We’re making some important changes to the way we allocate our homes.
To find out more about the changes in your area, please choose one of the tabs below.
Homes Plus has social and affordable homes to rent in Staffordshire and Shropshire.
You can find out more about how to rent one of our homes by clicking the area tabs below.
The first step towards moving into a home rented in Shropshire is to register with Shropshire Homepoint. Anyone can register – just fill in the online application form, or call 0300 303 8595, and you are on your way.
We’re making some important changes to the way we allocate our homes in South Staffordshire.
This means you won’t be able to create a new housing application on My Homefinder from 17th November.
If you’re already on the waiting list, you can continue to use My Homefinder to bid for homes until this closes on 19 December 2025, ahead of the launch of our new lettings system in February.
These changes follow a review of local housing demand. You can find more information about this change and your options, here.
We’ve made changes to the way you find and apply for a home in the Stafford area.
If you believe you have an urgent housing need, please contact your local council for advice and support.
If you are interested in a Homes Plus home in Stafford, please visit our ‘Homes Available Now’ page. Here you will find homes that are ready to let immediately, as well as any waiting lists open for applications.
You can also use our ‘Save a search’ feature to be notified if homes matching your criteria become available. Simply choose your preferred property type and location, and the system will automatically email you if a matching home becomes available.
These changes follow a review of local housing demand. Find out more, here.
After Thursday 1 April 2021, we will be accepting nominations for 75% of our properties in Telford & Wrekin from Telford & Wrekin Council. Therefore, if you are homeless or due to be homeless in the next 56 days, please contact Telford & Wrekin Housing Options Team on 01952 381925.
The remaining 25% of our properties will be advertised on Telford Homefinder. Visit the Telford HomeFinder website here for details on how to register and apply.
Please note: Homes Direct closed on 31 March 2021.
How do I look for a home?
Before you can begin expressing interest in our homes, you will need to register on one or more of the application website(s) detailed in the tabs above. The website(s) that you need to register an account for will depend on the area in which you are interested in living. Please see the tabs above for further details.
Once your registration has been accepted, you will be able to browse available homes in that area.
Am I eligible for one of your homes?
Our homes have clear eligibility criteria which will be made clear on our adverts. Applicants can only apply for a property if they meet the eligibility criteria laid out below.
Bungalows with one bedroom
- Occupancy – single person or couple where at least one applicant has a high medical /support need or is over 55 years of age and the allocation of a bungalow is the only way that the applicant’s housing need can be met.
- Disability – yes.
Bungalows with two bedrooms
- Occupancy – single person or couple where at least one applicant has a high medical /support need or is over 55 years of age and the allocation of a bungalow is the only way that the applicant’s housing need can be met.
- Disability – yes.
- Additional information – maximum 2 children (children of the same sex under the age of 16 or any two children regardless of sex under the age of 10) or 1 carer.
Bungalows with three bedrooms
- Occupancy – single person or couple where at least one applicant has a high medical /support need or is over 55 years of age and the allocation of a bungalow is the only way that the applicant’s housing need can be met.
- Disability – yes.
- Additional information – maximum 4 children (children of the same sex under the age of 16 share a room or any two children regardless of sex under the age of 10 share a room) or 1 carer.
Houses with one bedroom
- Occupancy – single/couple.
- Disability – generally no – only in exceptional circumstances.
Houses with two bedrooms
- Occupancy – single/couple with minimum 1 dependent child or carer.
- Disability – generally no – only in exceptional circumstances.
- Additional information – maximum 2 children (children of the same sex under the age of 16 or any two children regardless of sex under the age of 10) or 1 carer.
Houses with three bedrooms
- Occupancy – single/couple with minimum 2 dependent children or carers.
- Disability – generally no – only in exceptional circumstances.
- Additional information – maximum 4 children (children of the same sex under the age of 16 share a room or any two children regardless of sex under the age of 10 share a room) or 1 carer.
Houses with four bedrooms
- Occupancy – single/couple with minimum 3 dependent children or carers.
- Disability – generally no – only in exceptional circumstances.
- Additional information – maximum 6 children (children of the same sex under the age of 16 share a room or any two children regardless of sex under the age of 10 share a room) or 1 carer.
First floor or above flats with one bedroom
- Occupancy – single/couple.
- Disability – generally no – only in exceptional circumstances.
First floor or above flats with two bedrooms
- Occupancy – single/couple + 1 dependent.
- Disability – generally no – only in exceptional circumstances.
- Additional information – maximum 1 dependent at allocation.
Ground floor flats with one bedroom
- Occupancy – single/couple.
- Disability – yes.
- Additional information – yes if adapted.
Ground floor flats with two bedrooms
- Occupancy – single/couple + 1 dependent.
- Disability – yes.
- Additional information – maximum 1 dependent at allocation.
Definition of carer: where the applicant has a carer who must stay overnight in order to provide the relevant care for no less than three nights a week (evidence will be required).
When would my rent be payable?
Your tenancy agreement sets out when you should pay your rent. This is usually every week or every month. Your rent is paid in arrears. This means that your last rent payment will be due at the end of your tenancy. Rent in advance is payable regardless of your income.
Why do we ask for rent in advance?
Paying your rent in advance reduces the possibility of rent debt and gives you the peace of mind that your home is secure.
As a social landlord it is important that we help all our customers to avoid rent debt. We want to provide support including debt advice and help into work. We want to meet the growing need for affordable housing and keep investing in home improvements. Most of all we want to provide people and families with secure homes.
Can I get help to pay rent in advance?
If you can’t afford to pay rent in advance you might be able to apply for a budgeting loan. To qualify for a budgeting loan, you or your partner must have been receiving Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance for at least 26 weeks.
You can apply for a budgeting loan at your local Jobcentre Plus. You can also apply online or download a claim form here.
Budgeting advances are available to people claiming Universal Credit.
If you already claim Housing Benefit or Universal Credit in your current home, you can ask your council for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) towards your rent in advance payment.
To find out more, please visit your local council’s website:
What type of tenancy will I sign?
If you are a new customer and began your tenancy on – or after – 4 December 2017 you will be given a six-year fixed-term tenancy agreement. You will be required to complete a 12-month probationary period to the satisfaction of the association. As long as there haven’t been any problems with the tenancy at the end of the 12-month probationary period, your tenancy will continue for a further five years.
At the end of the six-year fixed-term tenancy agreement, your tenancy may be renewed, as long as there have been no tenancy breaches or significant changes in your circumstances.
Throughout the term of the tenancy and in the final year of the agreement, we will review the conduct of the tenancy as well as household circumstances, to help us understand whether a particular property is still suitable for you.
If you become a Homes Plus tenant and have an existing assured tenancy agreement, your tenancy type will not change and the rights under your existing agreement will remain.
To find out more, please see our handy leaflet in the documents area.