Q1    : Why has the waiting list been closed until January?

Ans  : Housing services provided by Manningham Housing Asoociation are very popular at the moment. All of our resources are being channelled into satisfying those already on our lists. But as soon as we can, we'll open the list again.

Q2    : How do I become a tenant of Manningham Housing?

Ans  : Ask for a housing application by post, by telephone or call into our office. Complete the application and we will write to advise you of the outcome of your application.

Q3    : How long do people stay on Manningham’s waiting list?

Ans  : It depends on what property you are looking for, Generally, our large family properties (such as 5-bed and 6-bed units) are rarely vacant. So if you are waiting for one, you may have to wait for at least 4 years. Secondly, properties in highly sought after areas rarely become vacant. So if you are waiting for a property in such areas you have to wait for at least 4 years. Other properties become vacant routinely. In 2003/04 we only had 87 vacant properties to let out of about 800 properties that we manage. So, annually 10% of our properties tend to become vacant but there are over 1000 eligible applicants on our waiting list. Accordingly, the average waiting time is a year!

Q4    : How do I pay my rent?

Ans  : We offer a variety of ways to assist you to pay your rent – GIRO payments, Standing Orders, doorstep collection of rent, electronic swipe cards, cash or cheque payment at our office, cheque payment through the post, and recently, online payment through our web site!

Q5    : Can I buy the house that I rent from Manningham Housing?

Ans  : The government offers a variety of schemes to tenants of social landlords to assist them to become home-owners. Right to Acquire is a scheme whereby if you have been a tenant for two years and you live in a property built on or after 1st April 1997, you may be entitled to buy your current home. There is also Voluntary Purchase Grant for social housing tenants living in homes built before 1st April 1997. Housing Associations have discretion over which properties to offer for sale under the Voluntary Purchase Grant.

Q6    : How can I get involved in managing my home and neighbourhood?

Ans  : Manningham Housing is deeply involved in community initiatives, and offers a variety of ways to enable tenants to participate in making decisions that affect the management of their homes. You can become a Board member, sit on our Consumer Panel and Tenants Jury, run a local Tenants/Residents Association, or join Manningham Tenants Association. Resident meetings and initiatives are held several times in the year.

Q7    : Why do I need to pay 2 weeks rent?

Ans  : To keep your rent account in line with your tenancy agreement.

Q8    : Will I get my 2 weeks rent back?

Ans  : Only at the end of the tenancy, provided the rent account is in enough credit.

Q9    : Why do I need to pay my rent if I am on Income Support?

Ans  : It is the tenant’s responsibility to pay their rent when Housing Benefit stops.

Q10    : Can someone else move in with me?

Ans  : You must contact your Housing Officer in writing with full details of who is applying and for length of residency.