Are you registered with the scheme? Click here to register for a home

What do I do if I am interested in a property?

It’s easy to do! Simply:

• Call in to our Property Shop or any Community Housing office or partner landlord
• Write to us and tell us which homes you want to bid for 
• Telephone us on 0191 277 2020 or call any housing office
• Log onto www.yourchoicehomes.org, search for a home and bid 
• e-mail: your.choice.homes@yhn.org.uk

You can bid for up to three properties every week.  A bid is your way of expressing interest in a property.  You can only bid for a property when it is advertised.

How are homes advertised?

We advertise homes every week, except when there is a Bank Holiday.  You can find our adverts in The Evening Chronicle on Tuesday and on posters in our Property Shop, housing offices and Customer Service Centres.

Each property will have a closing date.  No bids will be taken after that time.

Who can join Your choice homes?

Anyone aged 16 or over can apply.  You don't have to live in Newcastle and it doesn't matter what type of home you live in.

What type of checks will you do?

We need to check that you are eligible for Your choice homes.  This means you have to provide some information.  This could be:

• identification containing your name and address
• something that shows how long you have lived in your current home, like a tenancy agreement or Council Tax bill

Please tell us if you can't give us this information.

Some customers may not be eligible for Your choice homes.  For example:

• certain people from abroad
• some people guilty of serious unacceptable behaviour.

The details you give us may be shared with other public bodies, including the police.

What if I need help?

Don't worry - we are here to help everyone, whatever your needs.

• If you want someone else to make an application on your behalf, please tell us.
• If you are under 18 or need support we can refer you to a Pathways Advice and Support Worker or to our Inline Team.  They will look at what support you need and help you find and settle into your home.

What if I need information in a different format?

If your first language is not English we can provide interpretation facilities.  We can also provide information in Braille, large print or on audio tape.

How do I know if I am registered with Your choice homes?

We will write to you to confirm that you are registered.  This letter will also give you a reference number.  This number is your number and can be used to bid for properties.

With this letter will be useful information to help you find a home.  In your letter will be a guide to what properties you should bid for and how long you might have to wait.

What if I'm not eligible for Your choice homes?

If we tell you that you are not eligible this means that you can't bid for a home.  We will write to you and tell you why we have made this decision.  This will include:

• what information we have considered
• why you are ineligible
• what you can do to become eligible.

What if I think I need to move urgently?

You can tell us about this when you apply.  The Council has statutory duties towards people who have nowhere to live or who are not safe where they live.  Contact us for more information.

If we think you need to move urgently, you will be given a priority.  This lasts for three months and may recommend what type of home would be suitable for you.  The reasons why we may award a priority are:

• you have substantial disability or health grounds
• you are suffering domestic violence, harassment or racial harassment
• you are homeless
• your home is subject to major building work or demolition.

What information do you give about the property?

When properties are advertised, we will tell you:

• how many bedrooms it has
• any special features
• how much the rent is
• who the landlord is
• who is eligible for the property

Do I have to prove that I meet any special conditions for a property?

We will carry out a further check if we are going to offer you a home to see if any information has changed since you first applied.

Have I read the description of the property?

Sometimes there are special conditions for the property, such as:

• the number of people who can live in the property
• if cats or dogs are allowed
• the minimum age required of residents
• whether it is suitable for children.

What are properties advertised on a ‘first come first served’ basis?

This means we will offer the tenancy to the first person who bids for it.  Some special conditions still apply.

Does my bid guarantee an offer of the property?

Most of our homes are very popular.  This means a lot of people bid.  We will usually offer the home to the person who lived the longest in their current home. This is what we use as a tie-break.

If you have a priority, you will be considered before other customers.

If I am offered a property, will I be able to view it before making up my mind?

Yes. You will be able to view the property. If you like it, we will set a date for you to sign the tenancy agreement and start your tenancy.

What if I don’t like the property when I’ve seen it?

If you view the property and decide it is not for you, don’t worry. If you are eligible you will remain registered with Your choice homes. You will be able to express interest in other properties in the future.

If you are homeless or in urgent need and have been given priority status, we may feel that this offer meets this duty. This means that your priority status could be removed.

How will I know what has happened to the properties advertised?

We publish the results of all completed lettings every month. This information is in our ‘Feedback to customers’ leaflet. You can get one from any Community Housing Office or the Property Shop.

How will this information help me?

It will help you to see where you may be successful in finding a home. It will give you a better idea of how popular a particular area or type of property is and whether you would be successful if you expressed an interest. It may help you in considering other areas.

You may then decide to look for other types of property or areas where you may not have to wait as long.

A final reminder:

• If you are interested in a property, you must let us know by 12 o’clock mid day on the Monday after the Tuesday advert.
• You can only express interest in up to 3 homes in any one week.
• We will let you know within 6 days after the deadline if you have been successful.
• If you don’t hear from us within 6 days you haven’t been successful. Please try again!
  

Read the Looking for a home in Newcastle leaflet for more information