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How To Apply
Applying for Housing with Magna West Somerset Housing Association
For more information on shared ownership, visit Magna's development company's website by clicking here.
Under certain circumstances, if you are an existing tenant, you may be able to purchase your home. You can find out more from our leaflet on Preserved Right to Buy and Right to Acquire.
We work in partnership with Local Authorities where we have housing stock and up to 2 out of every 3 of our empty homes are allocated to people nominated to ourselves from Local Authority Housing Registers. You should contact the Local Authority in the area that you wish to live to see if you are eligible to join their Housing Register.
Up to 1 in 3 of our empty homes are let from our own waiting list.
How to Apply to MWS’s Housing Register
The Magna West Somerset housing waiting list has closed to all new external applicants with effect from 23rd July 2007. No new application forms will be issued after that date. Application forms will still be available to our current tenants wishing to register for a transfer. These are available to down load from our website and from our offices at St Peter’s House, Bridge Street, Williton, TA4 4NR or by telephoning free phone 0800 138 6107.
A recent review of our waiting list and the lettings we do from it showed that there are far more applicants joining than are being re-housed in any one year. This fact coupled with the impact that choice based lettings will have has led to the decision to close the list.
When choice-based lettings is introduced across Somerset towards the end of 2008, we will no longer be able to hold and allocate houses from our own waiting list. The 5 district councils in Somerset and the majority of RSLs will use just one common housing waiting list. For more details about the proposals to introduce choice based lettings in Somerset, visit the Somerset home finder website at www.homefindersomerset.co.uk
Application forms received after 23.7.07 (but issued on or before 20.07.07) will be accepted and registered as usual.
External applicants (that is, non-Magna West Somerset tenants) needing to register for housing are advised to contact the local authority in whose area they wish to live. See links below.
We will continue to allocate properties from our list as usual and carry out annual reviews until the introduction of choice based lettings late in 2008.
Forms for existing tenants of Magna West Somerset can be obtained from:
St Peters House
Bridge Street
Williton, Taunton TA4 4NR
Tel: 0800 138 6107
Or, existing tenants of Magna West Somerset can download it by clicking here. (Click here for guidance notes)
Processing your Application (existing tenants only)
We will assess your application form using the information you provide, if we need more information we will contact you.
If we have all of the information required we will tell you within 28 working days of receipt of your application:
- the registered date of your application
- your banding assessment
- your acceptance onto the housing register
We may need to make a home visit to check the information on your application.
Assessing your Application
We use a banding system to assess your circumstances as follows:
- Band A
Those in urgent need of housing including those who are homeless, or threatened with homelessness, people who have an urgent need to move or transfer, people who are subject to, or under threat of, violence.
- Band B
Those who have a less urgent need including those living in poor housing conditions, in an unsuitable location, in overcrowded conditions, in unaffordable accommodation, those who are subject to harassment or who wish to move to assist them with employment.
- Band C
For existing MWS tenants to enable them to register for a move to another property for family or other reasons, to enable appropriate use of housing stock, to improve the balance and sustainability in neighbourhoods.
- Band D
For all other applicants who do not fit into A, B or C
You may be placed into more than one band.
When we have a property to offer, we will give consideration to the longest registered applicant in each band, and then make the appropriate allocation.
The Type of property that you may be offered
We will only offer you a property that is suitable for your requirements and in an area that you have requested. You can select as many areas as you wish
The following are the most likely types of property to be offered:
| Single person |
Bedsit or 1 bedroom home |
| Couple |
1 or 2 bedroom home |
| Couple or single parent and 1 child |
2 bedroom home |
| Couple or single parent and 2 children |
2 or 3 bedroom home |
| Couple or single parent and 3 or 4 children |
3 or 4 bedroom home |
| Couple or single parent with 5 + children |
5 or 6 bedroom home |
Local Authority Nominations
Up to 2 out of 3 of our empty properties are let to people nominated from local authority housing register. The local authority nominates applicants in accordance with their own allocations policy, which may be different from ours. You may wish to register with them, if you are eligible, to improve your chances of being housed.
If you are homeless, or threatened with homelessness, you should contact the local authority as they have a duty to provide housing advice and may be able to provide you with some form of temporary accommodation.
If you have any questions about applying for a Magna home please contact St. Peter's House (Tel: 0800 138 6107) or click here for a list of frequently asked questions.
last updated 27.07.07 |
