We believe that it is important to advise all applicants of the reality of social housing, so that they can make informed choices about their housing.
There is a severe shortage of social housing in London and the south east of England, and demand greatly outweighs supply.
There are currently 12,901 applicants on our housing register, and only 981 properties became available to let in 2011. This means that most applicants will have to wait many years before they receive an offer, with no guarantee that they will ever receive an offer. The housing register will therefore not provide you with a short-term solution to your housing need, and we cannot predict if or when you might receive an offer.
If you are interested in a council or housing association home you must be registered on the housing register. Hounslow is partner of West London Locata, a social housing allocation service which advertises council and housing association within Hounslow.
Sheltered accommodation
Sheltered housing is accommodation for people aged 60 and over who want to continue to live independently but want the reassurance that support is available. Applicants must have support needs, eg Meals on Wheels, homecare or some kind of daily assistance.
Moving to a smaller property
You may decide that moving to a smaller home would suit you better. It could be that your home is now too large, difficult to maintain or heat or restricts your mobility. If you think that moving to a smaller property would be ideal for you, you can apply to transfer/downsize to a smaller, more suitable property. Once your application is processed, you are automatically registered with Locata to enable you to bid for a property.
Trading Places
For Hounslow Homes’ tenants moving to a smaller property, there is a scheme available called Trading Places to help you move. As larger properties are in short supply and needed by many young families, you can receive £1,000 for every bedroom that becomes available when you move to a smaller property.
For example, if you move from a three-bedroom property to a one-bedroom home, you may be entitled to receive up to £2,000 - whatever the type and size of the property you are giving up. A high priority (banding) for bidding on Locata is given to anyone applying to transfer to a smaller property through the Trading Places scheme. For more information about this scheme visit Hounslow homes or contact 0800 085 65 75.
Supporting People
Supporting People services can provide support to a vulnerable person to make the place they live feel like home. This can involve helping someone to find somewhere to live or preventing someone from losing their home if there is a danger of that happening.
They provide housing-related support which can include support with setting up a home, developing life and domestic skills, managing finances and benefit claims, gaining access to other services and community organizations, establishing social contacts and activities, establishing safety and security, monitoring health and well being and support with a range of other housing-related matters that can help someone live independently.
In Hounslow there are over 80 different Supporting People services, provided by more than 28 different organizations and some have accommodation with the support they provide. If you think this may help you, call 020 8583 3842. Lines are open weekdays between 9am and 5pm, or come to the Civic Centre and ask to see an adviser, Monday to Friday, 9am - 4.15pm. The service is ‘first-come first-served’. You may have to wait to be seen at busy times.