Current Social Tenants
Current Social Tenants
Following the recent changes to the HomeFinder Choice Based Lettings Policy, all applicants who are social housing tenants will be suspended unless they have a need for housing.
Social housing tenants who have a housing need will be able to bid.
This means that if you are a council or housing association tenant, you will only be able to bid for properties if you are in Band A, B or C. Council and housing association tenants who are in Bands D, E and F will not be allowed to bid.
This includes Bassetlaw tenants, housing association tenants who live in Bassetlaw, and council & housing association tenants who do not live in Bassetlaw.
Social housing tenants are advised to register with HomeSwapper to look for Mutual Exchanges if they wish to move from their current accommodation.
Social housing tenants who have housing needs
If you are a council or housing association tenant, your application will not be suspended if you have a housing need to move out of your current accommodation, such as:
- You need to move out of your current accommodation for emergency reasons, such as domestic abuse
- Your current accommodation is overcrowded
- You have a medical need to move out of your current accommodation
- You need to move to provide or receive care.
In addition, Bassetlaw District Council tenants will not be suspended if they need to downsize from their current accommodation.
Please note that Bassetlaw District Council tenants’ banding for downsizing will only be considered for properties if they would be giving up 1 or more bedrooms by moving.
Social housing tenants who do not have housing needs
If you are a council or housing association tenant, your application will be suspended if you don’t have a housing need to move out of your current accommodation or if you don’t have a Local Connection to Bassetlaw.
You will be able to apply to join HomeFinder but your application will be suspended.
You may be allowed to bid if your circumstances change and you have a housing need.
You will not be allowed to move if:
- You don’t have any need to move
- Your housing need is temporary
- Your property requires repairs which can be completed while you are living in the property
- You have a medical need as a result of an injury which will heal over time
- You are subject to anti-social behaviour but have not pursued any action through formal channels e.g. reporting to your Housing Officer, the Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team or the Police
Medical
Social housing tenants who have medical needs can apply and will their applications will remain suspended until their medical needs are assessed by the Council’s Medical Panel.
Please see our Medical page for more information on the medical application process.
Mutual Exchanges
A Mutual Exchange is the process of social housing tenants swapping their homes. It can involve two or more properties and can take place across multiple local authorities and/or housing associations.
You are responsible for finding someone to exchange with. Tenants of Bassetlaw District Council have free access to HomeSwapper, and we encourage tenants to utilise this service when searching for somebody to Exchange with. Tenants may also wish to utilise other avenues to source a Mutual Exchange, for example by advertising in newspapers or on alternative websites.
Once you find a property, you will need to contact your Housing Officer who will provide you with an application form and information about what to expect during the Mutual Exchange Process.
Please click here to find out more information about Mutual Exchanges. (opens in a new tab)