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Homesfirst is a 'Choice Based Lettings' (CBL) scheme which is a new way of letting properties by Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH) in conjunction with Stafford Borough Council (SBC). The idea is to offer people who want to rent accommodation more choice over which property and area they would like to live in.
The Government requires all local authorities to introduce a Choice Based Lettings (CBL) scheme by 2010. While this is not a legal obligation for housing associations, it is seen as good practice. It was also one of the promises that were made to customers as part of the Transfer Agreement when the housing stock transferred from Stafford Borough Council to SARH in 2006.
CBL replaces the traditional way of allocating housing under which housing officers seek to match applicants who have priority on the waiting list to available vacancies.
CBL allows applicants to view the full range of available properties and can place a bid (ie. apply) for any home to which they are matched (eg a single person would not be eligible for a three-bedroom house) through SARH website, by telephone or in person at one of their offices . The successful bidder is the one with the highest priority under the scheme. SARH will provide feedback that helps applicants to assess their chances of success in subsequent applications.
SARH are currently writing to everyone who is on the current Housing Register to ask them to re-apply for the scheme. There will no longer be a paper application form so applicants will need to complete the on-line application on SARH website. The following link will take you to Stafford and Rural Homes Homesfirst webpage - http://homesfirst.sarh.co.uk.
To make sure that no one misses out, SARH and SBC will be offering support for those people without access to the internet.
The idea behind the scheme is that the customer is in control of the process and makes a "choice" of what homes they want to apply for that have been advertised. If customers are more involved in choosing their home it is believed they will feel more committed to and settled in the community in which they are living.
It is important to be aware that CBL does not mean that there are any more homes available but the rules are simpler to understand and the process is more open and transparent to the customer.
More details will follow as we get nearer to the launch date. In the meantime, SARH will continue to let its empty homes using its existing Allocations Policy. Help and advice is available by telephoning SARH on 0800 111 4554 or by contacting Stafford Borough Council, Housing Options Team on 01785 619313.
