Living Merthyr Tydfil

• Who can apply for properties through Living Merthyr Tydfil?

Anyone over the age of 16 can apply to join the register unless an applicant falls within one of the groups of ineligible applicants. However, if you are under 18 years of age an applicant’s ability to manage a property will need to be assessed. This is to ensure that they can cope with being a contract holder at a young age and that they do not lose any property offered through a lack of support. This may include a referral to Social Services or other support services to ensure the appropriate support is in place. The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 stipulates a person under 18 years old cannot hold an Occupational Contract and there may be a requirement to have a guarantor to act on their behalf until the age of 18. The type of Licence or agreement used will be the decision of the Registered Community Landlord that they deem appropriate for the circumstances of the applicant.

In order to apply for rented properties, you must first apply to join the register.

•  How do I apply to join the Housing Register?

By Registering an account and then competing a social housing application on this website is the easiest way to register. However, Living Merthyr Tydfil partners aim to make the application process as easy as possible with applications being able to be made also:

• In person (at local drop-in services)

or

• By telephone

• What  documents do I need to provide?

Along with completing an online application, you will also need to provide the following: 

• Proof of identity for all household members (e.g. passports, birth certificates, proof of child benefit for all children in the household)
• Proof of current address (e.g. recent utility bill, bank statement)
• Evidence of your right to reside in the UK if you are not a British Citizen (e.g. passport & other relevant Home Office documentation) 

Before you are offered a property you may need to provide additional documents to support your application. We will tell you what documents to provide and when to provide them where applicable.

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

Providing you have properly completed your application form you will have 28 days to provide proof of your identity and that of anyone else applying with them as a joint applicant. Additional information will be also required to support their application for the MTCBC Housing Solutions Team to make reasonable enquiries into their circumstances and housing needs so that an accurate assessment can be made; the MTCBC Housing Solutions team will endeavour to validate the application and review any supporting information within 21 days of the information being received. Applications will be cancelled after 28 days has elapsed where information has not been provided by an applicant. 

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

You will receive a confirmation email (if you submit an email address) and a message via the website, informing you  that you have been accepted onto the Housing Register, you may be asked to complete a telephone interview as part of your application. You will be informed of the band you have been placed, the date your application has been registered from and the size of property you are eligible for.

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

The law outlines that certain people who are subject to immigration control may not be provided with housing and as such will not be registered on the Living Merthyr Tydfil register. These include the following:

• People with restrictions or conditions on their leave to enter or remain in the UK.

• People who have entered the UK illegally or who have outstayed their leave.

• People who are not habitually resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of man or republic of Ireland.

The term “habitual resident” is used to describe the country where an applicant permanently lives and has connections such as a bank account, past or current employment, personal possessions, accommodation and family. Applicants who arrived in the UK in the last 2 years will be asked to provide information to enable the MTCBC Housing Solutions Team to assess if they are habitually resident and can therefore be considered for housing

• 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. Thre are 5 primary Bands - Band 1- Urgent housing need, Band 1 REDUCED - High Housing need, Band 2 - Medium Housing need and Band 3 - Low Housing need & a No Priority band. For further Prioritising applications - Living Merthyr Tydfil

• What do I do if my circumstances change?

Applicants are required to keep their Living Merthyr Tydfil registration up to date with any change in circumstances that may impact on their application status. This could include:

• A change of address & contact details.

• New household members. • Household members leaving the household.

• Significant changes to personal, medical or social circumstances.

• Where an applicant has a No Priority banding for tenancy/contract related debt that has been cleared or agreed payment arrangement has been adhered to for the agreed period; it is the applicant’s responsibility to update the MTCBC Housing Solutions Team with the information.

Changes of circumstances can be completed by you online on your Living Merthyr Tydfil Housing application by logging in and updating the information or by contacting the MTCBC Housing Solutions team by phone 01685 725000 or email Housing@merthyr.gov.uk to notify of any relevant change in circumstances.

The changes are critical in determining the status of each individual application. Failure to provide the correct information could result in you/your household being considered for the wrong accommodation and potentially not being able to apply for other types of accommodation. Also potentially resulting in a Registered Community Landlord partner not being able to continue with an offer of accommodation for failing to provide up to date information

• Do I need to renew my application each year?

Applications that are accepted onto the Living Merthyr Tydfil register will be reviewed on an annual basis by the MTCBC Housing Solutions Team and applicants will be asked to confirm that they wish to remain on the Living Merthyr Tydfil register. A letter will be sent and applicants who fail to respond within 28 days will have their application cancelled.

Where an applicant re-applies to join the Living Merthyr Tydfil register at a later date they will be required to complete the full application process and will be registered from the date they re-apply unless there are mitigating circumstances. This could include:

• Being away from home due to an admission to hospital, nursing home, residential home or other similar provision.

• Being away from home to support/care for family member or friend.

• Other exceptional circumstances considered reasonable by the MTCBC Housing Solutions Team.

Evidence will need to be provided in order to support a request for re-instating an application that has been cancelled and an applicant will have a right to request a review of the decision.

• What if someone in my household has a medical condition?

If someone in your household has a medical condition you will be asked to provide details. The key consideration is how does your current property affect your medical condition? Having a particular medical condition does not qualify someone for a particular band. The full circumstances of the case must be considered holistically.

Applicable to those who need to move because the applicant (or their household) has SERIOUS medical condition(s) or disability that has a CLEAR and DIRECT relationship to existing housing circumstances. 

• How often are properties advertised?

Properties available for rent can be advertised daily . As soon as we are given formal notice that a property is due to become vacant Housing Associations are able to advertise it. Adverts may be daily, but each advert will run for at least 7 days. 

Living Merthyr Tydfil adverts will include details of the property type, size and location together with other relevant marketing information. Where appropriate this will include information about adaptations and accessible housing as well as any restrictions (e.g., to point out that there is limited access to some upstairs flats in sheltered and retirement housing schemes). Adverts may also include restrictions around family sizes due to the nature and layout of accommodation. 

 

• Where are properties advertised?

Online only -please see  www.livingmerthyrtydfil.org.uk

 

• How many properties can I express an interest in?

You can apply for as many properties you like.
 

• How do you decide who is offered a property?

Once the closing date has passed a shortlist of applicants is drawn up. The shortlist is in order of eligibility according to the criteria stated in Allocation of community housing Policy. The applicant at the top of the list will normally be offered the property. For more information - Offer - Living Merthyr Tydfil

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

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

• You have a housing related debt that was not determined when you applied to join the housing register
• You have not complied with a current or previous tenancy agreement
• You are classed as being to vulnerable to sustain a tenancy
• You are ready to have a tenancy but there is not sufficent support available to help you to sustain the tenancy
• You are not able to reside in that area due to public safety concerns
• You have experianced domestic abuse and to house you in the area the property is located in would put you at further risk
• The property is classed as a senstive let and you do not meet the sesitive let criteria
• You would not be able to afford the rent at the property as you would be underoccupying and subject to bedroom tax
• You do not meet the maximum occupancy of the property. 

 

• 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.
 

• What if I don’t like the property when I have seen it?

Depending on the reasons for you not liking the property it may be that a refusal is classed as unreasonable. see more informaiton on refusal here - Offer - Living Merthyr Tydfil

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

If you do not hear form a Registered Community Landlord regarding an offer of a property you will be able to continue bidding as normal, and assume you have not been offered the property that you have bid on. Due ot the numbers of applicants on the housing register it is not feasible to notify all applicants if they have been unsuccessful with their bids. 

• Are carpets and appliances provided?

You will normally have to provide your own carpets and appliances.

• What if I am at risk of becoming homeless or am already homeless?

If you are at risk of homelessness please contact the Early Intervention Housing Team at the Town Centre Hub. The service operates a "Drop in" service Monday - Friday from Saint Tydfil's Shopping centre, 3 Newmarket Square or call 01685 725455/Email Housinggateway@merthyr.gov.uk

If you are already homeless please call 01685 725000 and request to speak to the Housing Solutions Team, Please note the Civic Centre is by appointment only and to call to make an appointment with the department first is advisable unless informed otherwise.