Services
Applying for a Home
We aim to provide good quality homes at affordable rents to people in greatest housing need. We work in an independent, fair and accountable way to create stable, prosperous communities. Click here to search for a home.
How do I apply for a home?
Anyone above the age of 16 can apply for a home. You will need to fill in an application form. If you need help filling in the form, you can ask for assistance at your local office.
You will need to send the completed form back to the local office. When we receive your application form we will assess your housing needs and aim to let you know if you can go on the waiting list within 14 days of receiving your application. We will also seek references from the people you have asked us to contact before we make any offer of a new home.
If we are unable to add your name to the list, we will tell you why. You have the right to appeal against this decision and you will have 28 days to do this. A proportion of our applicants are referred or ‘nominated’ to us by local councils. We also have joint housing waiting lists with some councils. To find out more about nominations and joint waiting lists, you can contact your area office.
How will you assess my housing needs?
We aim to be as fair as possible when deciding who is in greatest need of a home. To do this, we use a ‘points’ scheme which gives us an idea of how urgent your housing needs are. The more points you have, the more chance you have of getting a home with us. We do not operate on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. This only happens in very rare cases when applicants have exactly the same housing need. In such cases, the applicant who applied first would usually be offered a home first.
We aim to ensure that everyone is treated fairly. We provide a good service to all our customers, regardless of race, gender, age, sexuality, disability or religion If you have any specific requirements, we will try to help. For instance, we can provide a translation service, offer private interview facilities or arrange for you to see someone of the same sex.
What happens if I am put on the waiting list?
We want to make sure that we can offer you a home that is right for you. To help us do this, we may visit you to find out more about your housing needs. We will contact you when we have a property for you to consider.
You will be able to visit the property before deciding if you would like to accept it. If you turn down this offer, we may be able to keep you on our waiting list. Every so often we will write to ask if you want to stay on our waiting list. You should reply straight away to ensure your name stays on the list.
What if I’m on a low income or receive benefits?
If you are eligible for housing benefit, we will treat your application in the same way as all other applicants. We aim to keep rent levels within the means of people on a low income whether they are in paid work or receive housing benefit. However, we have to make reasonable charges to cover the cost of managing and maintaining your home.
Can I apply for a transfer to another home?
If you feel your home is unsuitable in any way, you can apply for a transfer to a different home. Your name will go on the waiting list and we will assess your case using the points system. Where applicants score a similar number of points, priority may be given to the person who has been on the waiting list the longest.
Generally, you will not be able to apply for a transfer if your rent payments are not up to date or you are seriously in breach of your tenancy agreement.
Can I swap my home?
You can swap your home with another Yorkshire Housing tenant, a local council tenant, or the tenant of another housing association. If you wish to swap your home, and have found another tenant to swap with, you will need to write to us to ask permission to exchange. If we agree to the swap, we will confirm this in writing. Both you and the other tenant will need to agree to take on the terms and conditions of each other’s tenancy. If you are interested in swapping your home, please contact your area office for further information.
If you are an employee, Board Member or Committee Member for Yorkshire Housing, or you have been within the last 12 months, you must provide this information on the application form. You must also tell us if you are a close relative of an employee, Board Member or Committee Member. For more information on this, contact your local office.
Can I see the information you have about me?
When you apply for a home, some of the details you give us will remain confidential. You have the right to see any information we have recorded about your application - but we will not allow other people to see it. Information provided about you by anyone else, for example a doctor, cannot be given to you without their agreement.
How do I appeal or complain?
We aim to provide a caring and efficient service to all our customers. If you are concerned about the way your application has been handled, please let us know and we will do our best to put things right. If you are still not satisfied, and want to take things further, you can contact your local office. We will then explain how our formal complaints procedure works and what will happen next. We will deal with your complaint as quickly as possible and we will apologise when we have got things wrong. Click here for more information about our complaints process or if you wish to make a complaint online.
Further Information
Click on an icon below to download the 'Applying For A Home' leaflet for your area:
|
 |
 |
 |
Brunel Housing |
Craven Housing |
Ryedale Housing |
Yorkshire Metropolitan
Housing |