Housing

The Housing Services Unit covers 3 principal areas:

Request Information / Report an Issue

Use our online form to report or request information on any of these areas.

Eastleigh Homechoice provides information on all Housing Association homes available for rent within the Borough.

Winter 2007 Homechoice Newsletter ( pdf )

How can we be contacted?

For personal callers we can be found on the 1^st floor of the Civic Offices, Leigh Road, Eastleigh. Alternatively, our contact details are:

Telephone 023 8068 8165

Fax 023 8068 8167

E-mail Housing@eastleigh.gov.uk

Our opening hours are:Monday toThursday 8.30am to 5.00pm, Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm

Housing Advice

The area of the service covers three main functions:

The provision of housing advice

The management of the Eastleigh Homechoice Housing Register

Specialist services to people who find themselves homeless

We are also able to provide advice and assistance with sheltered accommodation. ( pdf )

Housing Strategy and Enabling

This area of the service covers:

The co-ordination and production of the Housing Strategy 2006-11 pdf for the Borough through the Housing Strategy Board

The development of affordable housing in the Borough including promoting good use of existing properties by bringing back empty properties into use where possible

The provision of information and advice on energy efficiency by our specialist Home Energy Conservation Officer

The production of the "Balancing Housing Markets" self-assessment as part of the Council's submission for its Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA)

Housing Need

A major survey into housing need in the Borough was undertaken in October 2002. The results from this survey were used to inform our Housing Strategy and the Local Plan, especially on dwellings mix and the types and location of affordable housing required. The survey was updated in 2004, and in 2006, we completed a Housing Market Assessment as part of the Partnership for Urban South Hants (PUSH) Sub region.

Housing Need Summary ( pdf )

Housing Market Assessment ( pdf )

During 2006 a report was produced into the housing needs of the Gypsy and Traveller community across Hampshire. A further report completed in 2008 assesses the needs of Travelling Show People across Hampshire. The links below lead to the full reports for the whole county. It should be noted that Eastleigh Borough Council has not yet taken a formal view on the issues raised

Housing for Older People

An accommodation strategy for older people has been agreed by the council. The main themes include supporting people to remain in their own home, providing choice in housing for those wishing to move, upgrading the existing sheltered housing provision and looking at the need for new housing and services.

Older Persons Accommodation Strategy 2004 - 2007( pdf )

In July 2007 a report entitled "Bleak Housing" was launched by Eastleigh Southern Parishes Older People's Forum who researched and wrote it. The report was commissioned and funded by the Housing Services Unit of Eastleigh Borough Council to look at people's housing needs and aspirations in retirement. The resulting recommendations will help us produce an updated Older Persons Housing Strategy from 2008. This strategy in turn will inform policy decisions on the types and design of the housing we provide for older people and on a range of other services to help people maintain their independence at home.

Bleak Housing Report ( pdf )

Supporting People

What is Supporting People ?

The Supporting People Programme funds and commissions housing related support services that assist over 18,000 vulnerable people across Hampshire, enabling them to live as independently as possible in their own accommodation. It is a partnership between Eastleigh Borough Council, Hampshire Supporting People, Hampshire County Council Adult Services, the Health Service, Probation and a range of organisations providing both supported accommodation and floating support services.

Who can the Supporting People Programme help ?

• Older people

• People with learning disabilities, mental health problems or physical disabilities

• Women escaping domestic violence

• Young vulnerable people & teenage parents

• Homeless people

• People with substance misuse problems

• People at risk of offending

How do these people benefit from Supporting People funded services?

By being supported to:

• Understand and manage the rights and responsibilities of their tenancy

• Budget – e.g. to pay the rent

• Sort out utility services (water, gas and electricity supplies etc.)

• Ensure their home is safe and secure

• Develop life skills associated with maintaining a home or tenancy

• Access relevant benefits associated with living in their own home.

• Live independently in sheltered housing.

• Arrange adaptations and minor repairs to the home

• Gain access to local community organisations

• Have access to advice, advocacy and liaison.

Types of services funded by the Supporting People Programme

• Domestic violence refuges

• Direct access hostels

• Sheltered housing

• Home improvement agencies

• Floating support to people in their own homes

• Accommodation based services where support is linked to accommodation

Who is eligible ?

Anyone over 16 who is in need of the kinds of support services the programme provides. Services are either “short term” in nature (i.e. people receive them for up to two years) for which there is no cost to the service user, or they are long-term in nature for which a charge may be levied. If the service user is in receipt of a means tested benefits they may be eligible to have their support costs met on their behalf through the Supporting People programme. In these cases the service user must be in receipt of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Job Seekers Allowance, Pension Credit or Income Support

Note : To determine the amount of support charge someone may have to pay when accessing long-term services people can be referred by their support service provider to the financial assessment process operated on behalf of the Hampshire Supporting People Programme by the CAB in Rushmoor.

To find details of Supporting People service providers in Eastleigh or other parts of Hampshire or to identify an appropriate service the following can be contacted :

• The Eastleigh Borough Council housing department, 02380 688165

• The prospective service user’s care manager if they have one.

• The Supporting People Local Co-ordinator for the area on 01962 826000

• The Supporting People Service Directory at http://www.spdirectory.org.uk/

Additional Information sources

Additional information relating to the current Hampshire Supporting People Strategy, SP policy, governance, news and events, besides any general enquiries etc can be accessed via:

• The Hants SP website: http://www.hants.gov.uk/housingsupport/

• The “What Is The Supporting People Programme?” Leaflet

• The quarterly Hants SP Newsletter – also available via the website.

• The National SP Service Directory : www.spdirectory.org.uk/

• E-mail, via: supporting.people@hants.gov.uk

Assistance for Homeowners

Information and advice on Funding Home Repairs & Improvements in the Private Sector is provided by the Private Sector Renewal Team. They can be contacted on 023 8068 8301.

Funding Home Repairs and Improvements in the Private Sector Policy
Financial Assistance CHART ( pdf )

The Council tries to provide customers with the best service possible. For housing customers we have set out the underlying principles of the service, what you can expect from the service when you contact us and what you can do if things go wrong.

The Service Standards of the Unit

The details are set out in the leaflet below. Printed copies are available from our Reception Service (Contact us)
Service Standards for Housing Customers ( pdf )

Glossary of Housing Terms

We know that at times we use too much jargon when talking about housing. We do try to present information in plain English but if we have used a term that you do not understand try using our glossary of terms ( pdf ) for an explanation. If you still have queries, please contact us.

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Page Last Updated: 7/3/2008
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Eastleigh Borough Council, Civic Offices, Leigh Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9YN
Telephone: 023 8068 8068, Fax: 023 8064 3952, Text: 07797 877001
Email:direct@eastleigh.gov.uk