Frequently asked questions about Coventry Homefinder
Who can apply and who will not be allowed to register?
The eligibility criteria are set out in legislation – these are based mainly on immigration status and habitual residence in the UK.
The Government has given local councils more flexibility in setting local criteria to decide who ‘qualifies’ to join the register.
The Coventry Homefinder Policy includes the following qualifying criteria:
- You must have a local connection (except in some exceptional circumstances)
- You must have a housing need that is recognised in the policy. If you are adequately housed, you will not be able to join the register.
- If you have a household income over £50,000 or assets over £50,000, you will not be able to join the Homefinder register
What do I do if I don’t agree with my band?
You will be placed in a band based on the information you have provided. Please provide all the information about your current circumstances on your application and provide any documents requested.
If you believe your band does not reflect your circumstances based on the policy, you may request a review within 28 days by emailing HousingReview@coventry.gov.uk detailing why you believe the decision to be incorrect against the Homefinder policy.
What if my circumstances have changed?
It is your responsibility to tell us about any changes to your circumstances, you can do this by logging into your Homefinder account and completing the 'Have your circumstances changed?' form. Depending on the type of change you are telling us about we will assess this against the Homefinder policy and where necessary award a new band. If you are awarded a new band your effective date will change to the date you submitted the change of circumstances form.
Do I need to renew my application annually?
Yes, you will be contacted each year on the anniversary of your registration on the scheme where you will be prompted to log into your account and tell us if there have been any changes to your circumstances.
Examples of a change of circumstances could include:
- A change of household makeup such as expecting a child or a household member leaving the home
- A change in personal circumstances such as moving home or a change in medical condition that is being impacted by your accommodation
- A change in contact details
We will send you a reminder by email to tell you that your application is due for 'renewal' and you will have 56 days to tell complete this. If you do not complete your renewal within the 56-day timeframe, you will be removed from the housing register and will need to apply again if you wish to bid for social housing again in future.
What do I do if you tell me I cannot join the register?
We will assess whether you qualify to join the register based on the information you give us on your application form.
Once your application has been assessed, If you are told that you cannot join the register based on the qualifying criteria but you believe this is incorrect, you may request a review within 28 days by emailing HousingReview@coventry.gov.uk detailing why you believe the decision to be incorrect against the Homefinder policy.