Information for Tennants
(statutory & Restricted Rent Act 1977)
Initial Acquisitions
Relocation Expenses
Relocation expenses is a payment made to cover reasonable costs of moving if you have one of the following tenancies:-
- Secure
- Assured
- Protected Rent Act 1977
- Regulated
If you are actually living in a property which is to be sold voluntarily by your landlord and is to be acquired within one of the West End Masterplan areas and you have a statutory tenancy or restricted tenancy under the Rent Act 1977 assistance will be made available to help with the cost of moving. This is to cover the reasonable costs.
This payment is made to enable households to relocate to alternative accommodation without standing the financial cost.
Relocation payments can include reimbursement for the following:-
- Removal expenses
- Disconnection and reconnection of services e.g. telephone electrical appliances and or gas appliances.
- Re-plumbing of washing machine (if applicable)
- Forwarding of post for 1 month
- Rent guarantee or rent deposit paid for your new address
- 1 months rent in advance (if applicable) or rent deposit guarantee scheme
This list is not an exhaustive list. Consideration will be given based on its merits and should be recoverable if a natural, direct and reasonable consequence of being disturbed.
The onus is on the claimant to justify their claim for the above items.
It is of the up most importance that you keep a detailed record of losses sustained and costs incurred in connection with moving out of the property. Keep all relevant documentary evidence such as receipts, invoices and fee quotes.
To qualify for this payment a claimant must hold a statutory tenancy or a have a restricted contract under the 1977 Rent Act. Payment will be made under the following circumstances;- the claimant must have been in occupation of the property concerned as their only or main residence of at least one year before the date of displacement. i.e the date the owner-occupier or tenant(s) was required to move out of the property. The payment can therefore be made to a tenant providing the occupation requirement has been satisfied.
If you require any further advice or assistance please contact Sharon Parkinson on 01524 401004 to discuss. Contact can also be made with the office, fax or via our website, details of which are below.
Winning Back Morecambe’s West End Project Team
61/63 Albert Road
Morecambe
LA4 4HY
Tel: 01524 401004
Fax: 01524 406364
e-mail:westend@lancaster.gov.uk
www.winningbackthewestend.co.uk
Information for Tenants
(Private sector with assured shorthold tenancies or licences)
Initial Acquisitions
This information guide is being made available with the aim of offering correct information, advice and practical support to households living within the Masterplan areas of Morecambe. If you are currently living in a property which is being sold by your landlord within one of the areas which is affected by the West End Masterplan the following arrangements have been put in place to help facilitate and support a move into alternative accommodation.
What Will Happen?
Once an agreement has been reached to acquire a property solicitors will be instructed to proceed with the purchase on the basis the property is sold with vacant possession. The landlord will then supply a schedule of occupants by way of a pro-forma to the West End Project Team. Once the information is received from your landlord Sharon Parkinson from the Winning Back Morecambe’s West End Project Team will contact the Housing Advice and Home Support Teams to arrange for an appointment for an assessment to take place.
Housing Advice & Home Support
Advice & Assessment
At this stage an assessment of your housing needs will take place, and if required, at the same time the home support worker will assess any support needs you may have. Once your housing and support needs have been assessed we will agree the appropriate support and advice which will be offered to you. We will liase closely with your landlord and offer you as much practical advice and assistance as possible.
Notice of Seeking Possession
Once an agreement has been reached to purchase the property arrangements need to be put in place to ensure that the property is empty before the sale is completed. To achieve this your landlord will need to serve a notice on you to terminate your tenancy. When you receive a notice seeking possession from your landlord you will need to take the following steps:-
1. Contact the Winning Back Morecambe’s West End Project Office on Tel: 401004 to ensure the notice you have received is valid and all the details are correct. Also at this stage you need to supply a copy of your tenancy agreement
2. Make contact with the Housing Advisory Team on Tel: 586829 to make arrangements for an assessment of your housing and support needs, if you prefer we can arrange this for you.
3. An appointment will be booked for you to see a Housing Advisory Officer to carry out an assessment of your housing needs and if required the home support service will assess your support requirements
4. If requested we can offer an initial assessment for support to help you through the process and if necessary regular planned support
Alternative Accommodation
What we mean by alternative accommodation is usually finding like for like, for example if you currently occupy a 1 or 2 bed ground floor flat, we will try and facilitate the same property which is not within any of the West End Masterplan affected areas of Morecambe. If you wish to move within the Lancaster and Morecambe district or move out of the area we will also try and facilitate this where practically possible to do so.
We will liase closely with you and your landlord and offer as much practical advice and assistance as possible.
Financial Assistance
Some landlords in certain circumstances may offer financial assistance in the form of payments towards rental deposits for alternative accommodation. This can be discussed with your landlord/landlady or in certain circumstances we may be able to liase on your behalf. Of course there will be circumstances when there is no financial assistance from your landlord/landlady and in those circumstances the following assistance will be made available in the form of a Community Care Grant.
An application will be made for a Community Care Grant to help facilitate a move. Assistance in completing these forms is available through the home support team. The Community Care Grant can help with costs for removals and in certain circumstances essential items. Please note that the Community Care Grant is a one off payment made by the Department for Work and Pensions and is not a loan. The grant does not have to be repaid.
If an application for a Community Care Grant is unsuccessful then it will be possible to provide some financial assistance to facilitate a move into alternative accommodation in the form of removal costs and re-connection of white goods, for example, a gas or electric cooker.
The maximum allowances are as follows:-
- removal costs £100.00
- re-connection of white goods £50.00
- It may also be possible to contribute towards the cost of a deposit through the Council’s Homeless Prevention Protocol subject to availability and meeting the full eligibility criteria of that scheme.
If you require any further advice or assistance please contact Sharon Parkinson, Resettlement and Property Manager, to discuss. Contact can also be made via our office in person, by fax or by e-mail:
Winning Back Morecambe’s West End Project Team
61/63 Albert Road
Morecambe
LA4 4HY
Tel: 01524 401004
Fax: 01524 406364
e-mail:
www.winningbackthewestend.co.uk