Eligibility
Overview
In completing this application you are giving your consent to apply for Home Group properties within your desired area and could be held on a Home Group waiting list. To proceed with this application you need to:
1. Have a housing need for a property in one of the following areas - Sunderland, Durham, Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton. If you are interested in another area please do not continue with this application form. You can check the areas Home Group provide properties on our Homes to rent page.
2. Be aged 18 or over.
3. Be able to provide us with the following documentation to support your application to Home Group - you will be asked to upload your documents later in the application process:
- ID
- Details of your housing history for the past 5 years
- Proof of any medical condition (if applicable). Evidence must be from medical professions (occupational therapist, consultant, GP) stating your medical condition.
4. Fulfil a housing need -How your application is assessed in England
5. Meet our room requirement criteria; Applicants may be entitled to more than the minimum depending on circumstances, the age and gender of any children and the availability of empty properties. This is a guideline only as variations may occur such as a Local Lettings Policy that may be in place to address specific local issues or demand.
| Single person/couple | Bedsit or 1 bedroom |
| Two adults who are not a couple | 2 bedrooms |
| Couple/single parent with one or two children aged under 10 | 2 bedrooms |
| Couple/single parent with up to four children aged under 10 | 3 bedrooms |
| Couple/single parent with up to four children, and at least one who is 10 years or over | 2 - 4 bedrooms (depending on age and gender of children) |
| Couple/single parent with three adult dependants | 4 bedrooms |
Terminology
- 'Adult' refers to anyone aged 16 or over
- Households with a medical requirement for level access will be given priority for ground floor flats and bungalows, where they are available
Eligibility for spare bedrooms
A separate bedroom is considered necessary for:
- Every adult couple (married/civil partnership or unmarried)
- Any adult aged 16 or over who lives with you
- Any two children of the same sex aged under 16
- Any two children aged under 10
- A child with severe disabilities who is unable to share a bedroom
- Any other child
- An approved foster carer to use for placements (subject to meeting the DWP rules)
- A carer (or team of carers) who does not live with the applicant but provides the applicant or their partner with overnight care.
Note: Children whose main residence is elsewhere are not eligible for a bedroom.
6. Complete an affordability assessment once we're ready to offer you a property
If you already own a property we will consider you for housing in exceptional circumstances e.g property is unsafe to occupy, extreme financial difficulty, property does not meet medical needs.
There are some circumstances where we may not consider you for housing.
Read our allocations policy for full details.
Check we have properties in the region that you would like to live.