if needed.

Thinking of downsizing? If you own your own home, you could sell it and buy a smaller one that is easier to manage or one that is more affordable. Housing association tenants, who no longer need such a big home, can ask to be transferred to a smaller property or register for a mutual exchange (see page 3). Some housing associations offer an incentive for people to downsize, and tenants who want to move from a large family house to a smaller home are often given priority.

Applying for sheltered housing Most sheltered housing schemes are for people aged over 55 or 60 - depending on the scheme. There are a variety of schemes across the district catering for both owner-occupiers and tenants, and for all levels of care needed.

Beacon Park Retirement Village Beacon Park Retirement Village is a self-contained village, on the edge of Beacon Park in the centre of Lichfield. It offers rental, shared ownership and leasehold homes. As an Extracare scheme, it is based on the ‘stay active, stay young’ philosophy, providing older people with a home of their own and the opportunity to remain active and independent in later life. The scheme is owned by Bromford Group and is managed in partnership with Extracare Charitable Trust. To find out more call 01543 261302 or visit www.homezonehousing.org.uk and click on the ‘services for older and vulnerable people’ link.

Are you thinking about moving to a smaller home that is easier to manage?

If you are homeless or worried you could become homeless Call our housing options team on 01543 308000 for help.

You can also find out more information from our Housing Options and Homelessness Advice leaflets.

Mediation and counselling Mediation can sometimes help people to remain living in the same home or to separate more amicably. Our housing options team may be able to offer you mediation - if the difficulty you are experiencing with your child or parents could lead to any one of you becoming homeless. Please call 01543 308000 for more information.

Relationship breakdown Relate may be able to help you if you are having relationship difficulties. Find out more at www.relate.org.uk or by calling 01543 304858.

Violence in the home If you feel under threat or violence from a partner or family member, please contact the Pathway Project on 01543 676800 (available 24 hours a day) or visit their website www.pathway-project.co.uk

A reminder about housing laws When reading this leaflet it is important to remember that the laws concerning housing and welfare rights are complex. This leaflet cannot explain everything and is intended as an initial guide to the help that may be available to you. For more information or advice please contact our housing team, or any of the organisations referred to in this leaflet. Please turn over the page to see our housing team’s contact details.

If you are having troubles at home, which could lead to you or any one of your family becoming homeless, please seek help.

www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/housing

Issue: 1

Contact us To discuss your housing needs, please contact us.

Ask for the housing options team Telephone: 01543 308000 Email: housing@lichfielddc.gov.uk Address: Housing Services District Council House Frog Lane Lichfield Staffordshire WS13 6ZE

If you need this leaflet in another format, such as large print, please call Lichfield District Council on 01543 308000 and ask to speak to housing services or email housing@lichfielddc.gov.uk

www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/housing

Issue number: 3

Other leaflets in the You and Your Home series:

• Housing Services

• Adapt or Improve your Home

• Private Rented Accommodation

• Homelessness

• Homelessness Reviews & Appeals

• Money Advice

For help and advice to find a home that’s right for you, visit our housing options and advice website at:

www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/housingoptions