Sheltered housing
What is sheltered accommodation?
Sheltered or supported housing helps older people to live independently and safely while providing the opportunity to socialise with other likeminded people.
Age.uk gives a good overview of sheltered housing.
Most local authorities offer sheltered housing. If you are thinking of moving closer to family living outside of Havering you may wish to explore options for mutual exchange. For more information and advice you would need to contact the local council.
You can also apply for sheltered housing privately.
The Elderly Accommodation Counsel helps find local accommodation for older people. You can look at accommodation on a map and it gives you details of the facilities they provide.
The information below is specific to the sheltered housing we provide within Havering.
What is our accommodation like?
Sheltered accommodation offers a self-contained flat with one bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and lounge facilities.
Our sheltered schemes have a communal lounge, kitchen and garden areas for socialising, gardening, activities and events.
Each scheme also has a shared laundry facility.
What support is there?
All our sheltered properties have a 24 hour alarm service monitored by Careline staff, providing residents with access to help and reassurance in an emergency.
The alarm is raised via an emergency pendant worn on a wrist band or necklace, or via pull cords situated around the property.
Depending on the type of emergency advice may be given, emergency services called, or an emergency response provided by our in-house Telecare service.
Each sheltered scheme has a Sheltered Scheme Officer who works Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm. Scheme Officers are either available on site or, when dealing with an individual resident or away from their schemes, are contactable by mobile phone.
After working hours, at weekends or during bank holidays the sheltered service is supported by Careline and in-house Telecare staff who are contactable through pull cords or emergency pendants.
Do I qualify for sheltered housing?
Sheltered Housing is for residents aged 60+ who are able to live independently with little to no additional medical care needs. Where necessary sheltered residents can be supported with care packages arranged either privately or through Adult Social Care. There are no in-house care services provided by sheltered housing.
In certain circumstances, where there are identified needs such as disability or medial conditions, applicants aged 55+ may be considered for our sheltered housing.
Ground floor cannot be guaranteed therefore individuals must be confident to use a lift to access first floor properties.
Due to a major regeneration program underway in Havering, which includes our sheltered housing schemes, applicants applying for sheltered housing will be added to a list to be contacted in the future about suitable vacancies.
How do I apply for sheltered housing?
You must first have an active application on our housing register:
Join the housing register online
Once you have an application you then need to complete a medical form:
Complete a medical form online
Other ways to apply
You can also email lettings@havering.gov.uk or call 01708 434130 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. We can send you an application form and a medical form.