FAQs
Applying for Housing with Magna West Somerset Housing Association

What does the banding mean?
We use a banding system to assess applications. This works differently to a points system. Each applicant will be allocated a banding consisting of two letters.

The first will be either: A ; B ; C ; D. This indicates the band you are in according to the details covered earlier in these notes.

The second letter will be either: S or G. The letter S indicates sheltered housing, the letter G indicates general needs housing.

How do I get into a different band?
Your banding will change only if your circumstances do - for instance, if you are made homeless, your property becomes overcrowded, your medical needs change or you need to move for employment reasons. Medical priority may only change if alternative housing will help improve a medical condition or management of a chronic illness or disability, for example, improved access for a mobility problem.

Will my application be discussed with other applicants or tenants?
No. Your application is completely confidential. Staff cannot discuss your details with another applicant, tenant or tenant representative. Neither can they discuss another applicant's details with you.

Why must I register with the Local Authority as well?
Local Authorities have a statutory duty to investigate applications from people who claim to be homeless, or, threatened with homelessness. The Council also has the right to nominate applicants from its own register to up to two out of every three vacancies that we have. It's therefore essential to register with them to improve your chances of being housed.

What must I do if my circumstances change?
You should always keep us informed about any changes. We will ask you to fill out another application form to ensure that we have a record - you must also tell the Local Authority about any changes.

Where should I get general housing advice from, or what if I'm homeless or threatened with homelessness?
Your Local Authority has a duty to provide housing advice and also deals with homelessness enquiries. The Council may be able to provide you with temporary emergency accommodation. Magna West Somerset doesn't have any temporary accommodation.

Should I keep contacting you?
You should only contact us if your circumstances change. When we are in a position to offer you a property, we will be in touch.

What if I refuse an offer?
We will not penalise you or withhold further offers if you refuse. It's important to ensure that you have requested areas that you want to live in so that we don't waste time making offers that you don't want. If you've been nominated to us through the Council, you may wish to discuss this with its housing department before refusing an offer.

Are your houses for local people only?
No. We have an "open" register, so anyone in need of housing over the age of eighteen can be housed.

As a single person, why can't I have a two bedroom property?
We assess people's housing requirements on what they need because we have to make the best use of our housing stock. A two bedroom house or bungalow could house a small family or a couple who need separate bedrooms. However, we do sometimes under occupy properties in low demand areas, or areas of high child density.

Why is there such a long wait for properties in Minehead and Alcombe when you have most of your homes there?
These are areas of very high demand - so although we have a lot of our housing stock there we also have a lot of people applying to live there.