- Who can apply for properties through Waverley Homechoice?
You must have been accepted onto Waverley's Housing Register to be able to apply for either rented or shared ownership properties through Waverley Homechoice. Anyone aged 16 years or over may apply to join the Housing Register.
- How do I apply to join the Housing Register?
You will need to complete an application form. There are two types of application form, one for new applicants and the other for existing council or partner Housing Association tenants who wish to transfer. These can be printed from the Council's main website or obtained from the Council's Offices at Godalming, Farnham, Cranleigh or Haslemere. Click How to Contact Us for contact details and opening hours.
-
How do I know if I have been accepted onto the Housing Register?
You will receive a letter confirming that you have been accepted onto the Housing Register. This will tell you the band you have been placed, the date your application has been registered from - this is known as the priority date and your registration number. You will also be given your preference rating in the Sub-Regional Scheme known as Homeselecta. This scheme could give you a chance of moving to another Council's area.
-
Do I need any other information to use Waverley Homechoice?
To use Homechoice you will need to have two pieces of information which are unique to your housing application. These are your registration number and the date of birth of the main applicant. You will be asked for this information when you apply for a property.
-
What do I do if my circumstances change?
It is very important that you tell us of any changes in your circumstances so that we can amend your application. We will tell you if this results in your application moving to a different band. If you move up a band the date used will be the date you move into that band. If you move down a band the date used will be the date that applied when you were previously in that band or any earlier date when you were in a higher band.
-
What if someone in my household has a medical condition?
If someone in your household has a medical condition you will be asked to provide details, which may then be considered by the Council’s Medical Advisor, who will put forward a recommendation. You can continue to choose which properties to express an interest in but must be mindful of your condition and only express interest in suitable properties such as ground floor flat or bungalow if you cannot climb stairs.
-
How often are properties advertised?
Properties available for rent are advertised each week. As soon as we are given formal notice that a property is due to become vacant we will advertise it. For more details click
Step Two-Choosing, part of our step-by-step guide to using the service.
-
Where are properties advertised?
Properties are advertised in the following ways:
-
- In a newsletter available from the Council's offices in Godalming, Farnham, Cranleigh and Haslemere
- On display boards in the Council's Offices
- On the advertising line 0800 0194003 (freephone) or 01483 523456
- Are all empty Council properties advertised?
As far as possible all properties will be advertised and let under the Council's Choice Based Lettings Scheme - Waverley Homechoice - and the sub regional scheme -Homeselecta. The exceptions to this would be in the very rare instances when a particular property was so ideally suited to the special needs of a particular high need household (e.g. those requiring specific disabled adaptations), that it would be unreasonable to advertise the vacancy under the scheme as it would unduly raise expectations of other households.
- What information will the property adverts contain?
The adverts will tell you the landlord, location, size, rent and other features of the property. Where available a photograph of the property or a similar house type will be provided and you will be able to access information about the local area and facilities. The advert will also tell you if there are any special requirements that the applicant must meet, such as age requirements, which bands may bid for the property and which will be given priority for the property. It also tells you the number of bedrooms that applicants applying for the property need to be entitled to. If your bedroom entitlement is different to this you will not be able to bid for that property.
-
How do I apply for a property?
You can express your interest or bid, as it is also known, in the following ways:
-
How many properties can I express an interest in?
You will be able to express an interest in a maximum of three properties each time properties are advertised. However, you will only be able to express interest in properties that are suitable for your family.
-
How long will I have to bid for a property?
Properties will be advertised from midnight on a Wednesday and you will be able to register your interest in properties up until midnight the following Sunday.
-
Will I know how many other people are interested in the same property?
Yes, when you bid for a property you will be told where you are in the queue. This is likely to change frequently due to other people bidding for the same property. Using this information you may decide to withdraw your bid for one property and bid for a different property for which you are higher placed in the queue. You can do this at any time before the closing date.
-
Will I be able to bid for properties in areas other than the ones I said I was interested in on my application form?
Yes. You can bid for properties in any area as long as you are eligible for that sized property.
-
How do you decide who is offered a property?
Once the closing date for bids has passed a shortlist of interested applicants is drawn up. The shortlist is in order of eligibility according to the criteria stated in the advert details for that property. The applicant at the top of the list will normally be offered the property but there can be exceptions to this. Please click
Step Three-Offer for more details.
-
If I successfully bid for a rented property, can the landlord refuse to let it to me?
You may not be invited to view the property for the following reasons:
-
You owe rent or have other housing related debts
-
You are a Council or Housing Association tenant and legal action has been taken against you because you have broken your tenancy conditions
-
You have sufficient resources to solve your own housing problems
-
You have not provided the required documentary evidence to support your application by the date given
-
Your circumstances have changed and this results in a reduction in your level of priority.
-
You have provided incorrect or misleading information, which has resulted in your application being awarded a higher priority than it deserves.
-
If I am offered a property, will I be able to view it before making up my mind?
Yes. You will be given an opportunity to view the property and decide whether you would like to accept it.
-
What if I don’t like the property when I have seen it?
You will not normally be penalised for refusing a property that you have been offered and will still be able to express interest in properties that become available.
-
How will I know what has happened to the properties advertised?
Information about the bids for the rented or shared ownership homes is published. We tell you the number of applicants that expressed an interest in each property and the band and the registration date of the top bid for each property. Please note that sometimes the top bidder may refuse the property so it may be let to somone lower down the bidding list. To see the results of properties that have been advertised click
Recent Lets.
-
How will this information help me?
It will give you a better idea of how popular a particular property or area is and how long you would normally have to wait. You can then decide whether to look for other types of property or areas where you may not have to wait as long.