Rotherham

• Who can apply for properties through Rotherham Keychoices?

You must have been accepted onto Rotherham’s Housing Register to be able to apply for either rented or low cost home ownership properties through Rotherham Keychoices.

 How do I apply to join the Housing Register?

You will need to complete an application form.

• What other documents do I need to provide?

Along with your application form you will need to provide the following if applicable: 

• proof of identity for everyone to be rehoused (eg, passport, birth certificate, driving licence.);
• proof of income (1 months full bank statement, pay slips, benefit award letters);
• proof of current address (eg, recent gas or electricity bill);
• proof and details of your address history for the past 5 years;
• proof of your local connection to Rotherham (proof of address of relatives for past 3 years, proof of employment):
• proof of bank account (it will be mandatory to pay your rent by Direct Debit);
• proof of pregnancy including MAT B1 form;
• proof of  child benefit;
• proof of overnight access to children;
• evidence of your right to reside in the UK if you are not a British Citizen. This could be your passport and other relevant documents from the Home Office;
• if you are currently renting, please provide an up to date rent payment statement from your landlord.

 

• What happens if I do not provide the required documents?

Providing you have properly completed your application form it will be processed but placed in the lowest band, until the documents are received, when it will be moved into the appropriate band from the date they are received. If your application form is incomplete it will be returned to you. The date it is later accepted from will be the date the fully completed form is received.

• How do I know if I have been accepted onto the Housing Register?

You will receive a letter confirming that you have been accepted onto the Housing Register. This will tell you the band you have been placed, the date your application has been registered from and the size of property you are eligible for.

• Can you refuse to accept me onto the Housing Register?

There are some people who are not eligible to be included on the Housing Register. These are: 

• Certain people who are subject to Immigration Control under the 1996 Asylum and Immigration Act.
• Certain people from abroad who are not subject to immigration control but who are not habitually resident in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland.
• People (including members of their household) who have been guilty of unacceptable behaviour that makes them unsuitable to be a tenant.

For more detailed information contact our Housing Advice Centre. 

• What are priority Bands?

Your application will be assessed according to your level of housing need and placed into a band, within each band applications are placed in date order.

• What do I do if my circumstances change?

It is very important that you tell us of any changes in your circumstances so that we can amend your application. We will tell you if this results in your application moving to a different band. If you move up a band the date used will be the date you move into that band. If you move down a band the date used will be the date that applied when you were previously in that band or any earlier date when you were in a higher band.

• How often are properties advertised?

Properties available for rent are advertised every day and run for six consecutive days.   As soon as we are given formal notice that a property is due to become vacant we will advertise it. For more details click Step Two-Choosing, part of our step-by-step guide to using the service.

• Where are properties advertised?

Properties are advertised in the following ways:

• Online at www.keychoices.co.uk
   
• ​What information will the property adverts contain?

The adverts will tell you the landlord, location, size, rent and other features of the property. Where available a photograph of the property or a similar house type will be provided and you will be able to access information about the local area and facilities. The advert will also tell you if there are any special requirements that the applicant must meet, such as age requirements, which bands may bid for the property and which will be given priority for the property. It also tells you the number of bedrooms that applicants applying for the property need to be entitled to. If your bedroom entitlement is different to this you will not be able to bid for that property. 

• How do I apply for a property?

You can express your interest or bid, as it is also known, in the following ways:

• Online through our website, www.keychoices.co.uk
• We now also have a mobile friendly web site so you can bid on the move , just use the URL www.keychoices.co.uk

 

• How many properties can I express an interest in?

You will be able to express an interest in a maximum of three properties each time properties are advertised. However, you will only be able to express interest in properties that are suitable for your family.
 

• How long will I have to bid for a property?

New properties will be advertised from midnight each day and run for six days so you will be able to place three bids on a single day or spread them over the six day period as new properties become available.
 

• Will I know how many other people are interested in the same property?

Yes, when you bid for a property you will be told where you are in the queue. This is likely to change frequently due to other people bidding for the same property. Using this information you may decide to withdraw your bid for one property and bid for a different property for which you are placed higher in the queue. You can do this at any time before the advert closes.
 

• How do you decide who is offered a property?

Once the closing date for bids has passed a shortlist of interested applicants is drawn up. The shortlist is in order of eligibility according to the criteria stated in the advert details for that property. The applicant at the top of the list will normally be offered the property. Click Step Three-Offer for more details.
 

• If I successfully bid for a rented property, can the landlord refuse to let it to me?

You may not be invited to view the property for the following reasons:

• You owe rent or have other housing related debts
• You are a Council or Housing Association tenant and legal action has been taken against you because you have broken your tenancy conditions
• You have not provided the required documentary evidence to support your application by the date given
• Your circumstances have changed and this results in a reduction in your level of priority. 
• You have provided incorrect or misleading information, which has resulted in your application being awarded a higher priority than it deserves.
   
• If I am offered a property, will I be able to view it before making up my mind?

Yes. You will be given an opportunity to view the property and decide whether you would like to accept it.
 

• How will I know what has happened to the properties advertised?

Information about homes that have been successfully let  is published on the website . We tell you the number of applicants that expressed an interest in each property, the band and the registration date of each property. To see the results of properties that have been let use the Properties and recent lets search.
 

• How will this information help me?

It will give you a better idea of how popular a particular property or area is and how long you would normally have to wait. You can then decide whether to look for other types of property or areas where you may not have to wait as long.
 

• Are carpets and appliances provided?

You may be eligible to join our Rotherham Furnished Homes scheme. Click Help with carpets & furniture.
 

• What if I become homeless?

Households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness will be dealt with outside the scheme. You should contact the Housing Advice Team to arrange an interview to discuss your circumstances. We will work with you to try to prevent you becoming homeless and will discuss your housing options with you. If this is unsuccessful you may be offered temporary housing. You may still express an interest in properties through Rotherhamh KeyChoices, providing your application has been accepted on the Housing Register.