Housing Issues
Housing Issues
As a Carer, you'll want to make sure the person you're looking after is safe in the home and can get about freely. It may be that the house in which the person you care for needs to be altered to help with safety and mobility. For instance, you might want to fit grab rails, a stairlift, widen doors or install a ramp. You might also want to know what housing is available for you in Tameside and how to apply for a home or go about an exchange
We hope the information here will help you with these issues.
How to go about getting your house altered
Adult Services can arrange for this to be done, though you will need to meet certain conditions before help can be provided. For more information about these services and possible charges, you will need to contact the Occupational Therapy team at:
The Community Occupational Therapy Team
Tameside Adult Services, Stalybridge Resource Centre, Waterloo Road, Stalybridge, SK15 2AU
0161 342 2400 
0161 342 2577 
Send a Message to Adult Services
If your home is rented you will have to contact your landlord for permission to make the alterations.
New Charter Housing Trust
View comprehensive details of New Charter Housing Services 
Applying for a home
New Charter formed in 1999 as the new landlords to own and manage nearly 16,400 properties transferred from the Council. The Trust decides who can go on the Waiting List for a home. Generally, in order to be accepted onto the Housing Waiting List you will have to be either aged 18 or over or if aged between 16 and 18 have supplied an acceptable referee.
All applicants accepted onto the Housing Waiting List are assessed and given a number of points, which reflect their housing need. The assessment is based on personal circumstances and takes into consideration the accommodation currently occupied.
A property is normally allocated to those applicants who have the greatest housing need, which is determined by the points scheme. However, when considering applications, New Charter will also look at creating and developing sustainable communities and might not always allocate a property to the person at the top of the list.
You can get Housing Application forms from any New Charter office or the Council Information Offices:
House Lettings Office, Mulberry Street (off Glebe Street), Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6EY
0161 331 2400
Housing Options Centre, 119-125 Old Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside OL6 7RL
0161 331 2700
Area Housing Offices: New Charter Housing (North) Ltd
Ashton, Mulberry Street (off Glebe Street), Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6EY
0161 331 2400
Stalybridge, Waterloo Road, Stalybridge, Cheshire, SK15 2AU
0161 331 2290
Area Housing Offices: New Charter Housing (South) Ltd
Denton, 9 Albert Street, Denton, Manchester, M34 6ZA
0161 331 2520
Hyde, 12/14 Clarendon Street, Hyde, Cheshire, SK14 2 EL
0161 331 2503
If you are disabled or housebound and unable to collect an application form yourself, please contact the Lettings Office and ask for an application form to be sent to you. The telephone number is 0161 331 2345.
Anyone can apply for a home from New Charter. However, Tameside residents or applicants who have lived in the Tameside area for most of their lives will be given additional priority.
Transfer or Exchange
Transfer
New Charter tenants will normally be expected to complete 12 months in their tenancy before being considered for re-housing. If you apply to transfer before you have lived in your present tenancy for 12 months, your application will be placed on a suspended list until the anniversary of your tenancy commencement.
Current tenants who are in breach of or are being investigated for any of their conditions of tenancy will not normally receive active consideration for re-housing until this breach has been remedied.
Exchange
As a New Charter tenant, you are allowed to exchange your home with another tenant by mutual agreement. New Charter can also nominate you to other Local Authorities should you wish to move away from Tameside. You will need to contact New Charter to tell them you wish to be included on the exchange scheme.
The Points System
The points system determines your priority on the Housing Waiting List. Points are awarded for a variety of reasons as shown below. You should check with New Charter to see the full list of conditions and their points allocation.
- Lack of amenities
- Bedroom deficiency
- Overcrowding
- Families in maisonettes and flats without lift access
- Families living in multi-storey blocks
- Single people aged 18-25 living with parents
- Lodgers
- Living in apartments/rooms on a Licence Agreement with shared amenities
- No fixed abode
- Under-occupied family homes
- Medical reasons
Sheltered Housing
Criteria
For tenants aged 60 or above with low/medium care needs, able to provide themselves with a meal and deal with their own medication.
16 Category 2 Fully Sheltered sites - Live in warden
6 Category 1.5 outside sheltered bungalow sites - on site warden
Hours of work
Daily 8.30am - 5pm Category 2
Sat/Sun 8.30 - 10.30am
Daily 9am - 4.30pm Category 1.5
Sat/Sun on mobile to C.A.S.
Daily visit made to all tenants during the morning period on all sites.
Community Alarm Service 'Out of Hours' 5pm - 8.30am 7 days week, 365 days per year (including Christmas and Bank Holidays)
Response to emergency calls by mobile warden service.
Warden pull cord system in each property to summon assistance.
Category 2 Sheltered Housing accommodation offers a safe, secure environment (warden call door entry system on all Category 2 sites).
Category 1.5 has the daily support of resident staff during the day to assist independent living of the residents on site.
Individual tenants can also have, if eligible, the care support of the homecare services provided by Adult Services through independent 'care packages' visiting as required.
On all our sites communal facilities provide social activities throughout the week and some evenings. These can include luncheon clubs, bingo, trips out, coffee mornings, parties/functions with entertainment. Tenants have the choice to take part in all activities giving them the opportunity to mix socially with other retired people if they wish to.
All sites have subsidised laundry facilities for use by tenants.
Most have the use of a lift to all floors.
To arrange a visit to the scheme contact the coordinator who will be pleased to show you around and answer any questions you may have and how to apply for a property. View contact details about Sheltered Housing.
Other Housing Options
Homelessness Advice
Here you can find out about the Council's obligation to homeless households.
Housing Associations
Housing Associations provide homes for rent and maintain their own waiting lists similar to the way New Charter do. They can also request nominations from New Charter based on those with the greatest need. Follow this link for a list of Housing Associations in Tameside and their contact details.
Owner Occupation
Most homes for owner occupied market can be found listed at your local Estate Agents or advertised in the press.
The BBC website gives comprehensive advice on buying a home, such as
- How to calculate your mortgage
- Choosing a mortgage
- Finding a solicitor
- Property surveys
- Buying a good investment
You can view this advise and other information on buying at: www.bbc.co.uk/homes/property
Other useful information on Moving Home can be found here www.tameside.gov.uk/lifeevents/movinghome
Privately Rented Accommodation
Accommodation in the privately rented sector is usually advertised in the local press or through Estate Agents. The type of tenancy agreement and level of rent will vary. It is possible that if you are on Housing Benefit that the amount you receive will not cover the cost of your rent. The length of your tenancy agreement may also be short term, perhaps only for six months. For advice on privately rented accommodation contact the Housing Options Centre at:
Housing Options Centre, 119-125 Old Street, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7RL
0161 331 2700