Other Housing Options

Midsummer only has a waiting list for its elderly persons housing. If you are looking for housing you may find the following information useful.

I am going to be homeless in 28 days what can I do?

You need to contact the local authority homeless department and ask to fill out a homeless application. If you live in Milton Keynes the telephone number is 01908 253481. If you live outside Milton Keynes contact your local authority and ask for the 'homeless department'.

You will have to meet specific criteria to be put in emergency accommodation.

Are you looking for rental housing?

Our rental homes have been built using money provided by local authorities or other public bodies including the Housing Corporation and English Partnerships.

In return for this money we give local authorities and English Partnerships what are called nomination rights to our rental homes. This means that we do not have our own waiting list. Any vacant properties are filled via nominations from the local authority and from existing transfer applicants.

To see if you are eligible for housing with Milton Keynes Council you can contact them on 01908 691691.

Alternatively you may wish to contact other Housing Associations with homes in Milton Keynes. You can obtain a list of these from the Shelter Housing Aid Centre on 0844 515 1876 or click the link below:

http://www.mkweb.co.uk/low_cost_housing/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=10109

Shelter may also be able to help you with any issues you have surrounding your current housing circumstances. There is a 24hr service available for people looking for housing advice. It is called Shelterline and the number is 0808 800 4444.

Are you a council or housing association tenant looking to move within the area you currently live in?

If so there are a number of options available to you:

Transfer

Contact your Landlord to see if you can join their transfer list.

You may want to contact the local authority in the area you live in to see if they operate a joint transfer scheme.

Mutual Exchange

This is where you literally swap homes with somebody. Contact your landlord and local authority to see if they hold a register of tenants looking to exchange. Some residents often advertise for exchanges in local shops and newspapers. You will need to look at the registers on a regular basis to see if there is something you like. You can get a list of mutual exchange agencies from http://www.direct.gov.uk

IIf you live in Milton Keynes you can access Milton Keynes council's mutual exchange list on http://www.mkweb.co.uk/mkcouncil/home.asp.

Remember you must always get approval from your landlord first before swapping your home.

In areas of high housing demand this is often the quickest way to move.

Are you a council or housing association tenant looking to move out of the area you currently live in?

These are various Homeswap agencies who may be able to help. You can log onto the goverment website at http://www.direct.gov.uk where you an get a listof these organisations.

What other options are open to me?

If you are not eligible for rental housing through a housing association or council you may wish to consider the following options:

Shared Ownership/Low Cost Home Ownership

Shared ownership is a part buy / part rent scheme where you buy a share in a home, normally by raising a mortgage, and pay rent for the share you have not purchased. The scheme is suitable for people who can't quite afford to buy outright or who have savings to meet the cost of the share to be purchased.

Information on associations that operate such schemes can be obtained from your local authority or housing aid centre. If you are looking for housing in Milton Keynes click on the following link http://www.mkweb.co.uk/low_cost_housing/home.asp

For information on Midsummer's shared ownership schemes click on the following link 'Shared Ownership Housing'

Private Renting

Renting privately is often the quickest way for you to find housing.

You should contact lettings agents in the area by looking in the Yellow Pages or in your local free paper. Click on the link to be taken to a list of lettings agents in Milton Keynes.

http://www.askmk.com/business/profservices/property/lettingagents.html