Finding a Home is our choice based letting scheme and is the way in which Tamworth Borough Council allocates its available homes. The council also has nomination rights to other housing providers who have available properties in the area and they are also advertised through Finding a Home.

We run weekly adverts. Applicants who have registered with us can place a bid on available properties that they are eligible for and wish to be considered for. We use our lettings policy to allocate properties through Finding a Home.

To register with us please complete a housing application form, print it off and send it back to the Council offices together with the requested supporting documents as detailed on the form.

All available properties will be advertised weekly on the Finding a Home website. This is known as the Bidding Cycle where you can show your interest by placing a bid

The bidding cycle runs:

12 midnight Tuesday to 12pm of the following Monday – this will usually apply to homes that are going to become vacant in the next 4 weeks.

Once the advert is closed, the Housing Options team produces a shortlist of eligible applicants. We will then allocate the property to the person at the top of the shortlist in order of the highest band and then by the length of time in that band. If no one from the higher bands has bid we will offer to the lower band applicants. All offers are subject to applicants meeting the criteria set out in the lettings policy and on the advert

• You can only be considered for one property at a time which means that once you have been offered a property no further bids will be considered.
• Applicants who are shortlisted for a property but are then found not to be eligible will have the offer withdrawn.
• If you are nominated to another landlord they will carry out their own eligibility checks (such as household details, rent reference, housing circumstance)
• If you are nominated to another landlord they will carry out their own eligibility checks (such as household details, rent reference, housing circumstance)

You can bid on up to 3 properties per week and they do not need to be in any order. Before you bid, remember to check that the properties you are choosing are suitable for your household and that your needs match the property type.

To make a bid you will first need to create an account click on “Register’’ at the top of the page; you only need to register once. Then ‘log in’ to your account again at the top of the page to make your bid.

Here you will be able to manage your bids; view current bids placed, make changes to these if you need to by deleting bids or adding any new ones.

You must make sure bids are placed before the advertised closing date; if we do not receive it in time, you will not be put forward for any properties. If you do not have access to a computer please visit our office where we have computers for your use and a member of staff will be able to get you started.

If you are successful we will contact you within 7 days after the closing date. You need to be ready to move at short notice, so before placing a bid think through the costs of moving and budget for these:

• Hiring a van or removals
• Need a skip for clearing out unwanted items?
• Will you need to pay rent in advance of where you move to?
• If you currently rent a home even if that is through Tamworth Borough Council check your contract for the notice period you will have to give to your landlord
• Will your carpets fit?
• The Council does not provide floor coverings or white goods
• Are there going to be additional expenses?
• Will your children need to move schools?
• Planning and budgeting for your new home

A member of staff will contact you to make arrangements to view the property and meet you outside. Afterwards you will be asked to come to Marmion House to sign the tenancy agreement and collect the keys.

If you are unsuccessful you will not be contacted. The demand for homes far exceeds our supply, some people may have a very long wait and we know we will not be able to rehouse everyone who applies to us. For more information on housing demand click here Lettings Results.

If you can’t wait to be rehoused by us we would encourage you to consider all your other housing options.

If you refuse a tenancy offer, you will need to inform us of the reason why:

• If you are owed a statutory homeless duty
• If you are moving from a supported housing scheme
• If you are in Band 1 (1+) have been assessed as needing to move urgently and decline any tenancy offer this may result in Tamworth Borough Council reviewing your band status

If you are in any other banding category and decline 3 tenancy offers, this may also result in the Council reviewing your band status together with your eligibility to remain on the housing register

If you have a change in your circumstances for example new address, contact telephone numbers, household size, you must inform us immediately. Failure to do so could result in an offer of a property being withdrawn. Click here to download the form.

Please print off the form, complete and return it to us together with the proof of the changes you want to tell us about

Our sheltered properties feature community alarm equipment. For evenings and weekends within seconds of pulling a cord or pressing a button, sheltered housing tenants will be connected to a 24 hour community alarm control centre. The operator will know instantly who is calling and will be able to offer friendly support and reassurance.

Tenancy types granted by Tamworth Borough Council

• Secure – life time tenancy for people moving in to one bed room properties and / or those designated for older people. Secure tenancies are also preserved for existing transferring tenants with a secure or full assured non short hold tenancy held prior to April 2013
• Non secure – for temporary housing linked to homelessness
• Flexible Fixed Term Tenancy that can be for 2 or 5 years

For more information on tenancy type, click here

What counts as a bedroom need?

Tamworth Borough Council supports each household having one bedroom for each

• Every adult couple
• Any other person aged 16 or over
• Two children of the same sex under the age of 16
• Two children under the age of 10 regardless of their sex
• Any other child
• A carer (who is not part of your household) if you or your partner need overnight care
• A child who can’t share a bedroom because of a disability or medical condition

Property Household Criteria

Welcome to your new council home:

• We may issue decoration vouchers if the décor is in poor condition
• New locks will be fitted to all external doors
• Any rubbish will be cleared from the garden, the Council is not responsible for laying turf
• Smoke detectors will be fitted
• The bathrooms will be sanitised and new w.c. seats fitted
• The kitchen units and worktops will be in good working order
• The gas and electrics will have been checked for safety
• If the fence is broken and it leads onto a public area it will be repaired however the council doesn’t provide fencing between neighbours
• The property will be cleaned throughout
• The council doesn’t provide white goods or floor coverings