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Housing Options

There are many more people in the London Borough of Bexley who would like social housing than we can help. Some people may have to wait many years before being offered a new home and whilst Bexley HomeChoice makes the system of allocating social housing much more open and transparent, it will not increase the amount of social housing that is available.

Bexley's Housing Options Service (HOS) helps homeless people and also provides advice on preventing homelessness and other housing related matters. This includes information on the different types of housing available in the social sector (mainly housing association homes) or the private sector (home ownership, shared ownership, private renting etc).

If you feel you really need a new home and your bids using Bexley HomeChoice have not been successful, there are other housing options that you might like to consider:

Affordable Home Ownership Schemes
Private Rented Accommodation
Supported and Sheltered Housing
Mutual Exchange
Seaside and Country Homes
Homelessness
Types of Housing We Provide 
Just Right 

 

Affordable Home Ownership Schemes

We work with Housing Associations which develop affordable home ownership schemes. These schemes are designed to assist people who are unable to afford to buy their own home or rent a good quality home on the open market.  There is information below on the various types of schemes available:

New Build HomeBuy (formerly shared ownership)

With New Build HomeBuy schemes, you buy a share of a property and pay rent on the remainder.  Later, if your financial circumstances allow, further shares can be bought until finally you own the property outright.

New Build HomeBuy/Shared Ownership Resales

These are New Build HomeBuy or shared ownership properties that were sold in the past that are now available for purchase under New Build HomeBuy terms becuase the existing owners want to sell.

Intermediate Rent

This scheme offers the opportunity to rent a brand new or refurbished home at less than the market rate.  The rent charged is normally 80% of the open market rent that you would expect to pay for a similar home in the same area if you were renting from a private landlord.  In addition, you have the assurance that your home is being managed and let by a Housing Association.

Rent to HomeBuy

You can move into a new property on designated sites and pay rent at only 80% of the open market rent with a first option to buy in two or three years.  While you are a tenant, you will have the security of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy with a Housing Association.

The HomeBuy Agent is responsible for administering the waiting list for all of the above schemes.  You can register and apply on-line through the Housing Options website HomeBuy Agent.  You will find details of eligibility and properties that are available throughout London.  Alternatively you can call the enquiry line on 0844 406 9997.

For further information about these schemes you can also contact Bexley's Housing Options Service on 020 8303 7777 or email Housingoptionsservice@bexley.gov.uk.

Alternatively you can find more information on the London Borough of Bexley website at www.bexley.gov.uk/Housing

Private Rented Accommodation

Private rented accommodation may provide more choice over where you might like to live if you are homeless or about to become homeless. It could also help you and your family avoid having to go into Bed and Breakfast or temporary accommodation.

Bexley is working with a number of Private Landlords and can speak with you about the possibility of going into private rented accommodation.

In addition, Bexley operates the Rent Direct Scheme which can assist you to access accommodation in the private rented sector.

The Rent Direct Scheme works by providing a bond to help secure a private rented property. The bond works in the same way as a cash deposit. If you find a property and a landlord willing to accept the deposit bond please contact the Rent Direct team on the number below.

To qualify for the scheme you need to meet the following criteria:

• You must be a household with dependant child or children
• You must be homeless or threatened with homelessness
• You must be in receipt of benefits or on a low income
• You must have a local connection with Bexley

If you think you might qualify for the Rent Direct Scheme or you want to find out more about private rented accommodation please contact the Housing Options Service on 020 8294 6486 or by email at Housingoptionsservice@bexley.gov.uk.

If you are a private landlord interested in working with Bexley to provide accommodation please contact the Housing Options Service on 020 8294 6866 or email Housingoptionsservice@bexley.gov.uk.

Supported and Sheltered Housing

Bexley HomeChoice will be used to let Sheltered Homes. If you are looking for Supported Housing please go to the London Borough of Bexley web site at www.bexley.gov.uk/Housing and select the option for Sheltered and Supported Housing.

Mutual Exchange

A mutual exchange is another option that should be considered if you are looking for a new home. This is where two tenants of a Housing Association or Local Authority swap homes and tenancies on a permanent basis, with their landlords approval. You will need to hold a secure or an assured tenancy to take part in a mutual exchange

You will need to find your own swap partner before approval for a mutual exchange can be given. There are a number of different ways to do this, for example, you might like to join an internet service such as www.homeswapper.co.uk to allow you to look for people who are also trying to swap homes. If you are a tenant of L&Q or Orbit South you can register with Homeswapper free of charge.  You can also advertise in local newspapers or shops to find a swap partner or speak with family and friends to see if they would like to swap or know anyone who might.

Once you find a suitable swap partner you should contact your Landlord to obtain permission to go ahead with the swap.

Seaside and Country Homes

Seaside and Country Homes is a mobility scheme that offers households living in a Local Authority or Housing Association home in Greater London the opportunity to move home.

The service manages approximately 3,500 flats and bungalows along the South Coast and in the countryside and is suitable for households of two or less where at least one member of the household is aged 60 years or older.

If you would like more information about the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme, please visit Seaside and Country Homes and choose the Seaside and Country Homes option.

 

Just Right

‘Just Right' is a new scheme that specialises in moving people to the Kent coast, over the past year the scheme has been moving tenants to the  Cheriton, Dymchurch, Folkestone, Hythe and St Marys Bay areas.  It has proved so popular that the scheme has been extended  and  properties in Herne Bay and Whitstable are now being acquired with a possibility of extending Deal, Walmer, Margate & Ramsgate.

If you are a tenant living in a council or housing association property with 3 or more bedrooms and need something smaller (1 or 2 bedrooms) this may be ‘Just Right for you.  (You do not have to be over 60 years old to apply).  Priority will be given to those freeing up larger properties i.e. 4 & 5 bedroom properties and priority may also be given to those with a local connection i.e. family or work commitments.

For more information please see attached leaflet 

 

Homelessness

The Housing Act 1996 and associated Code of Guidance says who should be helped and what type of help needs to be provided.

Bexley will do all they can to help you remain in your home if you are threatened with homelessness and you can get help and advice by contacting the Housing Options Service on 020 8294 6131 or by email at Housingoptionsservice@bexley.gov.uk

Bexley does not have to give every homeless person a home but as a minimum it has to provide advice and assistance to enable people to find their own housing.

Types of housing we provide

Where we have a duty to provide housing we do this in a number of ways.

Some people we can help with permanent housing (usually supplied by a housing association) and others we help with temporary housing. Most of our temporary housing is self contained and is either supplied by housing associations or private landlords.

We also have two good quality hostels within Bexley which are run by a housing association. As a last resort we may have to use bed and breakfast but we will then try to move people to self contained housing as soon as we can.

We publish two booklets with further details of how we can help:

• Getting help if you think you might be made homeless - What the Council does when someone first approaches for help
• Getting help if you are homeless - What the Council does after someone has been given temporary accommodation

 

 

These are both available under the Forms and Information section on the left hand side of the page.