Social Housing in Rother

In this section you will find information about social housing in Rother, how to register, how   the Sussex Homemove scheme works and the answers to the most frequently asked questions.

1. How to apply for social housing and Sussex Homemove scheme
2. Documents needed for your Rother Homemove application
3. Rother Housing Allocations Scheme
4. Social housing information and waiting times
5. Housing for older people/sheltered accommodation
6. Swapping your social housing home through Mutual Exchange
7. Social Housing FAQs

Contact

How to apply for social housing and Sussex Homemove scheme

What is the Sussex Homemove Scheme?

Sussex Homemove, also known as the Housing Register, Rother Homemove or choice based lettings, is the scheme that Rother District Council uses to advertise social housing properties available in Rother. 

Eligible applicants bid for properties they are interested in via the Sussex Homemove website

Applicants registered with Rother will only be able to bid for properties that fall within in the Rother district council area, except in rare cases where a property is advertised cross boundary (meaning it will be open to applicants in Rother, Wealden and Hastings).

In order to bid, you will need to make an online application and submit evidence so we can verify your case. 

Applicants need to meet the eligibility and qualifying criteria, as well as have a local connection to the Rother area.

This criteria can be found in the Housing Allocations Scheme

Eligible applicants are assessed according to their current housing and it’s suitability, as laid out in the policy, and cases are prioritised for housing according to their assessed housing need.

How do I apply?

Please click the link below to complete an online pre-assessment to see if you are eligible for social housing.   

If you are eligible you will then be able to complete the housing online application form.  

At the end of the online application form you will also be asked to upload your supporting documents. Your application will be assessed once we have received all your supporting documents. This will take up to twelve weeks.  

If you need help to complete the online form please call our Customer Services contact centre on 01424 787000  

• You can find more information on the scheme at the Sussex Homemove choice page. 
• See our FAQs for the most frequently asked questions.

Documents needed for your Rother Homemove application

If you are making a new application you will need to provide supporting documents so we can verify your case and assess your housing need. Once you have submitted your online application form, you will need to create an account on the Sussex Homemove website.

This can be done by clicking sign in, then already registered without a password. Then follow the prompts to create your account.

Each time you log in to your account you will also be sent a PIN via the email on your account. You will need to enter this PIN to access your account.

Supporting Documents

Identification

• Proof of ID for each family member included on your application – A copy of Birth Certificate or Passport 
• If your name has changed since birth we will need to see a copy of official Deed Poll documentation or if through marriage, a copy of your marriage certificate.

Accommodation – Evidence of where you currently reside

•  A Tenancy Agreement
• A Licence Agreement – If living on a caravan site or in a hostel
• A Letter Confirming Current Living Arrangements – If living with friends or family
• A Valuation of Property for Home Owners

Income – Proof of Income for each family member included on your application

• Your Last 3 Payslips (If paid Monthly)
• Your Last 5 Payslips (If paid Weekly)
• Your Benefits Award Letter
• Details of any payments from an Occupational Pension

Immigration

Official Documentation from the Home Office confirming your current Immigration Status.

Adding Children

• Child Benefit Award Letter
• Tax Credits Award Letter or
• A Joint Court Order which confirms the custody arrangements for your child. Or alternatively a Solicitor’s Letter that confirms the extent to which you look after your child.

Please provide any additional information which is relevant to your housing need. See our FAQs for the most frequently asked questions

UPDATE – The public website that the scheme uses to advertise properties and record applicant bids against those properties Sussex Homemove – Login has had an update applied to how you login.

From 21st August 2024 in order to login, you will need three things:

1. Your username / email address
2. Your password
3. A unique PIN sent to your email address

After you enter your username and password, you will be prompted to enter a PIN that will be sent to your email address. Without this, you will not be able to login to the website and bid or change any of your details.

This is a security feature designed to keep your details safe and to prevent unauthorised access to your account. This is sometimes referred to as “Two Factor Authentication” – many of your other services such as online banking apply such principles before you can login.

You will have to enter a PIN each time you login. The PIN you use on each login is unique, with a new one sent to your email address each time you try to login. Instructions will be shown on-screen when you next try to login to the website.

If you have any issues with receiving the “PIN” – please email us at homemove@rother.gov.uk from your registered email address and we will assist how we can.

Please note you will only receive a PIN if you have registered your Rother details on Sussex Homemove. This is not the same as submitting an online application. If you are having difficulty logging in it could be because you have not set up your account yet. Try going to Sussex Homemove – Login, then sign in, then already registered without a password. Then follow the prompts to create your account. Your will need your application reference number.

Further information can be found her

Rother Housing Allocations Scheme

The Housing Allocations Policy is the criteria we use to prioritise applications for social housing and the procedures that will be followed. It also explains who will and who will not be assisted, how to apply for housing and how homes will be allocated.

Social Housing Information and Waiting Times

Social housing

Rother does not own any council housing.

Social housing in the district is owned and managed by Registered Providers (Housing Associations) and are let at relatively low rents. 

These properties are available via the Sussex Homemove scheme.

If you would like a social housing property you need to apply to join the Council’s Housing Register.

If you are eligible you will be able to bid on properties through the Sussex Homemove website.

How long will I have to wait for social housing?

Demand for social housing in Rother is high and far outweighs the supply. 

Unfortunately we cannot advise how long it may take before you would receive an offer as there are a number of variables. It is important to note that the Homemove scheme is not a waiting list but is based on housing needs.

The waiting time for an allocation of social housing varies according to the type of property you require, the availability of property, your housing need and who else on the register bids.

The following table lists all the lettings during 2024:

Type / Size	Band A – Number of lets	Band A – Longest wait	Band B – Number of lets	Band B – Longest wait	Band C – Number of lets	Band C – Longest wait	Band D – Number of lets	Band D – Longest wait
Sheltered accommodation	33	18 months	8	6 years	2	20 months	0	0
Studio general needs*	6	21 months	0	0	0	0	0	0
1 bed general needs*	33	25 months	6	19 months	1	5 years	0	0
2 bed flat/maisonette*	28	15 months	3	4 years	1	11 years	1	24 months
2 bed house	2	3 years	2	7 years	0	0	0	0
3 bed flat/maisonette	2	20 months	0	0	0	0	0	0
3 bed house	16	4 years	3	5 years	2	10 months	0	0
4 bed house	0	0	2	27 months	0	0	0	0
5 bed house	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total Per Band	141		24		6		1

How many people are on the waiting list?

On 1st January 2025 the total number of households waiting for a property was 1398.

The total number of properties let through Sussex Homemove from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 was 172.

The table below shows the numbers by bedroom need in each band as 1st January 2025:

Band	1 Bed*	2 Bed*	3 Bed	4 Bed**	5 Bed**	6 Bed or more**	Total by Band
A	95	101	47	17	2	1	263
B	143	116	87	49	8	4	407
C	214	75	91	26	3	0	409
D	155	114	43	6	1	0	319
Total by Bedroom Need	607	406	268	98	14	5	1398

Housing for older people / sheltered accommodation

There are a number of schemes across Rother which cater specifically for the over 55’s and several sheltered schemes offering independent living. 

Sheltered schemes are generally for applicants aged sixty or over  who  wish to retain their independence but may prefer a smaller, easier to manage, self-contained home. 

Sheltered housing is usually a one or two-bed self-contained apartment, each with their own kitchen, bathroom and front door. Some studio apartments are also available. 

These vacancies are advertised via the Sussex Homemove scheme. 

If you need help to bid for properties you can ask to be set up for automatic bidding. 

You just need to tell us the type of property you require and the area you would like to consider and bids will be automatically placed on your behalf. 

Extra Care Housing

Extra Care housing is independent living, generally for older people aged 60+, who have a  range of care and support needs.  

Residents have access to 24 hour on site care and support with the aim to provide an independent home for life so that residents don’t have to move into residential care and allowing them to retain their independence. 

In general to be eligible for extra care housing applicants must: 

• Be 60 or over or assessed as requiring this service 
• have a housing need 
• have clear care and support needs as assessed by East Sussex Social Services 

If you would like to be considered for extra care housing in Rother please contact East Sussex Adult Social Care 

Phone: 0345 60 80 191 (open 8am to 8pm 7 days a week including bank holidays) 

Email: Health and Social Care Connect 

If you are interested in St Bartholomew’s Court in Rye please see the Sanctuary Retirement Living website or call 01797 226233

Swapping your social housing home through Mutual Exchange

If you’re already living in social housing, an easy way to relocate is to swap your home with another social housing tenant. You can do this through the Mutual Exchange process.  

There are various websites that assist with this, for example Home Swapper, House Exchange or Exchange Locata.  

These services match properties with tenants who want to swap houses across the country and can often be the easiest and quickest way to do this.  

You will need your landlord’s permission to swap.  

The Mutual Exchange process is not managed by Rother District Council.  

When you find a person who is prepared to swap their social housing home for yours, you will need to contact your Registered Provider (Housing Association). They will assist you in arranging the Mutual Exchange. 

Home Ownership

There are a number of options that may be available to you. Please visit the Own Your Home website here for more information – Home | Own Your Home

Shared Ownership – new build and re-sales

Depending on how much you can afford, shared ownership allows you to get on the property ladder by buying a percentage share of a property while a local housing association retains the other share.

It is sometimes known as ‘part-buy part-rent’ because you will then be charged a rental payment on the remaining share owned by the housing association. In most cases shared owners can choose to buy additional shares later on to increase their equity stake and reduce the amount of rent.

With Shared Ownership, you can buy a newly built home or an existing one through resale programmes from housing associations. You’ll need to take out a mortgage to pay for your share of the home’s purchase price or fund this through your savings. Shared Ownership properties are always leasehold.

For more information on how shared ownership works and how to apply please click the link – Shared ownership homes: buying, improving and selling: How shared ownership works – GOV.UK

Rent to Buy

There are now a number of schemes and companies offering Rent to Buy properties, allowing eligible household to purchase their own home by renting for an initial period, normally around five years, before buying the property. Rent to Buy can be via Housing Associations or on the open market. For more information please visit:

Rent to Buy – Own Your Home – Own Your Home

Your Housing Group: Rent to Buy – Your Housing Group

There are also other sites such as kettel, homeownership alliance and RBH which offer rent to buy properties.

Mortgage Guarantee Scheme

The mortgage guarantee scheme helps to increase the supply of 5% deposit mortgages for credit-worthy households by supporting lenders to offer these products through a government backed guarantee on new 95% mortgages until 30 June 2025.

• Deposit required: 5% deposit
• Ownership: Full Ownership
• Headline benefits: For households looking to buy with a 5% deposit on properties costing a maximum of £600,000 to apply for a 95% loan to value (LTV) mortgage with participating lenders offering a government-backed mortgage guarantee scheme.
• Headline requirements: Available from participating lenders across UK on properties with a purchase price of £600,000 or less, where a borrower has a deposit of 5%. Available to first time buyers and existing homeowners who are looking to move and require a 95% Loan-To-Value mortgage.

You can access more information on how to apply for a 5% deposit mortgage by contacting a mortgage broker or lender participating in the scheme.

For more information please visit – The mortgage guarantee scheme – GOV.UK

First Homes scheme

First Homes is a new scheme designed to help local first time buyers and key workers onto the property ladder, by offering homes at a discount of at least 30% compared to the market price. In some areas the discount could be as high as 50%.

• Deposit required: Normally at least 5% of the discounted purchase price, depending on the property and on mortgage eligibility from participating mortgage lenders.
• Ownership: Full Ownership
• Headline benefits: Homes discounted by at least 30% compared to market prices, making deposits and mortgage repayments significantly cheaper.
• Headline requirements: First-time buyer, earning less than £80,000 per year (£90,000 in London), or a lower figure if set by the council. Mortgage to cover at least 50% of the purchase price. Councils can apply additional eligibility criteria, such as restricting the scheme to key workers or people with a local connection.

To apply first, check whether a builder in your chosen area is currently including First Homes as part of a development. If they are, you must meet the eligibility criteria and apply through the builder.

Previously owned First Homes are also starting to become available through the open market. To buy one, you must meet the eligibility criteria and apply through the estate agent marketing the home.

Own Your Home | Helping you to own your home

The Own Your Home website provides a single gateway for first-time buyers to find the right government scheme for them.

Social Housing FAQs

Please visit our social housing FAQ page