Housing Options Your Guide to Finding a Home in the North East Lincolnshire Area - North East Lincolnshire Council
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Housing Options Your Guide to Finding a Home in the North East Lincolnshire Area
North East Lincolnshire District make up 9.7% of accommodation. The private rented
sector makes up 13.8% of stock, with the remaining
The North East Lincolnshire district covers 350 square 0.8% being properties that come with employment
kilometers and is home to a population of 322,000 or are ‘part owned and part rented’.
people. The district is made up of three main towns;
Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Immingham. The levels of available accommodation are subject to
change, with new initiatives regularly being introduced
The most recent housing market assessment found to maximize housing choices for those on a lower
that owner occupied is the main housing tenure at income or who are experiencing housing difficulty.
75.7%, while properties rented from a social landlord Details on the range of housing options and services
can be found throughout this leaflet.
2
Your Guide to Finding a Home in the North East Lincolnshire Area
Contents
Page
Are you looking for a new home? 4
What is social housing? 5
Applying for social housing 6
Renting from a private landlord 8
Supported housing schemes 10
Housing for older people 11
Young people 12
Tackling homelessness 14
Help with housing costs 15
Priority and non priority debts – what’s the difference 16
Borrowing money 17
North East Lincolnshire Credit Union Ltd 18
Buying your own home 19
Staying where you are 20
Help for tenant and home owner 21
Help finding employment 22
Useful contacts 23
Advice and Options 24
3
Are you looking for a new home?
We are now able to offer a complete guide to your
housing options in the North East Lincolnshire district.
We understand that each person is different and that
a ‘one size fits all’ approach doesn’t suit everyone.
This booklet has been compiled to guide you through
the choices that are available, so you are able to find
a home that is suited to your individual needs.
If you require advice on the housing options available,
North East Lincolnshire Councils’ Home Options Team
may be able to assist you.
If you are interested in finding out more you can visit the
Freeman Street Resource Centre, 41-43 Kent Street,
Grimsby, DN32 7DG at any time during opening hours.
These are:
Monday – Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm
The Home Options Team specialise in working with
individuals who are homeless or threatened with
homelessness and provides a range of services
for people who are homeless or in housing need,
including homeless prevention, homeless assessment,
the provision of emergency accommodation
and support services.
Home Options Officers have a wide knowledge of the
accommodation and housing options in the district.
They work closely with other organisations to develop
successful partnerships and encourage the involvement
of local landlords in providing housing solutions
to customers.
Officers may be able to work with you on a
one-to- one basis, assessing your needs and advising
you on how to successfully obtain or keep your current
accommodation.
For further details please contact the Home
Options Team on 01472 326401.
You can also apply for advice by emailing your
details to: homelessness@nelincs.gov.uk.
Different services provide different levels of support
and, depending on your circumstances, it may be
appropriate to seek housing advice from other sources,
such as the Citizens Advice Bureau or the Community
Advice Service. Details of these services can be found
in the useful contacts section at the back of the leaflet.
4
Your Guide to Finding a Home in the North East Lincolnshire Area
What is Social Housing? Registered Housing Providers
Social Housing is accommodation let at lower rents. Registered housing providers are not-for-profit
It is generally provided by organisations such as social organisations that provide low cost homes for those in
housing providers and local authorities. Rent levels are housing need.
kept low to ensure it is affordable for those on
low incomes. They act as social landlords in a similar way to a local
council, maintaining properties, providing a repair
The Council in North East Lincolnshire no longer service and collecting rent. Social housing providers
owns any housing stock. All council properties were are often referred to as Housing Associations.
transferred to Shoreline Housing Partnership in 2005.
The following social housing providers have housing
stock in the North East Lincolnshire area.
Name Client group Contact Details
Tel: 01727 857536
Abbeyfield 60+
www.abbeyfield.com
Tel: 0845 140 2020
Anchor Over 55s
www.anchor.org.uk
Tel: 0800 027 2057
ACIS All
www.acisgroup.co.uk
Tel:0800 781 0401
Sanctuary/Carr Gomm All
www.sanctuary-group.co.uk
Tel: 0300 373 3730
Dimensions Learning disability
www.dimensionsuk.org/regions
Tel: 0845 605 9000
Guinness/Northern Counties All
www.ncha.co.uk
Tel: 020 8685 5777
Haig Ex-service personnel
www.haighomes.org.uk
Tel: 0800 280
Hanover 60+
www.hanover.org.uk
Tel: 0345 606 6363
Housing21 60+
www.housing21.co.uk
Tel: 0800 111 40 13
L&H Homes All
www.landh.org.uk
Tel: 0800 432 0002
Places for People All
www.placesforpeople.co.uk
Tel: 0845 849 2000
Shoreline All
www.shorelinehp.com
5
Applying for social housing
There are two ways to apply for social housing. One
route is through Choice Based Lettings (CBL).
Some social housing providers have already joined a
choice based lettings scheme which is operated by
North East Lincolnshire Council and advertise their
properties through Home Choice Lincs. You will need
to be a current member of Home Choice Lincs in order
to be offered a tenancy.
Another way is to apply direct to a housing association
and be placed on their private waiting list. It is advisable
to contact the social housing provider directly
as sometimes the waiting lists can be closed.
You should be informed of this when you apply.
Each registered housing provider has its own
allocations policy and will decide whether or not
your application can be accepted. Not everyone will
be eligible for registration with all social housing
providers. Applicants may be refused if they do not
meet the social housing providers’ eligibility criteria.
To obtain an application form you need to contact
the social housing provider direct. This can be done
by phone or online. Your completed application should
be sent to the ‘return to’ address shown on the
application form.
Unlike the traditional ‘waiting list’ system, where
housing officers allocated vacant properties to
applicants, CBL works through a choice based
lettings system. The CBL service provided by North
East Lincolnshire Council is called Home Choice Lincs.
To apply for a property you must be a registered
Home Choice Lincs member. Available properties are
advertised in the local newspaper? on digital TV, online
at www.homechoicelincs.org.uk and at Customer
Access Points service access points. Applicants
can see the full range of available properties and can
place bids on a maximum of three homes to which
they are matched. Eligibility criteria is applied to each
available property so applicants can use this to guide
their choice.
How to apply
In order to register you must complete an online
application form at www.homechoicelincs.org.uk
6
Your Guide to Finding a Home in the North East Lincolnshire Area
Applying for social housing HOMESWAPPER Scheme
Available properties are published every week. Once HomeSwapper is a UK-wide scheme for social
you have an active application, you are able to bid on tenants who want a house swap. This is also called
up to three properties per week. The bidding cycle mutual exchange. If you live in a council house
begins at 00.01 on a Wednesday and bids can be or housing association property you can swap.
made anytime from the cycle’s commencement to
its close at 23.59pm the following Monday. For more information visit the Homeswapper website
at www.homeswapper.co.uk
For further details on Home Choice Lincs, including
membership and how properties are allocated, please Downsizing your home
see the Home Choice Lincs information guide. This
If your current home has become too large for
can be found online at www.homechoicelincs.org.uk.
you to manage, you may want to consider moving
Who are Shoreline Housing Partnership? somewhere smaller. Downsizing can be a practical
solution, making it easier for you to look after your
Shoreline Housing Partnership is the largest housing home. Smaller properties are often cheaper to run,
provider in the district, with over 7,900 homes that so they can also be a more cost-effective option.
were transferred from the local council in 2005. Your landlord may be able to assist you with looking
for a smaller property. You should contact them direct
Properties are advertised through the Home Choice to find out how they can help.
Lincs (CBL) scheme and the waiting list is now held
by North East Lincolnshire Council.
Mutual Exchange Scheme
If you are a tenant of Shoreline Housing Partnership,
another Registered Social Landlord or a secure
tenant of a council, you may be eligible to exchange
or ‘swap’ your property with another tenant. This is
a quick way for two households to swap homes and
move to the areas of their choice.
It is your responsibility to find someone to swap
with you. You may place adverts in shop windows,
local press or in one of our offices.
Alternatively you can advertise your property on
www.homechoicelincs.org.uk
When you find another tenant with whom you would
like to exchange, you will need permission from your
landlord. Both you, and the person you wish to swap
with will be visited and any conditions of your move
will be discussed with you.
To register your interest with this scheme, complete an
application on Home Choice Lincs and your details will
be displayed in the Mutual Exchange Register, on the
website, which is available to all interested tenants.
7
Renting from a private landlord
The private rented sector within North East Lincolnshire makes up 13.8% of the
housing sector. This sector is increasing and is now a more accessible housing
option. Some people find that private renting can be a quicker route to finding
accommodation. It can offer you a more flexible choice of area as well as the
option of furnished or unfurnished accommodation.
Routes to private rented accommodation
If you’re considering private renting, available properties are normally advertised
in the following places:
• Local Newspapers
• Local shops, post offices and supermarkets
• Estate Agents and Lettings Agencies
• The Internet – you can try websites such as www.rightmove.co.uk or
www.findaproperty.com
Rent in Advance
The landlord may ask for rent in advance. If you are unable to afford this, it may
be possible to get a loan to pay for it by making a Social Fund application to
the Department of Work and Pensions.
Bonds and Deposits
A landlord may ask for a cash bond or a deposit. This is usually to protect the
landlord against unpaid rent, damage to the property or other costs. When
you pay a bond or a deposit, your landlord or agent must protect the bond in
accordance with a government authorised tenancy deposit scheme.
These schemes ensure that the bond/deposit is returned to you when your
tenancy ends (although deductions may be made to cover damage to the
property or where rent is unpaid). Within 14 days of paying the deposit to your
landlord, they should provide you with details of how your deposit is protected.
When you make the payment you should:
• Check what the bond or deposit covers
• Get a receipt stating that it is for a bond or a deposit
• Ask the landlord for confirmation of how the bond has been protected. The
landlord should provide this information within 14 days of receipt.
Further details on how the tenancy deposit scheme works can be found on
www.direct.gov.uk
The Home Options Bond Scheme
The scheme is intended to enable people living or working within the borough,
who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or cannot afford the deposit
needed to secure private rented accommodation, and give support to help
them to manage the tenancy.
8
Your Guide to Finding a Home in the North East Lincolnshire Area
Who can they help? Assured Shorthold Tenancies
To be eligible for the scheme, the potential tenant The law about tenancy agreements can be
must meet the following criteria; complicated. If you are unsure what type of tenancy
you have, please call the Home Options Team
• Homeless or threatened with being homeless for advice. The most common is an assured shorthold
tenancy. Since 28th February 1997, most people
• Be on benefits or a low income (as defined by
renting from a private landlord have been issued with
minimum wage)
an assured shorthold tenancy.
• Have a local connection to the area (through close
family, work or residency) Ending the Tenancy
• Must be over 18 years of age
If your landlord wants you to leave, they should
• Have no outstanding debts with North East generally give you a minimum of 2 months’ notice
Lincolnshire Council. However, individual which must expire on the last day of a tenancy period,
circumstances will be considered but you must or the last day of the tenancy if served within the fixed
set up a repayment plan to repay the debt. term. There is also a procedure that landlords can use
to gain possession during the initial fixed term of your
• Have not previously abused or been in debt to
tenancy. However they must apply to the court and
the scheme
a judge will decide whether you must leave after you
• If you have a history of alcohol/substance misuse, and the landlord have given your evidence.
you will need to be receiving treatment or support
from a recognised organisation Should you wish to end your tenancy, you should give
4 weeks or 1 month’s notice, depending on whether
For further details please contact: your rent is paid on a weekly or monthly basis. Your
notice should be given in writing and expire on the first
Tel: 01472 326412 or last day of the period of a tenancy.
Fax: 01472 326402
Email: HOBS@nelincs.gov.uk Please remember this is general information.
Contact the Home Options Team on 01472 326401
Some things to be aware of when looking for immediately if you are issued with a notice by
private rented accommodation: your landlord.
• Some accommodation agencies and estate agents Energy Efficiency
may demand a payment for “registering” you on a
list of people looking for private rented properties. The Home Energy Team can offer advice on heating
This is a criminal offence. and insulation improvement. They can also help
• It is a good idea to make a detailed list (an you find information about housing improvements
‘inventory’) of all fixtures and fittings within the and disabled adaptations. If you require any
property before signing a tenancy agreement. information, please contact the Home Energy Team
Include details of their condition and ensure this list on 01472 324782.
is agreed on and signed by your landlord. This can
Complaints about landlords and repair issues
help to avoid disputes when your tenancy ends.
• Before you move in you are usually required to sign Initially, you should notify your landlord of the repairs
a tenancy agreement. This document forms a legal needed, preferably in writing and keep a copy of your
agreement between tenant and landlord. Make letter. In your letter state what the problem is and
sure you check it carefully and fully understand the ask your landlord to fix it in a reasonable time period,
agreement, before you sign. normally a minimum of 21 days, unless it is urgent.
You also try and speak to your landlord and explain
• The tenancy agreement should include the
the problem in order to reach an agreement.
following: the amount of rent, the amount of the
deposit, how often rent is paid and the length of
If your landlord fails to carry out the necessary work
the tenancy.
or if you feel you are not able to negotiate with him/
her, you can contact The Home Improvement Team on
01472 324727 and they will visit your home to assess
what repairs are needed in accordance with legislation
and if needed contact the landlord on your behalf.
9
Supported housing schemes
If you need practical support to live independently, there
are a number of supported housing projects in North
East Lincolnshire which may be able to help you.
These are run by a variety of organisations for a wide
range of people with different support needs.
Some projects are just for women, including refuges
for women fleeing domestic violence. Other projects
specialise in giving accommodation and support to
people who are having problems because of drugs
or alcohol, people with mental health issues or young
people. Some supported housing services accept
applications direct from the public, but others require
a referral from another agency.
Before they make an offer of housing and support,
schemes will want to know about your housing and
support needs. This often means getting information
(with your agreement) from other people such as your
doctor, social worker and previous landlord.
For further information please contact 01472 325874
or check the directory of services on North East
Lincolnshire Council’s website:
www.nelincs.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/
supporting-people/supporting-people-supporting-
people/
10Your Guide to Finding a Home in the North East Lincolnshire Area
Housing for Older People
Independent Living Schemes
This is accommodation designed for those needing
some support, particularly the older or more vulnerable
people. Residents are able to retain an independent
lifestyle, but with the added security of 24 hour
assistance in the event of emergencies.
Accommodation will usually be self-contained flats
or bungalows, with the availability of community alarms
and either a scheme manager or a specialist floating
support service.
To cover the running costs of the scheme, residents
sometimes pay an additional service charge.
This contribution is to help pay for services such as the
scheme manager, gardening and building repairs.
The amount you have to pay will vary, so check in
advance how much this will be and what is included in
the charges.
Independent living schemes are available through
some social housing providers in the district, including
Shoreline Housing Partnership, Longhurst and Havelok
Homes and Anchor. Please refer to the table on page 5
for more details.
An assessment may be carried out to look at your
suitability for these schemes and age restrictions often
apply (though the minimum age varies)
Extra Care Schemes
Extra care accommodation offers a higher level of
support to residents than sheltered housing but suits
those looking for less assistance than that provided
by a care home. Residents live in self-contained flats
but meals may be provided and care staff are often
available to provide personal care. The minimum
age can vary from scheme to scheme so you should
contact the social housing provider directly for further
information.
11Young People
Before you leave home
- Are you ready for independent living?
Leaving home is one of the most important decisions
you will ever make. It’s not a good idea to rush into it or
just leave home on the spur of the moment. Ideally you
should stay with your family until you can move out in a
planned way.
You may decide to leave home because you think
that it will be exciting – no parents telling you what to
do, your own private space. The reality can be very
different. It can be difficult to find somewhere to live and
it can be hard to pay your bills. You could end up in
difficulty, even homeless.
The best time to move out is when you feel ready,
have support to move out and have already made a
plan. There are a lot of things to take into consideration
and it may be helpful to weigh up the advantages and
disadvantages before you make a decision.
Advantages
• You will be able to do what you want when
you want
• You will be independent
• You will have your own space
Disadvantages
• You will have to pay your own bills, e.g. gas,
electricity, water rates etc...
• You may have to live on benefits, which means you
will have to budget very carefully. You will need to
pay your bills before buying things like clothes or
CDs and other things you want.
• You may not be able to finish your education
• You may not be able to afford to go out with your
friends as often
• You may not be able to live where you want – close
to friends and family
• You will have to do your own washing and ironing,
shopping and cooking.
12Your Guide to Finding a Home in the North East Lincolnshire Area
Remember that wherever you live, you’ll always have If you’re under 18 years, you may find it difficult to
other people to consider; whether it’s parents, flat obtain a property unless you have someone to act as
mates or neighbours. If you have family problems, a guarantor. In this case, it may be better to look for
it may be better to try and sort things out if you can. other alternatives, such as those mentioned above.
That way, you can plan your move and leave at a time
that suits you. If you don’t plan leaving home properly you could end
up in difficulty and possibly homeless – with no regular
Spend time with friends and do more things away place to stay, perhaps sleeping on friends sofas, in
from home so you don’t have to be there as much. hostels or even on the street.
Talk to a friend, relative, teacher, counsellor, doctor
or anyone you trust. Important facts to remember
Find out if there is someone you can stay with for a • Making a homeless application to the council does
couple of nights to get some space, such as a friend not guarantee you housing: If you are under 18
or relative. you will still have to go through the homelessness
assessment procedure, their checks and
Problems at home can sometimes be helped by questions.
talking to someone outside the family. Mediation is a
• You will not be thought of as homeless if you
confidential and informal process with a third person
choose to leave accommodation that is suitable for
called a “mediator.” The mediator does not take sides
you and which you can return to.
but helps everyone involved to talk about how they are
feeling and find solutions to their problems. This can • If you’re under 16 the law says you must have an
help to sort out problems and arguments that make adult responsible for you and that you cannot live
you feel like you have to leave home. You can get this alone, claim benefits or work full time.
sort of help by contacting The Home Options Team
• If you are 16 or 17 it is unlikely that you will be
on 01472 326401.
able to claim benefits, unless you have special
circumstances. It is best to get specialist advice on
Think carefully about where you want to live as it is
this.
very important that you move somewhere that meets
your needs. You might want to consider the following • For legal reasons landlords may be unwilling to
options: offer you a tenancy agreement.
• Remember that single people under 25 (without
Shared housing – this is when you have your own
children) are expected to find a single room in a
bedroom but you share the kitchen, bathroom and
shared house, and will not get enough housing
lounge. You may need to pay a deposit and a months
benefit to cover the cost of a self contained flat.
rent in advance. The council may help with deposits if
you have a serious housing problem. • Age restrictions mean you may not be accepted
on many social landlords waiting list. There are also
Foyers – these are hostels which support you to more people than properties and you are highly
move towards living independently. They can help with unlikely to get offered the exact property you want.
finding employment, training or education.
• The amount of housing benefit you are entitled to
may be less than the landlord is charging for rent.
To find out more contact The Foyer Federation on
If you sign a tenancy agreement and then get only
Tel: 020 7430 2212 or www.foyer.net
part of the cost of the rent in housing benefits, you
may build up rent arrears and debt.
Supported Accommodation – supported
accommodation is used to support single parents,
care leavers, ex-offenders, those who have or have
had drug or alcohol problems, learning difficulties or
mental health issues.
Social Housing Providers – provide housing at
affordable rents. Every social housing provider has
their own way of deciding who will be eligible to
register and who will be offered a property.
13Tackling Homelessness Harbour Place Day Centre
The Home Options Team Harbour Place Day Centre (H.P.D.C.) situated at
42, Albert Street West, Grimsby is a specialist day
The Home Options Team work with homeless and care centre, supporting the needs of some of the
potentially homeless households, in an attempt to hardest to reach and socially excluded individuals in
prevent or delay homelessness until an alternative our community. HPDC is open from 10am until 3pm
can be found. The degree of help provided can vary Monday to Friday. The centre provides shelter from
and assistance may be in the form of information, the elements for the homeless and other vulnerable
guidance or more in depth support if required. groups.
They will also assess whether your circumstances HPDC provides hot drinks and breakfasts which are
can be considered under the homeless legislation and charged at a nominal rate. Midday hot meals are
whether there is any duty to assist you due to your provided free of charge. Sleeping bags, blankets,
homelessness. warm clothing and showering facilities are also
available.
If you are currently homeless or threatened with
homelessness, it may be necessary to contact the A key part of the day centre’s work includes
Home Options Team to seek further advice. supporting and advocating on behalf of clients through
signposting, referral and access to a wide range of
To contact them please call 01472 326401 or send an statutory and voluntary sector agencies.
email to homelessness@nelincs.gov.uk
HPDC has recently introduced a Street Outreach
Alternatively you can visit the homeless team at the Worker to offer a floating supportive role to adults
following address: who may be unaware, reluctant or unable to maintain
contact with services in the North East Lincolnshire
Freeman Street Resource Centre, 41-43 Kent Street, area. The main objective is to engage those who may
Grimsby, DN32 7DG at any time during opening hours be facing homelessness, isolation or other difficulties
which are: and bridge the gap in services and assist them in
moving forward by initiating positive change.
Monday – Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm
Ex Service Personnel and their Families
Rough Sleeping
The Home Options Team provides housing advice
North East Lincolnshire Council are committed to to prevent homelessness for this client group.
ensure the causes of rough sleeping within the area We work in conjunction with The Royal British Legion
are addressed and services are available to assist to ensure access to support networks, housing and
people who feel they have no alternative but to household items.
consider rough sleeping.
Cold Weather Provision
The cold weather provision is an emergency service
offered if temperatures in the North East Lincolnshire
area fall below 0°C over 3 consecutive nights. Basic
shelter and a snack are available overnight.
Over the last few years, the cold weather provision has
been based in local bed and breakfast establishments
and hostels.
The Home Options Team provides emergency
assistance in cases of extreme cold weather.
For further information please contact them on
01472 326401.
14Your Guide to Finding a Home in the North East Lincolnshire Area
Help with housing costs
Housing and Council Tax benefits
If you’re on a low income or are finding it hard to pay
your rent, you might be able to get help to pay all or
part of it through Housing Benefit.
Anyone on a low income can apply. If you’re not sure
whether you will qualify, an advisor can calculate your
possible entitlement before you make a claim.
Local Housing Allowance
Local Housing Allowance is a scheme for calculation
of Housing Benefit for deregulated private tenants.
From 9 February 2004, tenants have been paid an
allowance based on the number of rooms they are
entitled to. This figure is calculated in reference to the
number of people in the family group, regardless
of where you live within the authority.
(a) Size Criteria
The size criteria is calculated by working down this list,
with one bedroom for:
• Every adult couple
• Any other adult aged 16 or over
• Any two children under the age of 10
• Any two children of the same sex aged 0-15
• Any other child
To find out if you are entitled to help with housing costs
and details of how to apply, you can:
• Telephone on 01472 313131
• Visit the Customer Access Points based at
Municipal Offices, Grimsby, Kennedy Way,
Immingham or Civic Offices Cleethorpes.
An online claim form can be found at
www.nelincs.gov.uk/advice-benefits-and
emergencies/benefits/benefits-related-forms/
You can also use the online calculator to check your
entitlement to Housing and Council tax benefits. This
can be found online at: www.nelincs.gov.uk/advice-
benefits-and-emergencies/benefits/web-benefits-
calculator/
For more information on help with housing costs
for private rented properties please see Renting
Privately (page 8).
15Priority and non priority debts Budgeting
– what’s the difference Everyone may have times when their money runs out
before the next wage or benefit is paid. If this
Strange as it sounds there are two types of debts is happening regularly then it’s time to sit down and
– priority and non priority and it’s important to work out a realistic budget that you can stick to.
understand how to manage these, especially if Just take a few minutes each week to review your
you are having money difficulties. money situation.
Priority debts By using a budget sheet, you can easily work out
your weekly or monthly income and expenditure.
These include: mortgage/rent, County Court It is important to stick to either weekly or monthly and
Judgements (CCJs), secured loans, gas and not to confuse the two. If you need assistance with
electricity, child maintenance, magistrates’ court your budgeting, you can contact
fines, council tax, TV licence, overpayment of tax
credits, telephone, water and car loans. Citizens Advice Bureau 08444 111 444
Community Advice Service 01472 240256
Your priority debts are the important ones.
If you can’t pay them, you will have your gas/water/
electricity supplies turned off or lose your home.
You could be sent to prison for not paying council tax
or child maintenance.
If you are struggling to pay your rent or mortgage,
it could be because your other debts are taking up
too much of your monthly income. If you can’t keep
all your creditors happy, it’s important to have enough
money for your priority debts before you start paying
anything else.
Non - Priority Debts
All your other debts are known as non-priority debts.
These include: credit/store cards, unsecured loans,
overdrafts, credit agreements, pay day loans,
catalogue debts, loans from family and
doorstep loans.
The term ‘non-priority’ does not mean you don’t have
to repay them. It does mean that these debts are less
important than your priority debts – and that your
non-priority creditors are limited in terms of what they
can do if you don’t pay them.
Non-priority creditors can’t just repossess your home
or call in the bailiffs. What they can do is take you
to court.
If you are struggling to pay non-priority debts,
please contact
Citizens Advice Bureau 08444 111 444
Community Advice Service 01472 240256
16Your Guide to Finding a Home in the North East Lincolnshire Area
Borrowing Money
Loan Sharks – protect yourself and your family!
Loan sharks are not the only option if you have been
refused credit, and they’re breaking the law by lending
without a licence. Borrowing money from a loan shark
should be avoided at all costs. Usually they will charge
you a huge amount of interest, and some people
have been threatened and actually been verbally and
physically abused by lenders.
Loan sharks can be reported to the Trading Standards
Illegal Money Lending Team by calling 0300 555 2222
or texting ‘loan shark’ and the details to 60003.
This can be done anonymously.
Door Step lenders – friend or foe?
A friendly face who you like and trust? The offer of a
hassle free loan with small, easy repayments? What
you probably don’t realise is that they charge an interest
rate that can be hundreds if not thousands time higher
than banks, building societies or credit unions.
Still sound appealing?
Think before you take up this type of borrowing.
For every £1.00 borrowed, you could be paying back
more than double.
A typical example
Borrow £300; pay back at £10.50 per week for a whole
year. This equals £546 which is an interest rate of
272.2% APR.
Pay Day Loans
You may have seen the TV advertisement, heard about
them on the radio or read about them in the press.
Pay day loans are a short term loan that needs to be
paid back in full the next time you receive your wage
or salary.
Again, think about this type of borrowing before you
commit to any agreement.
A typical example
Borrow £500; pay back £625 in full after one month.
This is an interest rate of 1737% APR and it is legal.
17North East Lincolnshire
Credit Union Ltd.
Don’t go nuts with a loan, Squirrel a bit away with
NELCU first…
Save for 13 weeks with North East Lincolnshire Credit
Union (NELCU)*, and then you can apply for a loan of up
to 2 times your savings (further loans are 3 times your
savings) – at an interest rate of 12.68%APR WHAT ARE
YOU WAITING FOR
EXAMPLE: Save £10.00 per week for 15 weeks and
you could borrow twice your savings - £300. PAY
THAT BACK at £6.13 per week Still SAVING £3.87.
After one year you will have saved an extra £201.00.
So, with your original £150.00 you now have £351.00
savings!! AND YOUR LOAN IS PAID !!!!
A cracking good idea!!! C.U. Soon !!!! *£5 joining fee
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority
How the Scheme works
Established in 1999, the North East Lincolnshire Credit
Union is a community- based organisation owned and
run by its members. It provides an easy way to save
and the possibility of affordable loans.
It is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services
Authority and members’ savings are protected by the
Financial Services Compensation Scheme, just like banks
and building societies.
Become part of a world-wide scheme
By joining the Credit Union, you become part of a scheme
that is successful all over the world. In the Irish Republic
48% of the population are members of a Credit Union. In
the United States the figure is one third of the population.
Credit Unions have also aided development in less-
developed countries. In all there are over 42,000 credit
unions serving 157 million members in 92 countries.
There are about 350 Credit Unions in England and Wales,
with over half a million members who hold savings of over
£400 million. The Credit Union is run by ordinary people,
many of whom give their time and skills freely for the
benefit of all members.
For more information contact 01472 361990
or go to our website www.nelcu.co.uk
18Your Guide to Finding a Home in the North East Lincolnshire Area
Buying a Home • FirstBuy - An equity loan of up to 20% of the
purchase price is provided equally by the Homes
& Communities Agency and a housebuilder, with
Low Cost Home Ownership purchasers being required to raise funding (a
mortgage plus a deposit) for at least 80% of the
If you are thinking of buying your own home you purchase price.
will need to make some plans to guide you through
the process. A good place to start is to take into • Indemnity Mortgage Scheme - From March
consideration your budget, what size house you need 2012 borrowers will have access to mortgages of
and where you would like to live. You may want to up to 95 per cent loan to value at affordable rates
think about the amenities you need nearby and what on new build homes from participating builders.
are your requirements from the property. The scheme will be available to all potential buyers,
except buy-to-let investors or second home
If you think that you can not afford to buy a property owners.
on the open market there are other routes to home • Social FirstBuy - Housing association and local
ownership that may be more accessible to you. authority tenants buy their home on a shared
ownership basis or outright, with a discount on the
Affordable home ownership – Home Buy share being purchased.
• Armed Forces Home Ownership Scheme -
The HomeBuy brand represents a set of products Purchasers take out a mortgage, which together
designed to help first time buyers, social tenants and with any cash contribution, must cover a minimum
others in priority need, to purchase a suitable home of 50% of the purchase price. This is topped up
and assist them on to the property ladder with an equity loan covering between 15% and
50% of the remaining purchase price.
HomeBuy low cost home ownership products include:
More information on local affordable home ownership
• Shared Ownership - Tenants share ownership properties, advice on mortgage products and eligibility
of their home with a housing association, paying assessments can also be found through My4walls the
a mortgage on the part they own plus affordable local FirstBuy agent at www.my4walls.co.uk
rent on the portion they don’t own. In addition to
the standard New Build HomeBuy product, the Local HomeBuy properties are also advertised
Agency also offers two specific versions; Home on www.homechoicelincs.org.uk
Ownership for People with Long Term Disabilities
(HOLD) and Older Persons Shared Ownership A list of Housing Developers involved in the FirstBuy
(OPSO). scheme is available on the NE Lincolnshire council
• Equity Loans - Some providers will offer homes website www.nelincs.gov.uk/resident/housing/
for sale where purchasers buy with the assistance low-cost-home-ownership/
of an equity loan to top up what they can afford on
their own. If you would like more information about owning
your own home through any of the routes
• Rent to HomeBuy - Individuals pay reduced rent mentioned above please visit the DirectGov website
on a new build home for up to five years to help www.direct.gov.uk
them save for a deposit and go on to purchase the
property.
19Staying where you are
At risk of losing your home?
If you are at risk of losing your home due to eviction
or threat of repossession, you should seek advice
straight away. Even if you are under pressure to vacate
the property, it is important that you don’t leave your
home until you have received independent advice and
understand what rights you may have as a tenant
or homeowner.
You can access advice from the Home Options Team or
Citizens Advice Bureau. The Home Options Team are able
to provide an advice and advocacy service in housing,
debt, and benefits, as well as dealing with tenancy
problems, disrepair, harassment and unlawful eviction,
mortgage and rent arrears.
You should never leave your home just because your
landlord tells you to. Remember, a landlord will almost
always need to take court action to force you to leave your
home, so if you are being put under any pressure to leave
you should contact The Home Options Team. As well as
providing an advisory service, they may also be able to
offer representation in the County Court for mortgage and
rent arrears.
By acting early you can help to prevent the loss of
your home. You can visit The Home Options Service at
Freeman Street Resource Centre, 41-43 Kent Street,
Grimsby, DN32 7DG at anytime during opening hours.
These are:
Monday – Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm
Mortgage Rescue Scheme
This is a government scheme designed to help those
with major debt problems. Mortgage rescue can help
homeowners who are facing repossession by making your
mortgage repayments more affordable.
This can be done in two ways; the first is through a
‘shared equity loan’ with a social housing provider,
creating shared ownership. A social housing provider may
purchase an equity share in the property which would, as
a minimum, pay off the outstanding mortgage arrears and
any secured loans. This would result in reduced mortgage
payments on the remaining balance, meaning you can
make repayments at a more affordable rate.
20Your Guide to Finding a Home in the North East Lincolnshire Area
Another option would be for the social housing remain in your home and be safe. They can also
provider to purchase your property from you outright provide help and advice if you choose to leave the
and rent it back to you. This enables you to remain in person who is abusing you.
the property but as a tenant rather than homeowner.
Your options at this stage may include staying
Breathing Space with friends or relatives, seeking emergency
accommodation or going to a women’s refuge.
Breathing space is the regional mortgage rescue
scheme for Yorkshire and Humber. It aims to help For confidential advice and support you can contact
those in mortgage difficulties by providing interest free the Councils Home Options Team on 01472 326401.
loans of up to £15,000. These loans must be repaid
in full at the end of a three year period. This product Disability and adaptations
is suitable where difficulties in meeting mortgage – Home Improvement Team
repayment are likely to be short term.
If you own or rent your home and have a disability you
To qualify for this scheme: may qualify for a grant to enable you to remain in your
home. This can be done by adapting your house or
• The loan and mortgage must be sustainable buying specialist equipment.
• The reason for mortgage arrears must be due to a
Please note that not all properties are suitable for
change of circumstances, e.g. redundancy.
adaptation and any application made is subject to an
• The maximum value of borrowing (including the assessment.
loan) cannot exceed 90% of the value of the
property. For further information and for details of how to apply
you can contact the Home Improvement Team on
For further details on Mortgage Rescue and Breathing 01472 324777.
Space you can contact the councils Home Options
Service on 01472 326401. Support to manage your existing tenancy
If you are already a tenant but find you are
experiencing difficulties in managing your home, there
Help for tenants and homeowners are a number of floating support providers who can
offer support to help you sustain your tenancy.
Repossession Prevention Fund
How much support you are given depends entirely on
The repossession prevention fund is available to your individual needs and circumstances and this will
help both homeowners and tenants by providing an be assessed by the provider.
unsecured loan to help avoid repossession or eviction.
The maximum amount that can be awarded is £5,000 Social landlords can advise their tenants about
and regular monthly payments will be required for up suitable floating support services upon request,
to 5 years to repay the loan. or details can be found on the supporting people
web pages.
For more information you can contact the councils
Home Options Team on 01472 326401.
If you think that you will be unable to meet your
mortgage repayments in the longer term, you will need
to consider your housing options.
Domestic abuse
The Sanctuary Scheme is specifically for those who
wish to remain in their current home. The Sanctuary
Co-ordinator will carry out an inspection of your home
and may put security measures in place to help you
21Help finding employment
Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre Plus has one of Britain’s largest databases
of job vacancies, which is updated constantly, allowing
you access to a wide range of the most recent job
opportunities. The service is available to everyone and is
simple to use. You can search the online database and
find a job to suit you using the jobs and skills search.
The database also lets you search for training, career
information, voluntary work and childcare providers
across the UK. Jobcentre Plus provides a wide range of
information and services, like benefits, loans and grants
and help with finding a job. If you would like to find out
more, take a look online at
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Jobseekers
You can also search for a job by telephone. To use the
Jobcentre Plus phone service call 0845 6060 234.
If you find it hard to speak or hear clearly a textphone is
available on 0845 6055 255.
Jobmoves
Jobmoves is a personalised advice and support service
for social housing tenants in the north who are in
work but finding it difficult to commute, or those who
have a firm job offer or apprenticeship placement an
unreasonable distance from home. Jobmoves advisors
will discuss your housing needs, guiding you through
the range of housing options available. They will also
negotiate with a range of social landlords to assist you
in moving closer to your place of work.
Those seeking advice can contact the Jobmoves
advice line on 0300 123 1802 or visit the website at
www.jobmoves.org.uk
Change
Change is a local programme which was created to
help local unemployed people who receive out of
work benefits to find the support required to get back
into employment. The programme has a team of key
workers who can act as “job buddies” for those that
need that extra help and support when looking to get
back into work. For others it may just be a case of
having some help and advice on what is available in
the local area including training courses and where to
access these.
For more information about the Change programme
please us on 01472 326142.
22Your Guide to Finding a Home in the North East Lincolnshire Area
Useful contacts
• CARE Rent Scheme: 01472 232310
(Help with finding a tenancy with private landlords and housing-related support for local families)
• CAFCASS: 01472 251999
(Children and Family Court Advisory & Support Service)
• Carr Gomm: 01472 291826 / 290396
(Supported housing provider)
• Citizen Advice Bureau: 08444 111444
• Community Advice Service: 01472 240256
(Advice on Welfare Benefits, debt, housing)
• Doorstep: 01472 321444
(Accommodation and support for young people and young parents)
• Drug Action Team: 01472 302375
(Drugs and alcohol support and information)
• East Marsh Community Trust: 01472 268505
(Can assist people on low income with furniture/household goods)
• Harbour Place: 01472 344118
(Day centre offering support for the homeless)
• Humbercare: 01472 753100
(Support provider)
• Housing solutions: 01472 601807
(Support and accommodation for those with a learning disability)
• Junction: 01472 267885
(Drugs and alcohol support and information)
• Lone Parent Advisors: 01472 622291
(Job Centre Plus)
• Samaritans: 01472 353111
• Salvation Army: 01472 242648
(Supported accommodation provider)
• SAFFA (armed forces): 01472 877082
(Assistance and support for those leaving the armed forces)
• Stepping Stones: 01472 500133
(Support accommodation provider)
• Victim Support: 01472 250251
• Women’s Aid Grimsby : 01472 575757
• YMCA: 01472 359621
(Supported accommodation provider)
• YMCA FOYER: 01472 580550
(referrals by agencies only)
23Advice and Options
If you need this ‘Housing Options’ booklet translated into another language, please complete and return the form below.
وا لياربلا وا ةيتوصلا ةغيصلا اهنم و ةفلتخم تاغص و تاغل ةدعب بلطلا بسح اهريفوت نكميف تامولعملا هذه نم ةخسن تدرا اذا
ةريبكلا ةعابطلا.
Arabic فتاه: 326401 (01472)
:ىنورتكلالا ديربلاhomelessness@nelincs.gov.uk
: ناونعلاHomelessness Section, Home Options Team, Acorn Business Park, Unit 5, Moss Road, Grimsby,
North East Lincolnshire, DN32 0LT
Če potrebujete te informacije v katerem drugem jeziku in/ali v alternativni obliki, na primer v tisku z velikimi črkami, v
Braillovi pisavi ali v obliki zvočnega zapisa, se obrnite na glavno odgovorno osebo za enakost spolov:
Slovenian
‘ 01472 – 326401 8 homelessness@nelincs.gov.uk
+ Homelessness Section, Home Options Team, Acorn Business Park, Unit 5, Moss Road, Grimsby,
North East Lincolnshire, DN32 0LT
Pokud požadujete text této informace v jiném jazyce anebo v jiném formátu, například v tisku ve velkém formátu, v
Braillově písmu či ve zvukovém záznamu, kontaktujte prosím vedoucího oddělení pro rovnoprávnost:
Czech
‘ 01472 – 326401 8 homelessness@nelincs.gov.uk
+ Homelessness Section, Home Options Team, Acorn Business Park, Unit 5, Moss Road, Grimsby,
North East Lincolnshire, DN32 0LT
Jeigu pageidaujate šios informacijos kopiją gauti parašytą kita kalba ir/arba kitokiu formatu, pavyzdžiui,
parašytą stambiu šriftu, Brailio raštu, įrašytą į garso kasetę, prašome kreiptis į lygių galimybių
Lithuanian kontrolierių
‘ 01472 – 326401 8 homelessness@nelincs.gov.uk
+ Homelessness Section, Home Options Team, Acorn Business Park, Unit 5, Moss Road, Grimsby,
North East Lincolnshire, DN32 0LT
ەروەگ ىتیپ ەب رت ىكەیەوێشەب نای و ەكید ىكێنامز ەب تێوەد تەییراییناز مەئ ىكەییپۆك رەگەئ، گنەد ەب و لێرب، ەیاكت
رەسەل نەكب نووبناسكەی ىكەرەس ىرەبنامرەف ەب ىدنەوەیەپ:
Kurdish
01472 نۆفەلەت326401
Homelessness@nelincs.gov.uk لیەمیئ: ؤب ەسونب: Homelessness Section, Home Options Team,
Acorn Business Park, Unit 5, Moss Road, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN32 0LT
Ja vēlaties saņemt šo informāciju citā valodā un/vai alternatīvā formātā, teiksim, lielā drukā, neredzīgo
rakstā vai audio ierakstā, lūdzu, sazinieties ar galveno amatpersonu līdztiesības jautājumos kādā no
Latvian zemāk norādītajiem veidiem.
‘ 01472 – 326401 8 homelessness@nelincs.gov.uk
+ Homelessness Section, Home Options Team, Acorn Business Park, Unit 5, Moss Road, Grimsby,
North East Lincolnshire, DN32 0LT
Jeżeli chcesz kopię tej informacji w innym języku albo/lub w innym formacie takim jak: napisanym dużą czcionką,
alfabetem Braila lub audio prosimy o kontakt z głównym specjalistą ds.
Polish równouprawnienia.
‘ 01472 – 326401 8 homelessness@nelincs.gov.uk
+ Homelessness Section, Home Options Team, Acorn Business Park, Unit 5, Moss Road, Grimsby,
North East Lincolnshire, DN32 0LT
Если вы хотите получить копию данной информации на другом языке и/или в другом формате, например,
в печатном виде, в виде Брайлевской печати или звукового файла, просьба обратиться к Инспектору по
Russian соблюдению Основных принципов равенства:
‘ 01472 – 326401 8 homelessness@nelincs.gov.uk
+ Homelessness Section, Home Options Team, Acorn Business Park, Unit 5, Moss Road, Grimsby,
North East Lincolnshire, DN32 0LT
Si vous souhaitez une copie de cette information dans une autre langue et/ou dans un autre format
(gros caractères, Braille ou audio), merci de contacter le Secrétaire à l’Egalité :
French
‘ 01472 – 326401 8 homelessness@nelincs.gov.uk
+ Homelessness Section, Home Options Team, Acorn Business Park, Unit 5, Moss Road, Grimsby,
North East Lincolnshire, DN32 0LT
Please indicate if you would like a copy of this in another language or any of the following formats
and send to the address below or telephone 01472 326401.
Large print On audio tape In Braille
Another language, Please state:
Name:
Address:
NELC 2329
Please return this form to:
Home Options Team, Acorn Business Park, Unit 5, Moss Road, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN32 0LTYou can also read
