Verification
If you come top for a property we will contact you to arrange to visit you at home. We will ask to see the following proofs:
- Proof of identity for all your household e.g. passport, driving licence, birth certificate etc
- Proof of income for benefits, wages etc
- Proof of address e.g. gas/electricity bill; council tax bill, official letter addressed to you etc
- If you are overcrowded we may also ask for proof of address for the other people living at your address
At the home visit we will ensure that you are claiming all the benefits you are entitled to and we will talk to you about the running costs of your new home and whether you can afford it. Even if you qualify for housing benefit towards your rent and council tax, you will still need to think about food, gas, electricity, water rates, phone bills, home insurance, TV licence and so on. You will also need to think about furniture, curtains, carpet, removal costs etc.
We will work out your entitlement to housing benefit and will be able to let you know exactly what you will need to pay towards your rent. We will also discuss what payment method (e.g. rent card, direct debit) would be most convenient for you and your preferred dates for payment.
If you are receiving support from an agency or if you feel that some additional support would help you, we may invite you to a meeting with the support worker so that you know exactly who will be doing what to help you when you move into your new property.
Transfers
If you are a transfer applicant, your home must be reasonably decorated and there must be no damage to your property that would lead to a rechargeable repair. You may not be able to move if your home does not meet the standard. Please get in touch on 01633 678517 if you have any queries about this or if you would like us to visit you to pre-inspect your property.
