How do I know if I am eligible under the Hounslow’s key workers definition?
How do I know if I am eligible under the Governments key workers definition?
How does the borough prioritise key workers?
What is available through FIRST STEPS?
Should I register with FIRST STEPS aswell?
What properties are available for Shared Ownership?
I meet the boroughs definition of Key worker but my partner does not. Can we still apply together?
How do I know if I am eligible under the Hounslow’s key workers definition?
In Hounslow, we have defined ‘key worker’ to be as broad as possible. All people on moderate incomes who live or work in the borough are eligible if you do not own your own home.
Although moderate incomes are currently defined as up to £35,000 per household, applicants on higher incomes should register if they are having difficulty buying a home.
How do I know if I am eligible under the Governments key workers definition?
There are some schemes that meet the governments definition of key workers. Further details of these schemes are available through FIRST STEPS.
They can be contacted as follows:-
- Online at www.firststepslondon.org
- On the phone - 0845 230 8099
- Or you can e-mail them at firststeps@mht.co.uk
FIRST STEPS is the gateway for all affordable housing in London and will be the ‘one stop shop’ for all East, North, and West London boroughs. It will allow public sector tenants, keyworkers and first-time buyers further opportunities to own a home of their own. The aim is to provide a one-stop shop of affordable home ownership products.
They can be contacted as follows:-
- Online at www.firststepslondon.org
- On the phone - 0845 230 8099
- Or you can e-mail them at firststeps@mht.co.uk
How does the borough prioritise key workers?
Priority will be given to anyone currently living or working in the London Borough of Hounslow.
Within this, public sector tenants will be given priority. For all schemes there is a procedure which sets out the eligibility priority for all property types according to housing needs. This procedure is agreed between the Housing Association (RSL) and the London Borough of Hounslow.
Under shared ownership for Hounslow key workers, successful applicants buy a share in a property from a Housing Association (RSL), and pay rent on the remaining share. The amount of share purchased varies from scheme to scheme but usually starts at 25%. Over time, applicants can buy extra shares in their property until they own the property outright. As the share of the property they own goes up the rent level decreases.
For example, on a property worth £200,000, applicants could purchase 50% (half) of the value, i.e. £100,000. Rent is then charged on the remaining share of the property, normally at approximately 3% of the value of the remaining share per year.
What is available through FIRST STEPS?
FIRST STEPS market a variety of Homebuy products to offer people a choice in the type of home that can buy.
These include:-
New Build HomeBuy (Government defined) – (Part buy part rent, also known as Shared Ownership). Enables people to buy a share of a newly built property.
Open Market HomeBuy (for Key Workers) – Enables Government defined Key Workers to buy a property on the open market with the help of an equity loan.
Open Market HomeBuy (for Public Sector tenants) – Enables Council or Housing Association tenants to buy a property on the open market with the help of an equity loan.
Social HomeBuy (for Public Sector tenants) – Will enable tenants of local authorities and housing associations to buy a share in their current home at a discount. Please note this scheme will not be run by all Housing Associations, so please contact your landlord to find out if they are running it.
Should I register with FIRST STEPS aswell?
If you meet the Governments definition of key worker then you should register with FIRST STEPS as well. This will give you further access to properties that are being developed specifically for the governments definition of key workers.
You can obtain an application form and find out more by:-
- Apply online at www.firststepslondon.org. You can also view available schemes and properties on this website.
- Call 0845 230 8099 to request that an information pack to be sent to you.
- Email firststeps@mht.co.uk and leave your name and address stating that you would like an information pack sent to you.
What properties are available for Shared Ownership?
New properties are being built all the time, to see what properties are available visit the FIRST STEPS website: www.firststepslondon.org.
If you're registered with FIRST STEPS, you can see what is available both in Hounslow and across London.
I meet the boroughs definition of Key worker but my partner does not. Can we still apply together?
Yes! The council schemes are aimed at everyone on a moderate income that lives or works in the borough even if only one member of your household meets the criteria.
Once you’ve registered, you will receive a confirmation email and your details will be saved onto the database. As schemes become available, information will be emailed to you. This will normally happen approximately 6 weeks before the homes become available by the Housing Association that is making the properties available. You will be able to view information on the schemes and their projected completion dates on the ‘available schemes’ page.
Once you have registered, you will be put in an order of priority. The Housing Associations that run the schemes will send you information if you are able to go ahead with any scheme.
If you want to go ahead, the housing association will need to confirm that you’re eligible for the scheme, and how much you can afford. This would normally be done through an interview where your documents would be checked. After that, under the homebuy scheme you would be offered the opportunity to go and find a home on the open market.
Under the shared ownership schemes, you would go through the normal process of obtaining a mortgage and buying a house.