Moving on from Supported Housing

Supported housing services in Tameside provide support and help so that you can move onto accommodation, which is more independent and permanent.

Below are some of the options you might want to consider.  Under each heading there is some useful information about how to apply, and how your support worker can help you.

1.  Moving into your own property

What do I do when I feel ready for move on?

• Speak to your Key Worker or any support worker at the service
• Your Key Worker will arrange a review with you and any other agency you are working with (eg your Care Co-ordinator/CPN/Probation Officer) and work with you to make sure you are ready for moving on to alternative accommodation.
• When it has been agreed that you are ready to move on, your key worker will support you in applying to the Tameside Supported Housing Register.
• Your key worker will work with you to complete the form.
• A Housing Advice Officer from the Supported Housing Register visits all short term services on a monthly basis
• The completed form will need to be posted or hand delivered to the Housing Advice Centre on Old St. in Ashton. Your key worker will send the completed form to the Supported Housing register at Housing Advice Centre.
• Once the Tameside Supported Housing Register has received the Assessment form, the Housing Advocacy Officer (HAO) who is based at the Tameside Housing Advice Centre will contact you to make arrangements for you to attend the Centre to discuss your application or HAO will arrange to see you at the accommodation.
• Your Key Worker/Support Worker will attend the meeting with you. They may ask your worker from another agency to attend as well. If necessary family members or a friend can also attend the meeting with you.
• The HAO will discuss the contents of your application form and ask you questions to ensure that you are ready to move-on. Your Key Worker will discuss this before you visit the centre and inform you of questions that may be asked. They will help you to answer any questions.
• The HAO may ask your key worker or your worker from another agency for a reference in support of your application.
• After the interview, the HAO will make a decision whether you have been successful in applying to be put on the Register.
• If it is felt that you may need support when you move, for example, to settle in to your new accommodation, help with bills or to set up payment for bills etc then you may need to be referred for floating support/outreach services. Arrangements may be made for a floating support/outreach worker to visit you on a weekly basis to help you with this. Your Key Worker will explain this to you if you wish.
• There may be reasons why you are not successful in applying to be put on the Register and these will be connected to the criteria of the housing association. Some examples of reasons for not accepting you on the register are rent arrears, and limited choice of areas - without good cause.
• If you are not successful in applying to be put on the Register, you have the right to appeal. Speak to your key worker who will support you with this.
• If the HAO decides that you are not ready for move-on, then a discussion will take place to identify ways to make sure you are ready in the future. For example, if the reason is because of arrears, you may need support in paying arrears off in instalments before applying to be put on the Register.
• If you are successful in your application. The HAO will forward your details to a Registered Social Landlord (the person who owns the property) who will make an offer of the tenancy.
• Generally, you will only receive one offer of accommodation unless you have a very good reason for refusing the first offer.
• You may be on the waiting list for approximately 5 months before being offered accommodation. However, this is only an average waiting time
• If you would like to know what is happening about your application you should ask your support worker to contact the HAO for an update

If you require any further information in relation to the above, please speak to your Key Worker or any staff member.

What happens when I have been accepted for a property?

• The landlord will inform you as to whether you have been successful for a property and the landlord will inform you of the address.
• A viewing should then take place with the landlord. Your Key worker should go with you to look at the property if you wish
• This will give you the opportunity to make sure that the flat/house is suitable and check that all the repairs are completed and to inform the Registered Social Landlord of any outstanding repairs.
• You will need to inform the landlord and HAO of your decision to either accept the property or not.
• Staff will arrange a review meeting with you and any other key agency you are working with.

At the meeting, you will find things out such as

• Reading your gas/electric meters in your current home and new home.
• Completing a Housing Benefit Form.
• Change of address details.
• Who to inform of your move e.g. Benefits, GP’s, bank, post office, dentist, optician etc.
• Medication (Where you will collect this from or whether you need encouragement from Outreach services with your medication)
• Completing a Community Care Grant Form (if needed). You cannot complete the form until you have moved into the property. (The Community Care Grant is for things like furniture, cutlery, bedding, pots and pans etc).
• Arranging a removal van (if required)
• Who will be responsible for helping you to move into your property?
• Who will visit you and when
• The date and time your key worker will visit you (follow up visit).
• Any other task that need to be carried out in relation to your move.
  

2.  Private Landlord 

• You may wish to go into accommodation provided by a private landlord. If this is your preferred option them you should speak to your support worker about the advantages and disadvantages of this type of accommodation.
• Below is a list of areas which you should discuss with your support worker who will help you understand some issues about renting from a private landlord.

Areas to discuss

• Cost –a deposit is often required as well as a month’s rent upfront
• Shortfall between rent and LHA - a calculation could be done with your support worker on the figures given from LHA rates and how this will be paid and the importance of keeping receipts
• Housing Benefit Payments are paid 4 weekly, not monthly – get receipts, if you have direct LHA to landlord this works on an extra payment being made due to the 4 weekly payments giving the landlord a 13th payment if you stay in the property for a year. This works out the same as the monthly payment. If you leave prior to the year you may owe money as rent is paid 4 weekly not monthly but landlord accepts 13th payment to make up monthly amount. Ask your support worker to discuss with the prospective landlord to ensure he/she understands this process
• Insecure tenancy - tenancies with private landlords are usually less secure than tenancies with social landlords/housing associations and are only issued for a 6 month period. A section 21 can be served anytime after this period. Private landlords often serve Section 21 at the beginning of the tenancy with the tenancy agreement so it has already been signed by tenant and the landlord. This then does not delay any eviction
• May need guarantor –often landlords will ask for a guarantor even if you are over 18
• Tenancy agreements may vary – read them carefully – read through any tenancy agreement with your support worker as this states 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
• What’s available - Reputable landlords– Tameside Housing Advice should be able to tell you. When the rent deposit scheme is used through Tameside Housing Advice all of the properties of the private landlord who agrees to use the scheme are inspected by Tameside MBC prior to the bond being issued
• Rent deposit scheme (RDS) –this is a deposit bond which you can apply for if your landlord agrees to accept the bond. This is NOT money, this is a paper bond. The RDS is criteria based and you will be asked to complete an income and expenditure form and other paper work before you are accepted
• Budget/crisis loan for deposit. 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
• The Supported Housing Register can try and negotiate longer term of tenancy (12 months). If you have a homeless duty the register can help
• Take before and after photos. This is to ensure you have a record of the condition of the property when you moved in and moved out. Check you have a date on the pictures this can stop any recharges being charged to you for repairs which you have not caused
• Meter readings – ensure you contact providers with reading from start of tenancy so you have an accurate record. Don’t rely on the landlord to do this
• Understand how to give notice and period of notice (ie 4 weeks and written) You could prepare an example letter this with your support worker prior to moving in so you have a copy in case you need it
• Check out the address and credit rating of the property as you may struggle to get credit if the rating on the property is poor
• Private landlords can increase rent with notice but the increase can be done at short periods and not annually like social landlords/housing associations
• If you are not using the rent deposit scheme, make sure the landlord registers the deposit. There is a government scheme which means landlords are supposed to register any rents. Landlords often ask for rent upfront to avoid registering deposits as it costs money for them
• Tameside is setting up an accreditation scheme for private landlords which should start in June 2010

Get saving:

• Cash Box savings scheme. You can join the Cash Box saving scheme as soon as you go into supported housing. If you know you want to move into a private tenancy you need to save every week then are able to borrow more back. See tameisde.gov.uk for more information
• Save money at the beginning of time in supported housing or living at home. It is cheaper to live at home and in supported housing than in Independent Living
• Support workers in schemes or Floating support should work with you around saving & budgeting if Private Landlord is an option
  

3. Move-on to other supported housing services

If you feel you need slightly more or less support, you can ask to be referred to another provider or supported accommodation. Sometimes a different service provider can offer different levels of support to suit each individual’s needs.

Staff will make a referral using the Tameside Common Referral Form

 4. With family/friends, care home, owner occupier, return to previous home, B & B

If you decide you no longer require or want to be in supported accommodation and you would like to move in with your family or friends, staff can suggest floating support and will provide continual support throughout the process.

This will form part of your support plan and staff will support you to achieve this

5.  Move to move-on property linked to staffed supported accommodation

How services let service users know that move-on linked to the service exists from day one

• At induction staff will ask service users about housing choices/ aspirations
• Services will give service users a scheme handbook which explains about the move on accommodation. (Service users will have already seen a scheme leaflet at interview stage)
• The main goal is a planned positive move to the linked move-on property with a view to then being successfully housed permanently
• The service will work through Planned Resettlement Programme/Support Planning towards move on aspirations.

When a vacancy becomes available – how is this advertised?

• Services should consider applications for everyone using an application process
• Applicants have to fit the eligibility criteria for the scheme – the service will inform service user what these are
• Services will use the SHR application/assessment tool (see 1 above) to help decide if service users are ready to move on
• The SHR assessment tool can also be used as positive tool to encourage move on.
• The service will encourage service users to attend Independent living skills courses, group work, staff support and tenancy management

Waiting list

• Waiting lists for the linked move-on to be in date order or other order linked to housing need/risk – the service should be clear about this in information to service users
• Services may have a condition linked to a period of time weeks before being considered for move on accommodation – the service will explain this to service users

Move on packs

• The service should give all service users a take away move on pack containing general information, utilities local amenities, information relating to maintaining a tenancy