Service Standards - Housing Needs Team

The following applies to our customers:

Once registered at reception in St Aldates Chambers our duty options  officer will offer you an interview within an hour of your arrival.

This interview will usually take between 20-30 minutes.

We will discuss with you alternative ways of meeting your housing need and you will need to make decisions on the choices available.

We will provide advice and guidance to any customer in housing need.

You may be offered an extended Options Interview to further explore your housing need.

As part of the Options interview we will assess your application for housing assistance under the homelessness criteria.

We will process a review of a homeless decision within 8 weeks of receipt of a written request to undertake a review. This can be extended by mutual agreement.

You may apply for housing through the Council's General Register or make any application to transfer from your existing tenancy.

We will process your housing or transfer application within 14 days.

Customer Services Officers will help you complete any application form required by the Council.

We may visit your current home to confirm any details you have given the Council on your application.

We will provide assistance, as necessary, to enable you to use the Choice Based Lettings scheme.

We will provide you with information to enable you to assess your chances of making a successful bid for social housing.

We will work in partnership with other social housing providers to let empty homes as soon as possible.

We will offer any person to whom we have accepted a statutory homeless duty accommodation that is suitable to their housing needs and reasonable to offer according to their circumstances.

If you feel this standard has not been met you may follow the Council's Complaints procedure as set out on our Complaints page.

Page last reviewed 1 Apr 2008