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General Application Verification

 

All applications must be verified before they can be activated and assessed for priority.

All applications for rehousing through U1R must provide the required verification documentation. This includes ( where available) :

• Passport or immigration documentation, to help determine eligibility to rent social housing in England.
• A utility or Council Tax bill from the past three months
• Birth certificate,
• All financial records from the past three months relating to income and savings to determine qualification.
• All legal records relating to property ownership*
• Proof of National Insurance number for the main and joint applicant.
• Proof of current residence for all household members.
• Proof of ID for all household members.
• Proof of local connection for the main or joint applicant.
• Landlord reference for main and joint applicant, except where a tenancy has never been held in which case the need for a reference is waived. We do not request personal references.
• Details of any relevant unspent convictions

 

Local Connection – must provide evidence that one criteria is met for Qualification

 

Residence

Evidence is required  of current and continuous residence across the St Helens area for the previous two years.

If currently  resident in St Helen area for 2+ years, a document dated within last three months plus a document dated two+ years ago.

Acceptable documents:

• Tenancy Agreement / landlord reference
• Mortgage Agreement
• Council Tax Bill
• Utility Bill (gas, electric, water, TV)
• Mobile phone bill
• Bank Statement
• P60 / HMRC document
• Benefits letter
• Confirmation from the Electoral Register

If you do not meet the 2 year residence criteria you would need to provide proof of at least one of the following local connections criteria :  

Employment (min 16 hours per week, min 12 month contract) including address of employer

• Contract of employment
• Letter from Employer

• Wage slip ( current and 12 months / address of employer )
• P60 ( previous year)
• Self employed
  • Business rates
  • Business utility bill
  • Business bank statement

 

​​Close family association i.e., parent / other guardian, sibling or adult child with frequent contact who has been resident in the area for the last five years.

•  
  • Proof of familial connection – full birth certificate showing parent names, marriage certificate
  • Proof of residence for family member dated within last 3 months and also previous five years ( evidence as above for 2 years )  

 

Special Reason

 Need  to be near special services only available in St Helens

• Letter confirming appointments or specialist support / medical need

 

Care Leavers

Care Leavers placed outside the St Helens LA who are owed a duty by the LA . Evidence from St Helens Care Leaver Team.

 

Other Local connection criteria / disregard

Some Armed Forces personnel and members of the Armed Forces community – evidence of service required

People with a continuing caring responsibility for someone resident in St Helens  – evidence of caring

People fleeing domestic abuse – evidence required from DA services eg MARAC. Police or Safe2Speak etc , assessment based on individual circumstances.

 

ARREARS

Qualification – less than 2 months rent owing , if over 2 months then a repayment arrangement must have been in place for 3 months

• Rent Statement showing monthly rent due
• Evidence of repayments eg bank statement
• Tenancy Agreement (rent increase notice)
• Landlord Reference
• Letter from landlord on official headed paper

 

SAVINGS OVER £16000

Not eligible over £16k – if the savings level has reduced to under £16000 the following would be required : each case considered on its merits.  Applies to joint savings amount for all household members.

• Bank Statements
• Credit Card Statements
• Proof of large purchases eg cars. Furniture, holidays
• Proof of long standing payments to family members eg , university

 

HOMEOWNERS  

Exemptions apply to Domestic Abuse/Negative Equity/ Inability to Access

• Proof of negative equity
• Valuation of property / amount its being sold for
• Bank Statements
• Solicitors Letters
• Repossession or mortgage statements
• Safe2speak /police
• Demolition/Prohibition order

 

16/17 year olds

• Confirmation from  St Helens Childrens services of status

Proof of Trustee – professional person who knows the young person

 

Documentation required	Required for Activation Yes / No	Household Member	Assessment Element
Proof of ID / Immigration status: Current Passport or Birth Certificate or Immigration documents to show eligibility including access to public funds e.g.,Evisa , immigration decision letter. If above unavailable can accept: Benefit Agency claim including Child Benefit, Current UK photo card drivers' licence, Inland Revenue notification / tax assessment.	Yes	All household members moving	Eligibility
Proof of NINO: Benefit Agency Letter NINO Card / letter Inland Revenue letter P60 Pay slip Pension statement	Yes	Main and Joint applicant	Eligibility

 

Proof of current address: Current years’ Council Tax Bill, Utility Bill (gas, electric, water, TV) dated within last 3 months. Bank Statement dated within last 3 months, Recent Benefit Agency claim including Child Benefit dated within last 3 months, Current UK photo card drivers' licence.

Yes

All household members moving

Eligibility and Qualification

Landlord reference: This should be from the current landlord if there is one, otherwise from a former landlord. See Appendix 2 for landlord reference proforma. If a tenancy has never been held then the need for a landlord reference is waived. Do not request a personal reference. If the current landlord will not provide a reference or the applicant does not want to ask in case of repercussions, can accept: Copy of tenancy agreement and, Evidence of rental payments for at least the last six months.
MATB1 Certificate – an unborn child will not be counted in the bedroom assessment until this is received. However, an application can be activated without this.
Shared Care arrangements. Where a child spends equal amounts of time in different households or there is a question as to whom they normally live with , they will be treated as living with the person who is receiving child benefit for them Local Authority / Looked After children Proof of Special Guardianship orders and Child Arrangement Orders Letter from Social Services or Court about long term arrangement for child

 

An additional bedroom for an adult or child who cannot share due to a disability or medical condition: Evidence required of the condition and the reason the household member cannot share a bedroom. Each case needs to be assessed on its own merits. Evidence may include: Letter from a medical professional confirming the disability / medical condition e.g. consultant, paediatrician. A GP letter may be sufficient but only where this is detailed information and a clear GP professional opinion that the room is required and the reason why. Often a GP letter will not be sufficiently detailed in which case it can still be taken into consideration, but only in conjunction with evidence from other professionals involved in the household member’s care evidencing a clear need for an additional bedroom. Letter from a Social Worker, detailing the individual circumstances and need for an additional room. Keep in mind that a Social Worker is not a medical professional and so evidence may be required from a medical professional as well confirming the diagnosis. Letter from an Occupational Therapist. Letter from a mental health professional involved in the household member’s care. Disability benefits may be in payment and may help to build a case, but they do not necessarily need to be in payment. Evidence of a payment for an additional bedroom for a disabled person is sufficient evidence to award an additional bedroom for U1R without the need for any further evidence