Welcome to Barrow Borough Council's Housing Service
These pages on Barrow Borough Council's
website should provide you with all the information you need
to know about the Housing Service and the services we
offer. They contain a comprehensive range of details on many
subjects that matter to you. The pages have been
designed for tenants, prospective tenants and
leaseholders of Barrow Borough Council and have
information on, amongst many things: how to contact us; how to pay
rent; getting repairs done; applying for Council accommodation and
tenant involvement. We provide information on things that are
important to us and we hope will be important to you.
For further information on any of our services, please click on
the relevant link below.
Please let us know what you think about our pages, for example what
is needed or how they can be improved. Your comments - good
or bad - are always welcome and will help us to provide the service
you want. Please email your comments back to us on housing@barrowbc.gov.uk or
write to us at the address given the bottom of the
page.
New Incentive Schemes
The following three incentive schemes have recently been
introduced by the Housing Service:
REWARDING
GOOD TENANTS Tenants who have maintained their tenancy
in accordance with their Tenancy Agreement are now entitled to
enter a quarterly draw to win one of three prizes - a first
prize to the value of £100 and two further prizes of £50 shopping
vouchers.
'GOODBYE'
LEAVE IT CLEAN SCHEME We are offering £100 of
shopping vouchers to those tenants moving out of their
property (into private sector property) who meet certain
criteria.
GOOD
NEIGHBOUR 'THANK YOU' Every three months the Housing
Service will present a resident who has made a difference to their
community with flowers, wine or chocolates up to value of
£25. The person nominated to receive this 'thank you' gift
should live on a Council estate or contribute to the lives of
people or someone who lives on a Council estate.
Please click on the links for each of these schemes for
more details and to print off entry/nominations
forms. Alternatively, entry/nomination forms can be
picked up from the Housing Department or they can be posted out -
tel. (01229) 876523 or email: housing@barrowbc.gov.uk
New Downsizing Scheme
The Housing Service has launched its ‘downsizing’
scheme to help tenants who may be adversely affected by the
Government’s planned welfare reforms.
- Is your home too
big for you?
- Are you struggling to
pay the bills or maintain your property?
How do I apply?
If you are interested in the scheme, you
should apply in writing by filing out the Downsizing Scheme
Application Form on the back of the Downsizing Leaflet which
also gives more information on the Downsizing Scheme and the Terms
& Conditions. Once your application has been accepted in
line with the terms and conditions the scheme offers:
- A higher priority for re-housing in
areas of your choice
- A home visit to assess your needs and
requirements
- A grant towards expenses and towards
the cost of fittings in your new home
- For tenants assessed as being in
special need, practical advice to assist with the move will be
provided
If you have any queries regarding this scheme
or need assistance with the application form please call into our
housing office or ring (01229) 876577 / 876302 or 876550.
Important information for tenants in receipt of housing
benefit
The Government has recently agreed changes to
the Welfare Benefit and Housing Benefit arrangements. If you
claim Housing Benefit to help pay your rent you may be affected by
the changes from April 2013. The changes mean some tenants will get
less Housing Benefit than they did before. For further
details, please read our leaflet:
What you need to know about changes to housing
benefit.
Cumbria Choice - Choice-based Lettings Scheme
Barrow Borough Council Housing Service has joined with the
main housing associations and six local councils in
Cumbria to form a county-wide choice-based lettings scheme called
Cumbria Choice. This means that anyone who
applies to the scheme is able to apply for property owned by all
the associations/councils in the scheme. All property
available for letting is listed in the Cumbria Choice Newsletter
which is available to view in the reception area of the Housing
Service or on the Cumbria Choice website www.cumbriachoice.org.uk
.
For more information on Cumbria Choice and
details of how to register on the scheme link to Applying for Accommodation
Office opening hours
- The Housing Department office is open: Monday to Friday
9am - 4pm
- Telephone enquiries: Monday to Thursday: 8.30am - 5pm
& Friday: 8.30am - 4.30pm
- 24-hour Emergency No. for homelessness or repairs :
833311
Council Housing services in the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness