Getting an offer of settled accommodation

If we have a full housing duty to you following your homeless application (including our efforts to prevent and relieve your homelessness), you will join a waiting list to receive an offer for accommodation.

• How we make an offer
• What we offer
• Viewing the accommodation
• Refusing the offer

How we make an offer

All offers are made in date order of when you registered on the homeless queue. You can find out more about this in our Housing Allocations Scheme (pdf, 331 KB).

Offers of accommodation may take a long time, however this depends on the number of properties we have available, how many bedrooms you require and what other assessed housing needs you may have. We will continue to provide you with temporary accommodation where necessary.

We will usually contact you before making an offer to discuss whether there are any change of circumstances that could affect the type, location or size of property you need.

We operate a ‘one offer only’ policy. Your offer will be suitable for your assessed housing needs. Preferences, such as where you want to live, cannot always be met.

What we offer

An offer of accommodation can be:

• Housing Association-managed accommodation
• A private sector rented property

Whilst we aim to consider housing preferences this may not be possible due to supply and availability of accommodation. Therefore an offer may be:

• Anywhere in the borough
• On any floor level (taking into account any assessed medical needs)
• Outside of the borough

Viewing the accommodation

You will get the chance to view the accommodation we offer you. This viewing may take place when repair works on the property are being carried out.

After you have viewed the property you will be given instructions on when and where to sign the tenancy.

Refusing an offer

If you refuse an offer accommodation that we believe is suitable for your housing needs, we may no longer be able to assist you.

If you believe an offer of accommodation is unsuitable, you are able to request a review. You will need to provide information that supports this. If your review is successful, we will offer you somewhere else to live.

It is usually best to accept the offer of accommodation before requesting a review because you:

• Can request a review after you move in
• Will have somewhere to stay while we review our decision
• Will have somewhere to stay if your review is unsuccessful

If you do not accept the offer of accommodation before requesting a review, there is a risk that no further offers of accommodation will be made.

You may also be removed from our waiting list, need to leave any temporary accommodation we have provided and to find your own accommodation if your review is unsuccessful.