Housing register

To apply for any social housing in the North Dorset area all applicants must complete an Housing Register Form (pdf, 1Mb) (opens in a new window)  (this document may takes some time to download) providing all the necessary evidence as listed on page 18 of this form.  Please note the other areas that you wish to be considered outside North Dorset will not be registered until 1st April 2012, when the new Dorset Wide Housing Register system goes live.

The council endeavour to input and acknowledge your housing application within 10 working days of receipt.

In order to be considered for social housing all eligible applicants must appear on the Housing Register.

We currently have 1275 applicants on our Housing Register (Dec 2011)

Once I have registered is there anything further I must do?

YES. Your must let us know if there is any change in your circumstances. For instance: changes in address or size of your family. You must notify the council within 4 weeks of the change taking place otherwise the Council is entitled to cancel your application.   You must complete a change of circumstances form with these changes and provide necessary proofs.

Re-registration

You must re-register your application every year on the anniversary of your original application. This date is known as the 'effective date'. We will send you a re-registration form, which you need to complete and return within 14 days of receipt, if you do not return this, we will assume that you no longer wish to remain on the Housing Register and your application will be cancelled.   

Reasonable Preferences

If your current accommodation is having a negative impact on your housing situation, you may be eligible to apply for Reasonable Preference.

Reasonable Preferences may be awarded for the following:-

• Medical
• Welfare
• Overcrowding
• Disrepair or unsanitary accommodation
• Threats to safety
• Cannot provide care & support

You will need to show how your current housing is having a detrimental effect on your household for one of the reasons above, outlining a brief description of your disability, support you receive, and any other details which would assist us in assessing your application. Please complete the Reasonable Preference form, and provide written evidence from relevant professionals to support a need to move for the reasons specified.

We will not be able to process your application, if there is no supporting evidence.

Please note that any costs incurred in obtaining information from your doctors or other supporting practitioners must be met by yourself.

If you would like to seek further advice on Reasonable Preference, please contact us on 01258 484358.

HomeChoice (choice based lettings)

There is a new way of letting housing association homes in North Dorset. The scheme is called choice based lettings and will be branded locally as HomeChoice.

If you are on the housing register in North Dorset you will become a member of HomeChoice.

A new Housing Register and Allocations Policy (pdf, 111kb) (opens in a new window) has been agreed by North Dorset District Council that explains how the Housing Register will operate with Choice Based Lettings.

A leaflet (pdf, 981kb) (opens in a new window) explaining how the HomeChoice Choice Based Lettings scheme will work, and how we assess "housing need", is available also available to download.

• HomeChoice Scheme in North Dorset

  All housing association properties that become available in North Dorset are advertised so that people on the housing register can say if they want to be considered.

• This week's properties

  Here is a list of 8 properties that you can bid for until noon on Monday 13th February 2012. Please only bid for properties where your household size fits the eligibility criteria in the advert.

• Name: HomeChoice - Housing Services
  Email: homechoice@north-dorset.gov.uk
  Tel: 01258 484373
  Full details for HomeChoice - Housing Services