Working and
Business

Governing and
Administering

Performing and
Improving

Living and
Visiting

About Us and
Regeneration

Welcome to the web pages of Swale Borough Council's Housing Services unit

If you are, or are about to be made homeless then view our pages on Homelessness Prevention, Homelessness Criteria and our Homelessness strategy. Our Domestic Abuse page may also provide you with useful information.

Our Housing web pages below provide a variety of information:

Our Housing Strategy and Customer Service Standards. View information about your housing options; from Choice Based Lettings and affordable Home Ownership Schemes to Sheltered Housing and the Housing Register (a prioritised database of local housing need which the council administers). Staying Put - our handyman and property maintenance service helping residents who are over 60 and disabled. Housing grants, loans and discounts to support repairs, adaptations or improvements to the energy efficiency of the local housing stock. Lots of useful information for both tenants and landlords. We bring empty, derelict and under utilised buildings back into circulation for housing use and you can report an empty property. Find out about unauthorised homes.

The Housing Services unit aims to improve the quality of life in Swale. We work closely with local Housing Associations (HA's) and other strategic partners to develop homes to meet local housing need and we monitor housing quality, suitability, and compliance to health and safety policy and legislation.

Outreach Services

The Housing Services unit work in partnership with the Citizens Advice Bureau in Swale to provide outreach services. They have specialist caseworkers who can provide advice, help and support in the following area: Debt, Benefits, Housing, Employment, Legal and Relationship. You can find out more about the available services and opening times from their website Cabin Swale, or call 0844 499 4124 (Sittingbourne and Sheppey offices), or 0844 499 4125 (Faversham office).

If you have housing issues you would like to discuss then the Citizens Advice Bureau also runs weekly Housing Surgeries:

	Sheerness	Faversham	Sittingbourne
	Monday 10am - 2pm, Citizens Advice Bureau, 12-14 Hope Street, Sheerness	Tuesday 2pm - 4pm, Citizens Advice Bureau, 43 Stone Street, Faversham	Friday 10am - 2pm, Citizens Advice Bureau, 17 Station Street, Sittingbourne

For more details please contact Jean on 07845 231 209 and please bring with you any paperwork relevant to your query.

Your Questions Answered

Your questions should be answered by the following web pages and the various housing leaflets available online (as well as hard copies available in council offices). If your question is not answered fully, please contact a member of our Housing Services Team, who will be able to help you.

Our web pages:

Housing Options
Information about your housing options regarding renting property privately, from Housing associations and Sheltered Housing operators. Customer Service Standards for Housing Services
Our customer service standards set out in detail the level of service you can expect from the Housing Services Department . Developing Affordable Housing
The local authorities of North Kent welcome organisations to work in partnership with each authority and other local agencies to deliver high quality affordable housing in line with identified local needs. Housing Services Performance
A review of our Housing Services by the Audit Commission Housing Fraud - Blow the whistle on Housing Cheats
Find out how about housing fraud and how to report someone you suspect of fraud. Housing Strategy
Our Housing Strategy is an over-arching document that reviews all housing related issues in Swale. It sets out housing aims and objectives, establishes priorities for action and includes a comprehensive Action Plan. Homelessness Prevention
Are you homeless or about to be made homeless and need help? Landlord and Tenant Information
Information for landlords and for tenants of privately rented accommodation. Role of Housing Enforcement
Did you know if you are a landlord of a property the accommodation your provide must meet a basic safety standard? Staying Put
Over 60 and/or disabled? -We help residents who are owner-occupiers or private tenants with any property repairs or adaptations needed. Disabled Facilities Grants
These grants are given to owners or tenants to help provide essential adaptations to enable disabled occupants to use or access their home. Energy Efficient Homes - Advice, Grants and Discounts
We can provide information and advice on energy efficiency to householders. You may qualify for a grant or discount to improve your homes efficiency. Housing Grants and Loans
The Council offers a range of grants to eligible householders and Landlords to carry out repairs or disabled adaptations to property. Lifetime Homes Requirement
'Lifetime Homes' is a set of principles adopted into current building regulations which make new homes flexible enough to meet whatever comes along in life. Unauthorised Homes - Gypsies
An overview on unauthorised homes and gypsies. Report an Empty Property
Do you know of an empty property suitable for residential use, then report it to the council. Have Your Say on Housing
We are committed to providing high quality services and continuing to improve our services to meet your needs. Housing Leaflets
A useful list of our core housing related leaflets
Housing Organisation Chart
The Housing Team organisational structure. (PDF 53.9kb)

© 2011 Swale Borough Council. Translate this page into another language using the Microsoft Translator.