Sheltered Housing and Housing Accommodation for the Elderly
Sheltered Housing
What is Sheltered Housing?
Sheltered Housing is accommodation that is specifically provided for older people. In Havering, the minimum age to be eligible if there are specific medical reasons why they may need the accommodation. These pages provide a short guide to the Housing options currently available to the elderly in Havering. If you have any queries please contact the Lettings Section.
What Council accommodations available for elderly persons in Havering?
The Council owns a number of bedsit bungalows, a very few one and two-bedroom bungalows, one-bedroom flats built for the independent elderly and a considerable number of "sheltered" dwellings suitable for the independent elderly, with the facility of a resident or mobile warden (see the list of Sheltered Accommodation below for more details).
What can apply for elderly persons' accommodation?
Any person aged 60 and above can register for elderly persons' accommodation. This includes those living with friends, private tenants and existing Council tenants.
Some owner occupiers may concerned under certain criteria i.e. health and housing needs. Applicants must be of state retirement age for sheltered housing.
How do I register?
You need to complete an application form, which you can obtain from:
Lettings Service 5th Floor Mercury House Mercury Gardens Romford RM1 3SL
Tel no: 01708 434130.
All applications with medical history will be required to complete a medical form. When your application is received, you will be sent an acknowledgement. Shortly after you will be visited at home by an Officer from Housing who will carry out a detailed assessment of your needs.
They will assess your housing needs in line with the published policy. Application living outside the Borough will assesses on the telephone. To view the policy on-line please visit www.havering.gov.uk
Services available in Sheltered Housing
All Sheltered Housing is connected to an emergency call system linked to a 24-hour staff control centre. An operate from the control centre will respond to your call promptly and if necessary will arrange the support and assistance that your require. This includes contacting a friend or relative that you have nominated, to come and help you.
Sheltered Housing has residents wardens who are generally available to work Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Their functions include:
- Provide you information and support to help you access suitable services. For instances, help you apply for home care services through Social Services.
- Support the residents to organise and promote social activities in scheme. Please note that you are under no obligation to participate in any of the social activities. It is entirely your choice whether you choose to do so.
- In any emergency, respond to your request for assistance.
Support Charges
The charges cover the cost of providing:
- The warden service
- The emergency alarm service
From April 2003, Supporting People funding stream was introduced to cover the cost of providing Housing Related Support for services such as Sheltered Housing. The brought about important changes regarding support charging.
- Tenants who moved in Sheltered Housing before April 2003 who are in receipt of Housing Benefit will have their support charge paid for by Supporting People Grant
- Tenants who moved in Sheltered Housing before April 2003 who are not in receipt of any benefits will continue to pay the existing charge
- These arrangement will be honoured for the duration of the tenancy
- New residents who move into Sheltered Housing from April 2003 onwards will be liable to pay a charge for support costs.
- Residents who are not on Housing Benefits can apply for Fairer Charging Assessment. For further information, contact the Fairer Charging Assessment Team on 01708 434380.
Recent changes to Council Housing
Before May 2006, the housing department was responsible for the day-to-day management of all council properties in the Borough. However, from the date the management of all council properties were transferred Homes in Havering, an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO). This change will result in no immediate change in the service you receive in Sheltered Housing.
Homes in Havering will be responsible for the day-to-day management such as complaints, repairs and rents collection of the Sheltered Housing.
Your property will be owned by Havering Council. The council will also continue to be responsible for setting rents and your tenancy rights will not be affected.
Applying for Sheltered Housing
All people who apply for Sheltered Housing must complete London Borough of Havering Housing Registration Form. You must detail on your application form that you wish to be considered for Sheltered Housing.
In May 2006, a new system of letting properties was introduced called 'Choice Based Letting'. The system involves the advertisement of vacant properties using a variety of methods. This is available at all local libraries, PASC (Public Advice Service Centre), HIH, CAB, one the internet, free fliers. All vacant Sheltered Housing will be advertised in this way.
The advent will specify that the property is Sheltered Housing. Therefore, the letting of the property is restricted to applications who are eligible for Sheltered Housing.
All applicants are expected to bid for available properties on a weekly basis. The can be done by filling in the property details on a coupon or telephone to speak to an adviser. Applicants will be offered a property on the basis of their housing need and other criteria set out in the property advert.
Further information is available on the Choice Homes website – http://www.ellcchoicehomes.org.uk/ and London Borough of Havering Letting Policy.
Is Sheltered Housing for you?
Moving to Sheltered Housing is a big decision. You need to consider whether you feel it is a good option. Moving to Sheltered Housing may have a number of Benefits:
- Having the presence of a resident warden or the emergency call system may give you added peace of mind
- Moving to a smaller home may be more manageable. However, you may also wish to consider the drawbacks of moving to smaller accommodation. For example. If you have a lot of furniture.
- Being in a living environment of people of a similar age and the opportunity to get involved in social activities. However, you may also wish to consider whether you want to live in a scheme of exclusively elderly people.
You can get adaptations made to your current accommodation rather than moving to Sheltered Housing. The Helpline call system is available to people who live in general housing. You can contact the team on 01708 756047 for further information. You may also consider other issues such as the location of the property, whether there are adequate local amenities/transport links or whether there are restrictions on pets.
Elderly Owners Assistance
If you are a home-owner the arrangements for being offered accommodation suitable for elderly people are different. Assessments of your needs will still take place but accommodation can only be offered to those who are considered by the Council to be in the greatest need of housing. Housing staff can provide advice and help on
- Adapting your home to make it more suitable for your needs
- Purchasing more suitable accommodation
- Installation of a Helpline
- Benefits
If I am an owner-occupier and wish to carry out repairs/improvements to my property that I cannot afford is there any assistance available?
It may be that some of the repairs or improvements that you wish to carry out qualify for a grant from the Council. See the pages on Grants for more information or telephone the Improvement Grants Officer on 01708-434070.
I can't afford the upkeep of my house but I don't really want to move. Is there anything I can do?
It is sometimes possible to arrange a "Home Income Plan" through some insurance companies and building societies, whereby you can borrow a proportion of the value of your property (some of which can be in cash) and the balance paid to you in the form of an income. Repayments are on an interest-only basis and can be met from the income provided by the annuity.
Alternatively a "reversion" scheme could be considered, whereby the home-owner sells their home to a reversion company. In return the home-owner receives a lump sum and can remain in the dwelling for life. In all cases the amount received by the home-owner will be less than the full market value and maintenance of the dwelling will still be the occupier's responsibility. On the death of the occupier the dwelling will return to ("revert") to the company that purchased it.
Please note that if you wish to consider either of these options you should seek independent advice before agreeing to sign anything.
I can't manage the upkeep of my home. Is it possible to purchase smaller, more suitable accommodation?
Private companies are providing sheltered accommodation for sale throughout the country and there are also developments in Havering and neighbouring boroughs. The accommodation and facilities provided are very similar to those in rented sheltered schemes. It would be necessary to sell your present home to enable you to purchase in a sheltered for sale scheme. These schemes are advertised in local newspapers.
Sometimes it may be possible to buy into a sheltered scheme at a percentage of the full purchase price. This may be of help if you cannot afford the full price, although not all developers will allow this. In other instances it may be possible to purchase what is known as a "life share" in sheltered accommodation. This gives the right to stay in a dwelling for life, with the dwelling going to the lending institution upon the death of the occupier.
You are strongly urged to discuss these options with staff if you wish to proceed further.