Find a home

How to get a home with Charter Community Housing and Banbury Homes.

Charter Community Housing (CCH) provides homes for people in housing need on low incomes.

CCH homes are mainly two or three bedroom family homes but we also have some flats and have sheltered housing for those who are eligible.   CCH also makes some units available to the local authority to place homeless people in temporary accommodation whilst on the waiting list.   It also manages the properties owned by Banbury Homes.

CCH does not operate its own waiting list.   To obtain a home with CCH you will need to apply to Cherwell District Council to go on the Housing Register in order to be included in their Choice Based Lettings system.   As most Social Landlords operating in this area do not have their own waiting lists, the Council provides and manages a Joint Housing Register.   This means you can apply for all properties that become available in the area for which you are eligible.

Application forms can be down loaded from their website www.cherwell-dc.gov.uk or contact us and we can send you one.

The Council seeks to provide homes firstly for those in the  greatest need,   To determine who is in the greatest need a banding system is used which is based on the applicants housing and other relevant circumstances.    You will be notified of your banding assessment as soon as your application is processed.

What happens when I am offered a property?

When CCH has a vacant property this is advertised on Choice Based Lettings.   At the end of the advertising period the Council will consider all applications and make a nomination to us.   We will then make the nominee an offer of tenancy and request that they reply within 3 working days.    This offer will be subject to us completing our own checks and assessments.    These checks may include us contacting the previous landlords and checking that there are no outstanding rent arrears.   If everything is in order we will then proceed and contact you to arrange an accompanied viewing of the property.

Some properties offered will still be occupied by the present tenant and therefore it could be several weeks before we are in a position to arrange a viewing.    Other properties are already vacant and the process could be much quicker.

The Viewing

When we arrange a viewing the Voids manager will be present and will discuss in detail any works that will be done to the property and you will be given an approximate completion date.    This date is an estimate and completion could be earlier or later.    Please note that no children are allowed on viewings as works may be in the process of being carried out and this is a health and safety issue.

Decorating is your responsibility but we may give you materials to help with this and you will be advised at the viewing.

Also present at the viewing will be a member of the Lettings team who will discuss with you the estimated start date of your new tenancy.

If the property offered is in sheltered accommodation you will have the opportunity to meet one of the Community Support Officers or Scheme Managers.

You will be given a copy of the tenancy agreement so you have time to read this and raise any queries before sign up.   You will also be asked to complete our own application form.   We can also offer advice on claiming housing and any other welfare benefits.

The Sign up

We will give you as much notice as possible for your sign up appointment.

We will discuss with you on how to pay your rent, including claiming housing benefit if appropriate.   Please note that rent is payable in advance and you will be required to pay at least one weeks rent at the sign up interview.

You will sign your tenancy agreement and have the opportunity to discuss any queries you may have.

We will provide you with useful information to help with the successful management of your tenancy.

Welcome visit

After approximately six weeks you will receive a Welcome visit from a member of our Tenancy Services team to see how you have settled into your new home.

You will have the opportunity to discuss any queries you have regarding your tenancy.

At this time we will collect the questionnaire you will be sent shortly after your tenancy commenced.

CCH are keen to involve their residents at every level to help us to keep improving.    Please refer to the Resident Involvement section of this website.