Ready to Move On?

This page aims to give you some simple but handy tips to think about when you are ready to move on from your supported housing accommodation

When you first moved into supported housing your Support Worker should have talked to you about your future housing options. Your aspirations for future housing and plans to move on should be discussed regularly with your Support Worker and noted in your support plan.

• I feel ready to move on....What do I do?
• What is the Tameside Supported Housing Register?
• What will happen at this meeting?
• What will happen if my application is successful?
• What will happen if my application is unsuccessful?
• What happens when I am offered a property?
• I would like to move into a private rented property, what do I do?
• How do I plan my move?
• What Is the Cash Box Credit Union Savings Scheme?
• I would like to move on to another supported housing service……what do I do?
• I would like to move in with family or friends………..what do I do?
• How do I move to the ‘move on’ properties linked to staffed supported accommodation where I currently live?
• Take Away Move on Pack

Your support worker is there to help you make a planned and positive move that is right for you.

I feel ready to move on.........What do I do?

• Talk to your support worker
• Your move on aspirations should be an important part of your support plan. and this should be reviewed regularly to ensure you are on the right track to achieve your goals
• Your Support Worker may arrange a meeting, involving other agencies supporting you, to make sure that you are ready for moving on.
• If everybody agrees that you are ready to move on, your Support Worker will help you apply to the Tameside Supported Housing Register, and relevant registered social landlords' general waiting lists.

What is the Tameside Supported Housing Register?

Tameside Housing Advice  manages the Council's Housing Register.  Tameside Housing Advice and the Council do not have any properties of their own, but may be able to help to nominate you to the registered social landlords in Tameside.

A Housing Advocacy Officer visits your service each month to make sure you are aware of the Tameside Supporting Housing Register, and offer you support to ensure you are working towards moving into your own home.

To apply to the Supported Housing Register, you need to fill in an application form.  Your support worker will help you do this.  A meeting will then be arranged with the Housing Advocacy Officer to discuss your application.

The meeting will take place at your service, unless this is not suitable for any reason.  Your Support Worker and any other agencies supporting you, may also attend this meeting, and you can ask a friend or member of your family to join you.

What will happen at this meeting?

• Your Support Worker will help you prepare for the meeting, so you will know what to expect.
• Your application form will be discussed and the Housing Advocacy Officer will ask questions to help determine whether the time is right for you to move on.
• The Housing Advocacy Officer will then decide if your application has been successful based on several things like:
  • Continuous engagement with external agencies and current support staff.
  • Continuous payment of any rent arrears
  • Consistent behaviour, eg, all the reasons you were seen as tenancy ready.
• Your Support Worker and other agencies will be asked for a reference in support of your application

This meeting is important to make sure that your planned move is the right move for you!

What will happen if my application is successful?

• Congratulations!  Your name will now be put on the Tameside Housing Register.
• The Housing Advocacy officer will forward your details to social landlords who own properties in the area.
• Applications on the Tameside Supported Housing Register are prioritised in date order, but the length of time you are on the waiting list could vary. depending on when properties become available. (the average length of time is 5 months)
• The Housing Advocacy Officer will keep you updated during this time.
• The social landlord will make you a formal offer of tenancy when a suitable property becomes available.

What if my application to the Tameside Supported Housing Register is unsuccessful?

• There may be reasons for your application being unsuccessful.  These will be connected to the criteria f the housing association, for example:
  • Un-addressed rent arrears.
  • Limited area preference - without good cause
• If you are unsuccessful, speak to your Support Worker, as you do have the right to appeal.
• If the Housing Advocacy Officer decided that you are just not ready for move on, you will be offered additional support to help you get ready to move in the future, this may involve you:
  • entering into a repayment plan to address former tenant arrears
  • participation in a programme to address issues you may have, eg, drug or alcohol problems.
  • abiding by the terms and conditions set out in your licence/tenancy agreement, and pay any service charges that may be due.

The Life Skills Course might help to improve your chances of getting your own home quickly.  The six day training course will include cooking healthy meals on a budget, assertiveness, budgeting and help and advice on how to get and keep your own home.  Ask your Support Worker for more details, or ring Tameside Housing Services on 0161 342 2369.

What happens when I am offered a property?

The landlord will let you know when a property is available, and a viewing will be arranged with your Support Worker.

This will give you the chance to make sure the property is suitable, and check that there are no outstanding repairs.  You will then need to let the landlord and Housing Advocacy officer know whether you want to accept the property or not.

It is important to remember you will normally only receive one offer of accommodation, unless you have a very good reason for refusing the first offer.  So think carefully, and discuss your options with a Support Worker before making a decision.

I would like to move into a private rented property, what do I do?

A move to a private rented property may offer you a quick housing solution and offer you a greater say in where you want to live.

It is important however to speak to your Support Worker about the pros and cons of renting a private property.

You need to think about

The cost

A deposit is often required, as well as a months rent upfront.

Local Housing Allowance (LHA)

If you are renting a property, or room from a private landlord, the Local Housing Allowance is used to work out how much Housing Benefit you get.  Your Housing Benefit will be based on the Local Housing Allowance that applies to you, and rates are worked out according to where you live, and who lives with you.  Local Housing Allowance Rates are set for different types of accommodation in each area.

The payment will normally be made to your bank or building society account (if you have one), or by cheque.  Payment is not normally made to your landlord.  If you do not already have a bank or building society account, you may want to set one up.  That way you can arrange to pay the rent to your landlord automatically, using a standing order.  Your Support Worker will be able to help you with the process / calculation, and more information can be found by searching for Local Housing Allowance on the www.direct.gov.uk  website.

Housing Benefit Payments

Housing Benefit is paid 4 weekly, and not monthly.  If you have direct Local Housing Allowance payments made to your landlord, this works on an extra payment being made.  If you leave before the end of the year, you may owe money.  Most landlords will accept a 13th payment to make up the monthly amount.  Ask your Support Worker to talk with any prospective landlords to make sure they understand this process.  Always make sure get a receipt for money paid to your landlord.

Increase in Rents

Private Landlords can increase the rent if they give notice.  They might do this at short notice unlike social landlords, who set rents on an annual basis.  If you are not using the rent deposit scheme, it is important that you check that your landlord does register your deposit with one of the Tenancy Protection Government schemes - this is a legal requirement.

Tenancy Agreements

Tenancies with private landlords are usually less secure than tenancies with social landlords or housing associations.  Tenancy agreements are only issues for 6 months, and you may need a guarantor (even if you are over 18 years of age).

Tenancy agreements vary, so it is important that you read through them carefully with your Support Worker.  This agreement will tell you how and when the rent is due, and the rights and responsibilities of both yourself and the landlord.

• Make sure you sign the tenancy agreement
• Make sure you go with a reputable landlord.  Tameside Housing Advice will be able to provide you with details.

The Tameside Rent Deposit Scheme (RDS)

This scheme aims to help people move into the private rented sector who might struggle to raise a deposit.  This is done by offering a guarantee to landlords up to the value of one months rent for any damage that is caused to their property.  This is a paper bond, and not a money bond, and the landlord needs to agree to the scheme.

You should contact Tameside Housing Advice to see if you are eligible for the scheme.  You will be asked to complete an application form, which your Support Worker can help you with.

Budget / Crisis Loan

If you have been claiming income support or job seekers allowance for more than 26 weeks, you may be able to apply for a budget / crisis loan for a deposit.  Ask your Support Worker for more information.

Other important things to remember.

• Take before and after photos of your new home so that you have a record of the condition of the property when you moved in and out.  Check that the pictures are dates, as this may help stop any recharges being charged to you for repairs which you do not cause.
• Take metre readings and make sure you give these to your service providers at the start of your tenancy. so you have an accurate record.  Don't rely on your landlord to do this.
• Understand how to give notice and when.  You could ask your Support Worker RI help you prepare an example letter before moving in, so you have a copy in case you need it in the future.
• If you need any help and advice regarding repair disputes, you can contact the Council's Housing Standards Team on  0161 342 3323

How do I plan my move?

Your Support Worker will help you plan your move - you will not be
left to do this alone!

• You will get support with things like:
  • Reading your gas/electric meters in your current and new home
  • Completing a Housing Benefit form
  • Changing your address details with, for example, the Department of
    Works and Pensions, GP, post office, dentist.
  • Checking where you can collect your medication from and
    arranging outreach services if needed
  • Completing a Community Care Grant Form to help you buy
    furniture, cutlery, bedding, pots and pans
  • Booking a removal van

Once you have moved into your new home your Support Worker will visit to check whether you need any additional help. If you do then you may be referred to a floating support service. The aim of this type of service is to ensure you are able to maintain your accommodation. The type of support you could be offered includes help managing your finances, ensuring your home is safe and secure, advice on how to improve your life, social and domestic skills.

START SAVING NOW!

Living independently is expensive so start saving as soon as you move into supported housing.

Your Support Worker should give you help and advice about setting up a savings and budgeting plan.

You could also think about joining the Cash Box Credit Union.

What Is the Cash Box Credit Union Savings Scheme?

One big difference between this scheme and other banks and building societies is that Cash Box Credit Union provides a community based facility for secure saving and is an excellent source of low interest loans for its members. To be eligible to join
the scheme you need to live or work in Tameside.

The scheme encourages you to get into the habit of saving regularly. In turn it enables you to apply for a loan. Loans can be from as little as £50 up to £15,000 depending on your level of savings.

For more information ring the Cash Box Credit Union Office on 343 7621 or visit the website at www.cashbox.org.uk 

I would like to move on to another supported housing service……what do I do?

There are a range of specialist supported accommodation within Tameside for single people and families. If you feel you need slightly more or less support, you can ask to be referred to another supported housing scheme. Your Support Worker will make a referral for you using the Tameside Common Referral Form.

I would like to move in with family or friends………..what do I do?

If you decide you no longer want to be in supported accommodation and you would like to move in with your family or friends, your Support Worker could refer you to a floating support service.  This would mean that you could still receive a level of housing related support, tailored to meet your needs, whilst living with family or friends.

How do I move to the ‘move on’ properties linked to staffed supported accommodation where I currently live?

Not all services have access to move on property.

• Each service will have their own application process and eligibility criteria
  for their move on accommodation. This information should be included
  in your scheme handbook and your Support Worker should be able to
  explain how this works in more detail.
• Your Support Worker will let you know when a property becomes
  available.
• You and your Support Worker will use the Supported Housing Register
  application form to help decide if you are ready to move on. If you are not
  ready to move on your Support Worker will help you draw up a plan to
  make sure you are ready to move on in the future. This may involve you
  attending independent living skills courses, tenancy management training
  or other relevant training to help you to maintain your own tenancy.

Take Away Move on Pack

The service should give you a “take away” move on pack which contains a range of information to help you move on and settle into your new home.

Tameside Housing Advice also has a range of leaflets and fact sheets which will provide you with useful information, including:

• How to manage your own home
• How to furnish your home
• Renting privately
• Information and contact details of Housing Associations in Tameside

This information is available in their reception. Alternatively you can ring or email them and they will send you copies in the post.

Contact details are:

Tameside Housing Advice Centre
119 – 125 Old Street
Ashton-under-Lyne
OL6 7RL

 0161 331 2700
 0161 339 1728
 info@tamesidehousingadvice.org
Tameside Housing Advice offices are open to the public 10am until 3pm Monday to Friday.
Telephone calls 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am - 4pm on Friday.

This information was developed in partnership with service users, the Supported Housing Services, the Supporting People team and Tameside Housing Advice.