Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is changing the way it lets social housing from 26 January 2009.
The Borough Council has joined other Councils across Kent to set up a Choice Based Lettings scheme called Kent Homechoice. Information on how the scheme works can be found at the Kent Homechoice website - www.kenthomechoice.org.uk <http://www.kenthomechoice.org.uk/>. There will also be short presentations of how Choice Based Lettings works at the Camden Centre in Camden Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, on Thursday 8 January 2009. To reserve a place, please contact the Borough Council's Housing Needs Team on 01892 526121 or e - mail housingadvice@tunbridgewells.gov.uk
The new system affects how applicants on the Tunbridge Wells Housing Register tell the Council they are interested in an empty housing association home that becomes available. Empty homes will be advertised in a free newssheet available in most libraries in the Borough, at Council offices and on the Kent Homechoice website. Applicants will be invited to apply (or 'bid') for empty homes they are eligible for.
Each home will be offered to the applicant who is highest on the Council's Housing Register, providing the home is suitable for their needs. Applicants will be able to bid via the website, by telephone, text message or posting a coupon.
All applicants will be sent an information pack explaining Kent Homechoice and containing their unique reference number nearer the time.
Cllr Catherine Mayhew, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Access, said:
' This is a big change in the way social housing in the Borough is let and it's important that people on the Council's Housing Register take the time to find out how it will work. I would encourage applicants to either visit the Kent Homechoice website or book a place at the event in the Camden Centre as soon as possible. '