Housing Options & Advice

How are we implementing HOA?

• Carrying out home visits to all urgent overcrowded, under-occupying, and health and disability affected transfers applicants.
• Working in partnership with our core local authorities to develop collaborative approaches to overcrowding, under-occupation and other transfer circumstances
• Carrying out practical improvements to properties, where possible,
  via the Remodelling initiative.
• Assisting with the purchase of BSS (Better Space Saving) furniture to maximise use of limited space.
• Providing rent deposits for overcrowded families or adult non-dependants of under occupiers
• Provide under occupation incentives for tenants who want to move to a smaller property
• Working in partnership with our five core boroughs to improve access to local housing registers, for Circle 33 tenants.
• Providing assistance for tenants who may be interested in moving to rented accommodation in the private sector.
• Re-housing non-dependant household members to assured shorthold tenancies (AST) to alleviate overcrowding or allow an under-occupying tenant move to a smaller property, under the New Generation housing initiative.
• Together with our Teams for Communities services we are working towards providing improved life chances, support, training and employment for our residents.

The Housing Options and Advice schemes?

Housing Options services include:
Remodelling - If a tenant is happy to stay in their current property, has forged a network of links and is happy with the area, we can consider their property for structural change to create additional bedrooms, wc’s, shower rooms and bathrooms by converting loft space, building extensions or knocking through and re-designating existing space. If a room is large enough we can divide it with a partition wall. (This option is available only to those with an urgent transfer priority)

Better Space Saving (BSS)

The purchase of space saving furniture (e.g. sofa beds, storage units, fold away tables) for the improved management of available space.

Under Occupation Initiatives (UOI):

a)Incentive Payments
Here tenants have a choice. They can take a standard payment for each bedroom released

Or

b)Helping Hands
They can opt for assistance in the form of our newly introduced “Helping Hands” service which offers options in place of a payment such as assistance with removals, the purchase of carpets and curtains, the disconnection/reconnection of washing machines/telephones/cookers, mail redirection paid for up to three months and other options – up to the value of the lump sum payment.

New Generation (NG)

A scheme which re-houses the adult non-dependent children of tenants registered for under-occupation or overcrowding.

Private Sector Rent Deposit Scheme (PRDS)

A one off lump sum payment to cover the security deposit for tenants wishing to resolve their circumstances by voluntarily moving to the Private Rented Sector (PRS), or to assist adult non-dependents of qualifying tenants to move into the Private Rented Sector.

Enhanced Mutual Exchange Services

To assist and encourage tenants to find suitable homes to swap in to.

De-conversion

The de-conversion of individual street properties back into family homes of 4 bedrooms or more through the Mayors Capital Fund

G15 Mobility Moves

Do you need to move for work?
G15 is a group of 15 of the largest Housing Associations across London, of which Circle 33 is a member
G15 London Moves is a pilot project helping G15 social housing tenants living in
London to move, within London, for work and training opportunities.

To register for the scheme you need to:
Be willing to downsize by one bedroom or more
OR
In employment for at least 13 weeks but the distance from your home to work is making it hard to keep your job or in full-time education linked to a firm job offer
OR
Move to provide care to a close family member, or another person a member of your household has a demonstrable relationship with. Carers must be able to show either: that they are receiving carers allowance, or have a letter or care plan from the relevant local authority
OR
You need to move to another area for another reason.

If you think you might be eligible, call Circle 33’s contact centre on 0800 073 0417 quoting G15, and leave your name, address and contact number.
Either Cherelle Wishart, Joyann Royal or Francis Becque or will call you back to let you know if you qualify.
To find out if g15 London moves could help you click here

HOUSING OPTIONS and ADVICE Team: Joyann Royal, Francis Becque and Cherelle Wishart
Contact us at our Corsica Street office on 0800 073 0417 or 0207 447 3100.

Or email us at HousingOptionsandAdvice@circle.org.uk

Our website: https://www.circle.org.uk/circle-33/resident-info (click on the Housing Options and Advice tab to the left of the screen)

Last modified 07/11/11