1. Jon Warner – Homechoice Manager
Cornwall Homechoice
Jon Warner – Homechoice Manager

2. What We Do
Holding and Maintaining a Register of Housing Need in Cornwall
Advertise Social Housing Vacancies
Nominate applicants from the register
Advise on housing needs statistics
Signpost applicants to other services
Majority of social housing to rent in Cornwall
Service provided on behalf of Cornwall Council by Cornwall Housing Ltd

3. Applying Online – from home, One Stop Shops, Libraries
By Paper application form available
Vulnerable applicants – home visiting and extra assistance available

4. Assessing Housing Need
Cornwall Homechoice Allocations policy, agreed by members.
Assessment of applicants housing need in relation to their current housing
Taking into account
Substantial evidence of Risks to life or harm (A)
Welfare issues caused by the property (A-D)
Downsizing from social housing (B)
Homelessness (B-C)
Size of property/Household size (B-C)
Disrepair (B-D)
Needing to move nearer to give/receive support (C )
To be nearer work (C)
To be nearer training (C)

5. We will assess whether the applicant has a connection to Cornwall
Cornwall Connection
We will assess whether the applicant has a connection to Cornwall
Continuous by choice for last 12months
Continuous 5 yrs in the past
Permanent employment
Close family connection & family member currently resident and has been for 5 years continuous
Special circumstances – eg exceptional need (medical treatment, Cornwall care-leavers living outside county)

6. Parish Connections
We also assess connections of all household members to parishes within Cornwall
Currently live for last 3 years or
5 years continuous in the past or
Permanent work or
Close family 5 years

7. Adverts
Applicants can now look for suitable vacancies that match their household size
Adverts run from Saturday to Wednesday midnight each week
Cornwall Homechoice Website
Newsletter available in One Stop Shops and Libraries
Parish Clerks
Extra assistance available for vulnerable applicants

8. Bidding
Applicants have to express an interest in any vacancies they are interested in ‘Bid’. Can bid on up to 3 properties each week.
Cornwall Homechoice Website
Automated Phone System
Assisted Bidding

9. Shortlisting and Nomination
Generally applicants in the highest band will be nominated to the landlord for consideration
Where there is more than one applicant in the same high Band it will be who has been in the Band the longest
Except…..

10. Shortlisting and Nomination
Preference will be given to applicants with a Cornwall Connection within the same Band
For example an applicant with Cornwall Connection in Band B for two weeks will be nominated over an applicant without a Cornwall Connection who has been in Band B for two years.

11. Shortlisting and Nomination
Parish connection applies to
100%- Where there is less than 40 units of social housing
50% of vacancies in other areas
But not Key towns e.g Hayle, Truro, Camborne, Liskeard etc
For example an applicant in Band C with the parish connection would be nominated over an applicant in Band A who does not have the connection

12. Shortlisting and Nominations
New Build Properties/Section 106
Granted with planning permission
New properties will have criteria similar to the Parish Connection criteria
Criteria will stay indefinitely – re-lets

13. Statistics- Homechoice Register
29,075 ‘live’ Sept 2014
Band
Total A
187 B
2823 C
6702 D
3899 E
15464
29,075

14. Hayle Homechoice stats – Sept 2014
Applicants with an assessed Local Connection to Hayle
Band
Total B 69 C
112 D 68 E
310
559
Applicants with an LC who expressed a preference to live in Hayle
446
1 bed
2 bed
3 bed
4 bed
5 bed+
288
170 72 24 5

15. St Ives Homechoice Stats – Sept 2014
Applicants with an assessed local connection to St Ives
Band
Total A 6 B 72 C 98 D 61 E
365
602
Applicants with an LC who expressed a preference to live in St Ives
509
1 bed
2 bed
3 bed
4 bed
5+ bed
335
192 57 13 5

16. Changes to the Homechoice Policy
Assets over £50k or income over £60k will not join.
anti-social behaviour within the last 2 years will not be able to join the register;
applicants who have not bid on any property for 12 months are removed from the housing register unless they can demonstrate exceptional circumstances;
applicants are only able to bid for 1 property per advertising cycle
applicants who turn down 2 properties that are offered to them are removed from the housing register;
to be allocated a council home or a home managed by one of our partner registered providers to which the Council has nomination rights, applicants must be able to demonstrate a 3 year local connection.
those who have assets valued at over £50,000, or those who have an income of £60,000 or more will not qualify to join Cornwall Homechoice.
in a tie break situation an applicant’s household income will come into play and preference will be given to an applicant whose household income is £30,000 or less, for homes owned and managed by the Council;
other than in exceptional circumstances, a household where anyone has demonstrated anti-social behaviour within the last 2 years will not be able to join the register;
applicants who have not bid on any property for 12 months are removed from the housing register unless they can demonstrate exceptional circumstances;
applicants are only able to bid for 1 property per advertising cycle (previously 3) and that, unless there are exceptional circumstances, applicants who turn down 2 properties that are offered to them are removed from the housing register;
to be allocated a council home or a home managed by one of our partner registered providers to which the Council has nomination rights, applicants must be able to demonstrate a 3 year local connection.

17. Contact Details Jon Warner – Homechoice Manager, West/Central
Tel: