Welcome to Epsom & Ewell Homechoice
Our website contains useful information to help you find a suitable home. You can use this website to:
Register and Apply for for social housing
Search for available properties
View results of previous lettings
If you or someone you know would like would like help to use Homechoice please contact Housing Services. Click How to Contact Us for contact details and opening hours.
IMPORTANT NEWS - June 2019
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR HOUSING APPLICATION - PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU LOG ON
In June 2015 Epsom & Ewell Borough Council agreed a new Housing Allocation policy. This policy sets out how we prioritise housing needs and allocate social housing.
A summary of this policy is available here. A full copy of the new policy is available here: New Housing Application Policy 2016
Over the last two years we have been rolling out this policy and have been reassessing all applicants on the register.
Housing Services has now nearly finished this reassessment process and we will be writing to you shortly to inform you of your banding priority and when we will be ready to start advertising properties again.
We intend to start advertising properties in stages and will do this based on the property size i.e. 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, 3 bedroom etc.
We apologise that this process has taken longer than we expected. However I would like to reassure you that no applicants have missed out on properties as we have included all eligible applicants on any shortlists and have contacted those that have been successful.
I would also advise that under the new Housing Allocation policy that if you have any housing related debt and do not have in place, or are not keeping to, an agreed repayment plan you will be placed in a reduced priority band and will not be considered for rehousing. I would therefore strongly advise you to make and keep to an appropriate repayment plan.
Housing Services are open from 10 am to 4 pm - Monday to Friday.
If you have a housing enquiry you will need to report to the main Reception and wait to be called. You will then be seen by the Duty Officer.
The Housing Options team are unable to see customers without a pre-booked appointment and if you turn up unexpectantly they will no longer be able to see you. The Duty Officer will be able to deal with general enquiries or arrange for a Housing Options Officer to call you within 24 hours.
Affordable Rent & Fixed Term Tenancies
Housing Associations now let their properties at Affordable Rents as opposed to subsidised Social Rents. Affordable Rent homes are a form of social housing however Affordable Rents are likely to be set at a level of up to 80% of the market rent.
The vast majority of general needs properties available in the borough (including Rosebery Housing Association’s) will be now let on Affordable Rents and very few properties will be let at subsidised Social Rents. When applying for Housing please be aware that the rents you are likely to be charged will now be at a similar level to most private rented housing rents.
Housing Associations are also be able to let their properties on fixed-term tenancies of at least five (occasionally two) years.
Help to Buy and Low Cost Home Ownerhip
If you are interested in low cost home ownership or Help to Buy you will need to register with Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing (bpha) who provide a 'one stop shop' for all government supported homeownership and rental opportunities. bpha are delivering this service on behalf of the Homes and Communities Agency in the East and South East of England. For more information please visit www.helptobuyeastandsoutheast.uk.com or call 03333 214044 or email helptobuyeastandsoutheast@bpha.org.uk . More details about the available options and schemes are available on this website.
ETHOS - Employment, Training Housing Options Support
If you are not already in work or training Housing Services now offers specialised employment advice service that can assist you, or members of your household, to get access to training, learning and employment opportunities. This will include better off at work calculations, assistance with CV, job applications, interview techniques and work action plans, as well as financial management and benefit advice. I enclose a leaflet which explains more about this service and if you would like to arrange an appointment please contact Nanette Chandler on 01372 732000 or 07904908871.
If you or someone you know would like help to use our service please contact us. Click How to Contact Us for contact details and opening hours.
Property Information Line 01372 732666
Take down the Reference number of any properties you are interested in, make sure you have your log in details to hand, and then call
Property Bidding Line 0845 2701908
All calls are charged at local rates
We would welcome your feedback on this service. If you have any comments to make please contact us at housing@epsom-ewell.gov.uk
Some information on this site is in PDF format (Portable Document Format) To view these documents you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.