CHOICE BASED LETTINGS - A GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Adapted Properties - Property that has been adapted for an applicant with disabilities.

Age Restrictions - Where a property is labelled as only being available to applicants of a certain age.

Application Number - A unique number given to a housing application and generated by the housing computer system.

Bedroom Eligibility - The number of bedrooms a household is assessed as needing.

Bid or Bidding - To be considered for an available home, customers are required to contact us to 'make a bid' or' express an interest' in it. No money is involved in 'making a bid' or 'expressing an interest' in a property.

Bidding Period - The number of days in which a customer has the opportunity to 'place a bid' or 'express an interest' in a home once it is advertised.

Choice Based Lettings (CBL) - A new system being introduced for the allocation of social housing. Designed to offer more choice and involvement for customers in selecting a new home. It is a much more open, transparent and customer-based approach in the allocation of properties. Available social rented housing is is let by being openly advertised, allowing customers to 'bid' or 'register an interest' in those homes.

Consultation Period - A period of 3 months in which South Cambridgeshire D C will consult with all interested parties and stakeholders about its plans to introduce Choice Based Lettings. The consultation period will be from January 2007 to March 2007.

Date In Band - The date a customer is placed in a housing needs band, this date becomes important during the short-listing process.

Date Of Registration - The date a housing application form is registered with South Cambs D.C. or a Partner Organisation (PO).

Decision Making Organisation - The PO responsible for making a particular decision in regard to a housing or homeless application.

Direct Let - A home that may be offered directly to a customer without them having to make a 'bid' or 'register an interest' in that home.

Domestic Violence - Threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (physical, psychological, sexual, financial or emotional) by a former partner or associated person.

Express An Interest - See Bid or Bidding

Focus Group - A group of interested parties coming together to discuss the draft proposals for the Choice Based Lettings scheme. The group is able to feedback to the Council its views, ideas and suggestions contributing to the final policies of the scheme.

Local Implementation Group - A group of people taken from a wide number of services within South Cambs. D C and which will be affected by the introduction of CBL, these include Housing, Finance, IT, Legal etc. The group meet on a regular basis to advise on the local implementation of the scheme.

Housing Options - Looking at what housing might be available to an applicant, including private rented accommodation and other solutions.

Housing Register - A list of customers requesting social housing accommodation and are eligible.

Partner Organisations (PO's) - All the organisations that are partners in the Cambridgeshire Sub-regional CBL scheme. These are (besides South Cambs D C): Cambridge City Council, East Cambs D C, Fenland D C, Forest Heath D C, Huntingdonshire D C and St Edmundsbury B C.

Points Based Lettings System - The system currently used at South Cambs. D C to determine the priority of a customers housing need. Points are allocated to the customer to reflect their current circumstances and future housing need. The total number of points allocated determines the customers position in the waiting list for a particular type/size/location of a home.

Property Label - A description of the property being advertised as available to let. The label will generally include a photograph, location, type of property, number of bedrooms, type of heating, any disabled adaptations, whether there is a garden or not, if pets are accepted and other features etc. The label will indicate who may be eligible to bid for the property. This could include, for example, where a local connection may be required, if there is an age restriction or the property has adaptations.

Registered Social Landlord (RSL) - Term introduced by the 1996 Housing Act applying to housing associations registered with the Homes and Communities Agency (formerly known as the Housing Corporation). Registered Social Landlords have access to Social Housing Grant public funding for the capital costs of providing housing.

Shortlist - Once the deadline has passed for registering a 'bid' or 'interest', a list of bidders who have met the advertising criteria for each individual property is taken from the computer system. Generally, the customer offered the property will be the person who has been in the highest housing needs band for the longest period of time.

Social Rented Housing - Housing of a high standard which is provided at below market cost for households in housing need by Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords. It operates on a basis of accepted and regulated standards of good practice in relation to physical conditions, management, allocation, equal opportunities and accountability. The Homes & Communities Agency (formerly known as the Housing Corporation) sets the maximum rent levels.

 

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