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Offering You A Property
When we offer you a property we are asking you to become a tenant of Barnsley Council.
You will sign a tenancy agreement, which is a legal contract between you and the Council.
When will you offer me a home?
We will send you an offer of accommodation only if you are on the Housing Register and you are selected for a vacant property in line with the rules of the Lettings Policy. If this is the case we will either phone you or send you letter offering you the property.
How do I find out if I have been offered a new home?
If we are able to make you an offer of a home we will contact you. This is normally by letter, but sometimes we will phone, email or or visit you to make the offer.
We will tell you:
- the address of the property;
- information about the property (number of bedroom, rent payable, heating type etc.);
- the date the tenancy will start; and
- who to contact about the offer.
You must then contact us to tell us whether or not you are interested in the property. Usually we give you 2 working days to contact us. The offer letter will tell you the latest date you can tell us your decision. If you contact us after this date we may have offered the property to someone else.
If you are interested in the property we can make arrangements for you to view it and then sign the agreement. If you are not interested we can offer the property to someone else. We will update your application to take account of your decision. If you do not contact us we will cancel your application and you will no longer be on the housing register.
If you want the property we will check that your circumstances have not altered. If there have been no changes we will ask you to sign the tenancy agreement and we will tell you everything you need to know about being a Barnsley Council tenant. If your circumstances have changed we will make sure you are still eligible for the property.
You must move into the property as soon as you can after the tenancy has started. If you have not moved in within 6 weeks of the start of the tenancy, we will take legal action to end your tenancy. If you do not move into the property you will not qualify for housing benefit.
What if I refuse the offer?
If you refuse the property without good cause and you are in priority bands 1, 2 or 3 we may reduce you priority. If you have been accepted as homeless the council may also discharge its duty to find you housing.
If you decide to refuse the property we will discuss with you what effect this will have on your application. You have a right to appeal if we remove your priority. For further information visit the Housing Register Appeal Process.
Where do I find out more information about offers?
For more information please ring your local Barnsley Connects Office on (01226) 775555, which are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
If you think you are homeless or threatened with homelessness please ring Barnsley Council's Housing Advice & Homelessness Section on (01226) 773870.
What can I do to help Berneslai Homes?
If we offer you a property you must tell us whether you are interested or not. The offer letter will have a contact phone number in it.
If you are interested we can make arrangements for you to view the property and sign the agreement. If you are not interested we can offer the property to someone else and update your application.
If you do not contact us we will cancel your application for the housing register.
Leaflets
You can download the following leaflets:
Equal opportunities
We are committed to making sure we provide equal opportunities in all our services. The Lettings Policy meets the conditions of the following equal opportunities legislation.
- The Disability Discrimination Act 1995
- The Sex Discrimination Act 1975
- The Race Relations Act 1976 and the Race Relations Act (Amendment) Act 2000.
The policy also matches the aims of the Human Rights Act 1998.
We will treat everyone equally.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to make my mind up?
Usually we ask you to make your mind up in 2 days. We will tell you on the letter the date by when we want you to make your mind up.
Can I refuse the offer?
Yes, you can but if you are in the priority 1, 2 or 3 we may reduce your priority.
Why is it taking a long time for me to get the keys?
We may have to complete repairs or improvements in the property. The property must meet our standards before we give you the keys.
Useful links