Frequently Asked Questions

Below is the list of our frequently asked questions.  If your question is not answered below, please contact us.

Top

What is B-with-us?

How can I apply to B-with-us?

What is a "local connection"?

Why do I need a local connection?

Is there a way I can apply without a local connection?

Will I need to provide any additional information with my application?

What does "reasonable preference" mean?

I am under 18 - can I still apply for re-housing?

I am a starter tenant - can I still apply for re-housing?

How will I know what band I have been put into?

I think I might be in the wrong band what should I do?

What if I have a change in circumstances?

What are registration and effective dates?

I need an adapted property, what do I need to do?

Will adapted properties be advertised?

What is a bidding cycle and when will properties be advertised?

What is a bid?

When can I start to bid for properties?

How do I bid for a property?

How many bids will I be able to make each week?

Can I change the bids I have made?

Why has my shortlist position changed?

Can I check where I am in a shortlist for a particular property?

How will I be allocated a property?

How will I know if I have been successful?

How long will I have to decide whether to accept an offer of accommodation?

What will happen if I have been unsuccessful?

What happens if I refuse a property?

What is an unreasonable refusal?

I am worried I might become homeless, what can I do?

I own my home, can I apply?

I cannot manage in my home any longer due to my health needs, what do I do?

If I owe any money from a previous tenancy will I be able to join the housing register?

What happens if I owe rent at my present home?

I am a single person - will I be eligible for a two property?

I am in prison - can I go on to the Housing Register?

How long will I have to wait for a home?

What is extra care housing?

 

What is B-with-us?                                                                                                                 Back to top
B-with-us is a Choice Based Lettings (CBL) scheme.  We advertise Housing Association (Registered Provider) and Private Rented homes.  All available properties are advertised each week and applicants who are eligible and qualify to join B-with-us can express an interest in properties for which they want to be considered.

How can I apply to B-with-us?                                                                                              Back to top
You can register and apply directly online.  Please complete the housing register application in full.

What is a "local connection"?                                                                                              Back to top

The Government recommends that Social Housing is prioritised for local people, therefore we have implemented ‘local connection’ criteria which applicants will need to meet in order to have an active application with B-with-us. Applicants will need to evidence their connection to any of the five Local Authority areas covered by B-with-us: Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, and Rossendale (known collectively as ‘Pennine Lancashire’).

Applicants will have a local connection if they:

  • Have been continuously resident in Pennine Lancashire for six of the last twelve months, or

  • Have been a resident in Pennine Lancashire for three of the last five years, or

  • Have a family member who is resident in Pennine Lancashire and has been for a minimum of five years, or

  • Have been employed in Pennine Lancashire for the last six months (and the work is not seasonal or temporary)

Why do I need a local connection?                                                                                          Back to top

The Government recommends that Social Housing be allocated to people in the local community, which is why local connection criteria have now been implemented in the B-with-us Allocations Policy. This means that the available properties advertised through B-with-us will be allocated to people with a connection to the Pennine Lancashire area, rather than people from anywhere in the country.

All applicants will need to have a local connection (or meet one of the exemption criteria) in order to have an active application.

Is there a way I can apply without a local connection?                                                       Back to top

All applicants must either meet one of the local connection criteria or be exempt from requiring a local connection. The list of exemptions can be found here: Local Connection Exemptions

Anyone who applies to B-with-us without a local connection or exemption will have their application automatically closed.

Will I need to provide any additional information with my application?                          Back to top
We do not normally ask for additional information at the registration stage, however if you require an additional bedroom due to pregnancy, medical condition, to accommodate a carer or for child access, you will need to provide supporting evidence of this. If you have an occupational therapist report detailing adaptations you require in your home, we will also require a copy of this.

What does "reasonable preference" mean?                                                                         Back to top

Reasonable Preference is the list of criteria set by Government which determines who should be given priority for an allocation of Social Housing. It includes things like homelessness, unsatisfactory housing conditions, medical needs, overcrowding, care leavers, and people at risk in their current home. In the new B-with-us Allocations Policy, the reasonable preference criteria sits within Bands One, Two and Three.

I am under 18; can I still apply for re-housing?                                                                  Back to top

People aged 16 & 17 are eligible to join the housing register in certain circumstances, including: being assessed as statutory homeless by a B-with-us Local Authority Partner or meeting the criteria for the Homeless Prevention Scheme; if they are a teenage parent; if they are a care leaver in the relevant Local Authority.

I am a starter tenant; can I still apply for re-housing?                                                      Back to top
If you are a tenant of a B-with-us partner organisation, you must meet the transfer criteria in order to be eligible to join the Housing Register. One of the transfer critera is to have lived in the property for at least twelve months. If all the transfer criteria are not met, the application will be closed. If you are a starter tenant with another housing provider that is not part of B-with-us, this will not affect your application.

How will I know what band I have been put into?                                                             Back to top
Your band will depend on your living circumstances and if you have a priority under the B-with-us Housing Allocations policy. When you register with B-with-us, you will receive a letter confirming your band. You can also view the reasons for priority on our website.

I think I might be in the wrong band what should I do?                                                   Back to top
You may not have provided us with all the necessary information. If this is the case, we will have another look at your application once the missing information has been provided. If you still disagree with the band you have been awarded, you have the right to have our decision reviewed within 28 days of the decision. You should give the reasons why you disagree with the decision. We may ask you for further information to help us to carry out the review. We will write to you with the outcome.

What if I have a change in circumstances?                                                                       Back to top
If you have a change in your circumstances you should complete an online update to your Housing Register application. This will allow us to keep your application up to date. If you are not sure if you should complete an update please contact us on 0300 123 22 00 and we will let you know what information we need. We may suspend your application if we need you to provide further information.

What are registration and effective dates?                                                                       Back to top
Registration and effective dates are important because they give you priority within your band. Your registration date is the date that you submitted your application, this will not change. The effective date is the date that you were placed in a band. This will change if you go into a higher or lower band.

I need an adapted property, what do I need to do?                                                          Back to top
If you feel you need an adapted property, we will need evidence of the type of adaptations you require, usually from an occupational therapist.

Will adapted properties be advertised?                                                                            Back to top
Adapted properties are advertised in the same way as any other property, however they may have additional criteria or preferences included. This could include preference being given to applicants with a medical need or preference to applicants with an occupational therapist referral.

What is a bidding cycle and when will properties be advertised?                                 Back to top
Properties are advertised on the B-with-us website on any weekday and are available for bidding for seven days. Once the seven day advertising cycle ends, we will aim to contact the successful applicant within five working days. The day or time you bid does not affect your final position as homes are allocated to the bidder with the highest priority.

What is a bid?                                                                                                                      Back to top
Placing a bid is the way that you let us know you want to be considered for a property. No money is involved. A bid is simply an expression of interest placed against a property. When you bid you will be placed in a shortlist. Once the advertising cycle has finished your final queue position will be shown on your B-with-us account page.

When can I start to bid for properties?                                                                             Back to top
You can bid as soon as your application has been made ‘active’. Your application will be made active when it has been approved and any required documents have been received.  It does not matter what day or time you bid, as homes will be allocated to the customer with the highest priority.

How do I bid for a property?                                                                                              Back to top
You can bid in various ways: by logging into your account page, in person at any office shown on our Contact us page or by contacting the B-with-us teams on 0300 123 22 00 who can place bids on your behalf. You will have to give certain details to be able to make your bid. If you need help with bidding please contact us on 0300 123 22 00.

How many bids will I be able to make each week?                                                          Back to top
Each customer has a maximum of five bids per week for social housing adverts. You don’t have to use all your bids and need to make sure that you read all the property details before placing a bid, and you should only bid on properties that are suitable for you and that you would be willing to accept if offered. In addition to those 5 bids you can also bid on other advert types such as First Come, First Served.

Can I change the bids I have made?                                                                                 Back to top
Yes, you can withdraw bids within the bidding cycle and use them on other properties for which you are eligible. You have a maximum of five active bids per week. Once the advert cycle has closed, your bid can no longer be withdrawn.

Why has my shortlist position changed?                                                                         Back to top
Your position can change if other customers with an earlier effective or registration date bid on the same property as you, or if customers above you in the shortlist withdraw their bid within the bidding cycle.

Can I check where I am in a shortlist for a particular property?                                    Back to top
Yes, you can do this within the bidding cycle through the My Bids section of your online B-with-us account page. However, your final position will only be shown once the bidding cycle has been closed.

How will I be allocated a property?                                                                                   Back to top
We look at the list of customers who have placed bids once the bidding cycle has closed and offer the property to the first eligible person with the earliest registration or effective date who qualifies for the offer.

How will I know if I have been successful?                                                                      Back to top
If you are successful, we will contact you once the bidding cycle has closed to check your circumstances are still the same as stated on your application form. If you are still eligible and qualify for the offer, we will provisionally offer you the property. We will then also do an affordability check to ensure you are able to afford the rent and costs of the property. You will not be considered for any other properties until you have made a decision on the offer. It is important that you keep your telephone contact details up to date.  If you do not respond to us or cannot make yourself available to attend a viewing we will move on to the next customer.

How long will I have to decide whether to accept an offer of accommodation?          Back to top
You will be given 24 hours to make a decision on an offer of accommodation after an accompanied viewing.

What will happen if I have been unsuccessful?                                                               Back to top
You will not be contacted if you are unsuccessful, but we will publish details of each property, including the address, successful customer’s band, effective date or registration date, and how many bids have been made. This information is on our recent lets page. You can search on the recent lets page for specific property outcomes and see how many properties have become vacant in the areas of your choice to help you make informed decisions about your chances of being re-housed.

What happens if I refuse a property?                                                                                Back to top
If your local council have awarded you a statutory homeless duty and you are in band one for that reason, your priority will be removed if the council decide the offer you refused was a reasonable offer.
Sometimes when you refuse a property, it will be recorded as an unreasonable refusal. If you unreasonably refuse 3 properties in a 12 month period, your application will be suspended for six months and you will not be able to bid for any properties. Each case will be looked at individually and assessed as to the reason for the refusal. You will be told in writing and be given the right of review within 28 days.

What is an unreasonable refusal?                                                                                       Back to top
Examples of unreasonable refusals include, but are not limited to: area unsuitable, failure to respond to offer, repeated bids on a property type or area that an applicant has previously refused or deemed unsuitable or where the applicant states that they are not ready to move.

I am worried I might become homeless, what can I do?                                                   Back to top
You can seek advice from your local Council Housing Needs Team by visiting their website and completing an online self-referral form. They can offer advice about your current housing situation and other housing options.

I own my home, can I apply?                                                                                               Back to top
Yes you can, but will only qualify for an active application if you are assessed as having a housing need (band three or above).

I cannot manage in my home due to my health needs. What do I do?                            Back to top
You should submit an application to join the Housing Register and ensure you fully complete the medical section with as much information as possible about your medical condition and the reasons why your current home isn't suitable for your medical needs. We will assess your application and you may be given a medical banding.

If I owe any money from a previous tenancy will I be able to join the housing register?     Back to top
If you have housing related debt of £500 or more, your application will be closed. If you have housing related debt of less than £500, you can have an active application (if you meet all other eligibility and qualification criteria), but will need to show that you have cleared the debt in full before you will be offered a property. 

What happens if I owe rent at my present home?                                                            Back to top
 If you have housing related debt of £500 or more, your application will be closed. If you have housing related debt of less than £500, you can have an active application (if you meet all other eligibility and qualification criteria), but will need to show that you have cleared the debt in full before you will be offered a property. 

I am a single person; will I be eligible for a two bedroom property?                                             Back to top
Single applicants or couples will usually be eligible for one bedroom properties, unless they can provide evidence that an additional bedroom is required, for example due to pregnancy, medical needs or to accommodate a carer. Occassionally, two bedroom properties may be advertised for applicants with a one or two bedroom need, subject to a satisfactory affordability assessment.

I am in prison - can I go on to the Housing Register?                                                       Back to top
You can apply to the B-with-us housing register; however your application will only be activated when you have a release date and after a risk assessment has been completed and the risk has been deemed low enough for you to have an active application. No offers of accommodation will be made until you are released, and you may be restricted on the property type or location you are eligible for.

How long will I have to wait for a home?                                                                          Back to top
It is difficult to predict accurately how long you will have to wait. It all depends on what area you are looking for, what type of property you need, what band you are in and your effective or registration date. Look at the recent lets page where you can search by property type and area to see how long other applicants with the same band and a similar date to you waited to be rehoused. This information can help you understand your chances of being rehoused. You can also look at the Average Waiting Time page to see on average how many weeks it takes to be rehoused in each area covered by B-with-us.

What is extra care housing?                                                                                               Back to top
Extra Care housing provides apartments for older people in a community setting, with flexible care and support services available onsite.  Residents are able to retain their independence in their own home with the security and rights provided by a tenancy agreement.
Benefits of living with an Extra Care housing scheme include:

  • independent living in your own home
  • discreet security to give you peace of mind
  • a community setting with opportunities for an active and social lifestyle
  • onsite staff providing care and support services
  • onsite facilities such as hairdresser, restaurant and shop

In some areas applicants may already need to be in receipt of an existing care package to be considered for one of these homes.