Retirement Living Property Bulletin

You may express an interest in up to three properties, with a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice.  If we receive more than one expression of interest in a property, we will prioritise viewings based on an individual’s banding and application date:

• If you are the priority applicant for one of your choices, you will be offered a viewing of that property.
• If you are the priority applicant for two or more of your choices, you will be offered a viewing for your highest choice.
• We will only be able to offer you a slot to view any of your subsequent choices if you are the only customer to have expressed an interest in the property.

Expressions of interest should please be made by 26th February 2023. If your expression of interest is prioritised, we will contact you by 10th March 2023 to arrange for you to view the property

We have a mix of property within our portfolio. A more recently build property will be let to you largely as is, with only minor works and compliance checks. Older properties may need to be refurbished before being let to you. These properties are usually advertised prior to refurbishment works being undertaken. Properties will be prepared in line with our current lettings standard and we can provide you with a copy of this before you view a property to give you an idea of the work we may undertake.

Within the property information we have now included the properties Energy Performance Rating (EPC). If works are carried out to a property which would significantly change the rating (generally to improve the energy performance of the building) once these are completed a revised assessment will be carried out and you will be provided with an updated EPC certificate showing the new rating as part of the tenancy information pack. 

To help inform your decisions around the expressions of interest, we have included answers to some ‘frequently asked questions’ with this bulletin.  Please read this alongside looking at the available properties.

Once we have reviewed all expressions of interest from the January 2023 edition of the bulletin, we will get in touch with successful applicants to arrange a viewing. We would ask that a viewing is undertaken within 2 weeks of us contacting you as there may be other people waiting to view the property, in the event that you turn down this offer.

If you are unable to view the property in person at this time then we can arrange a virtual viewing of the property. For a virtual viewing we will arrange for a specialist to attend the property who will make a video tour. You will then be able to view the tour via a web link. If you would like to find out more about the area around the property, we would recommend having a look at existing online platforms such as Google Maps and Google Street View.

If, after viewing a property using a virtual tour you wish to reserve the property “in principle” then you will be able to do so until you are able to view in person.

There are a few properties where immediate viewings may not be possible (for example, if there is still a resident in occupation). In these instances, you will be able to reserve the property “in principle” until it is possible to undertake a viewing.

You are able to reserve a property up to 5 years before you are due to retire. You will not be charged any rent for the property until your tenancy starts. Depending on the length of time from the point of reservation to your retirement date and the time anticipated to undertake any works, we may seek to let the property on a short term basis commercially to another party prior to you moving in.

We would strongly recommend you seek to reserve a property at least 12 months prior to your retirement date. This will enable us to ensure that necessary works are carried out in good time for you to move in. Depending on the level of works required to a property it normally takes around 10 months from a customer viewing and reserving a property, to it being ready for you to move in.

We would encourage you to be as flexible and open as possible about the type of property you would like to have and its location. Given the wide geographical spread of the properties we own it is unlikely that properties will arise in very defined geographical locations.

The homes on our bulletin reflect those that we have that are empty and available for re-letting or are known to becoming empty soon. We would therefore encourage you to look carefully at each bulletin you receive. As other properties from within the existing portfolio become available these will also be advertised through future bulletins.

If you still can’t find something that suits you within the available CHARM properties, our housing team are able to provide you with information about other housing options with other housing providers who may be able to assist you. Details can also be found in the property bulletin.

In considering which properties you would like to express an interest in it is important you consider the ongoing affordability of the rent and other costs that you are responsible to pay (such as council tax, gas, water, electricity) and any one-off costs you may incur when you move (such as carpets and curtains).

Our rents are subsidised by the Church and are lower than standard market rents for similar properties in the area. Our rents are set using a standard formula which takes into account; the location, size and value of a property. By considering a smaller property and/or a property in an alternative location you may find the rental charge is more affordable.

Depending on your level of income and capital you may qualify for Housing Benefit to support you in paying rents. Your Housing Officer can arrange for you to be provided with further information around this.

If your circumstances change it is important you let us know as soon as possible. This may include:

• Changes due to medical need
• Changes to your anticipated retirement date
• Changes in financial resource
• Changes in area of interest/property types
• Changes in household make up

If you need a home with particular features to suit your medical needs and this was not discussed at your Housing Interview, please ensure your Housing Officer is aware of this. We may require you to have a video conference/face to face assessment with an Occupational Therapist to discuss what adaptations you are likely to require in the short and longer-term. We are normally able to undertake minor adaptations as part of preparing a property prior to you moving in, provided the property is suitable for adaptation and is likely to meet your long term needs.

If there is a property on the bulletin which you are interested in, but it may require some minor adaptation then you should express an interest in the property and we will consider if it can be adapted for you. We are often able to make adaptations such as installations of showers/wet rooms to replace baths, forming ramps to properties, widening doorways etc. We do not normally install stairlifts or through floor lifts.