www.southwark.gov.uk
A summary of
Southwark Council’s lettings policy
Letting Southwark homes
Southwark HomeSearch
Letting Southwark Homes
Letting Southwark homes
This booklet is a summary
Since 2005, most council and housing association
properties are let through Southwark Homesearch,
of Southwark Council’s
a scheme to enable you to bid for the home of
lettings policy.
your choice from those that are available.
Homesearch is Southwark’s choice-based lettings
scheme. It means you can decide where you want to
Its aim is to inform you how
live and to bid for the home of your choice.
we assess and prioritise
To help find and bid for the right home for you,
applicants for housing.
the Homesearch service will
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Advertise vacant homes in our Homesearch
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magazine and on our website every week
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Invite all those people whose names are on
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the housing list to bid (apply) for the property
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of their choice
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Offer the property to the highest priority
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applicant who has responded
Please be aware that although we would like to
offer a home to everyone who wants one, there are
simply not enough council or housing association
homes available. The truth is that most people who
want a new home will have to make their own
housing arrangements.
To improve your chances of finding and keeping a
Contents
home that’s right for you, we recommend that you
look at other housing options, and our booklet
Introduction
2
Looking for a home may help. You can also contact
the HomeSearch centre on 020 7525 5950 for
The Southwark housing list
4
advice from our housing specialists, or to make an
appointment for a housing options interview.
Priority categories
6
Suitable housing
8
Equality and diversity policy
10
Useful contact information
11
2
www.southwark.gov.uk
A fair system
We aim to make sure that people with the greatest
see how many other applicants have placed bids
housing need get a home first and we try to make
for the property you are interested in.
the best use of the housing that is available.
You can make one bid every week.
Like most councils we do this by deciding
The bidding hotline is in a range of community
I
Which reasons count as urgent reasons to move
languages. The website also offers information in
Bengali, Bosnian/Serbo-Croat, French, Portuguese,
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Which of these are most important
Punjabi, Spanish, Turkish, Tamil, Urdu, Cantonese, Somali,
and Vietnamese, as well as British Sign Language.
We keep a list of everyone who has applied to us for
housing. You must be on the housing list before you
If you need help choosing a property and making
can be re-housed. Your place or order of priority on
a bid, contact 020 7525 4140.
this list will depend on your specific housing need.
How will the successful applicant be selected?
How do I apply for a property?
Following the closing date for bids, our computer
The housing list stores the details of all the people
produces a list of everyone who has placed a bid for
applying for housing, and all our properties, on a
each advertised property. The applicant in the highest
computer. This makes the system fairer and easier to
band and who has been in that band longest, will be
manage. All registered applicants receive a letter telling
offered the property.
them which Homesearch band they have been given
and their qualifying date in this band (see page 6).
Offers are not made on a first come, first served basis.
The offer depends on your housing need. Read the
When a property becomes empty it is advertised in the
section on Homesearch bands on page 6 to find out
Southwark Homesearch magazine and on our website. how we work out your housing need.
You can pick up a copy of Southwark Homesearch
magazine at your area housing office, selected
libraries, one stop shops or the HomeSearch centre.
Please see the address list at the back of this booklet.
Or check the website (free at public libraries):
www.southwarkhomesearch.org.uk.
If you see a property that you like, and that suits the
size of your family (see page 8) you can bid for the
property by phoning the Southwark Homesearch
bidding hotline on 0845 270 0655, or you can bid on
the website. You will need to give your Homesearch
registration number, your date of birth, and the
reference number of the property, or type in the
details if you are using the website. You can check to
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Southwark HomeSearch
Letting Southwark Homes
The Southwark housing list
Who can go on our housing list?
This could apply if you are homeless or if you need a
special type of housing, such as a sheltered scheme.
Only those people over age 16 are eligible to go on
Read the explanations below to find out more.
our housing list. You cannot be registered more than
once (for example, on your application and on
someone else’s).
Medical assessment
We cannot re-house asylum seekers and some other
If you live somewhere that is affecting your health
people with limits on their immigration status. Also
or the health of someone in your family, you will
you may not normally join our housing list if you
need to fill in a medical assessment form. This may
entitle you to higher priority on the housing list.
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Have been evicted for owing rent, either by us
It is possible however that following a medical
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or a housing association (this also applies to
assessment, some applicants may not be awarded
I money you owe for hostels, hotels and so on)
any priority on medical grounds. You can get a form
from your area housing office, one stop shop, the
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Have been found guilty of assaulting or
HomeSearch centre or telephone 020 7525 4140.
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threatening our staff or local councillors
Caring responsibilities
The application form
If you look after someone who is ill or disabled, and
In applying, you will have to provide us with
you need to live closer to that person, you will need
documents to prove your identity and your family’s
to fill in a medical assessment form. You may be
identity and to prove you live at the address you give
entitled to a higher priority for re-housing, or, if you
us. We may visit you at home to check that the details
need to live with the person you are looking after,
on your form are accurate and that we have all the
you or they may be entitled to an extra bedroom.
information we need.
Homeless
Assessment
If you are homeless, we will assess your needs in line
The aim of the council’s lettings policy is to
with the law.
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Make the best use of the housing we have, and
Harassment or personal protection
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Make sure we give priority to the people who
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need it most
Sometimes tenants who are at risk in their own
home can be moved to a higher priority level. For
Most people only have to fill in an application form.
example, if you are facing harassment, or if you need
However, you may need to have more detailed
police protection this may apply to you.
assessment before we can decide how great your
housing needs are.
You must give your area housing office detailed
information before a panel can consider your case.
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Sheltered housing
If you do not reply to this letter, we will take you off
the housing list.
If you want to apply for sheltered housing, contact
our sheltered services on 020 7525 4231 or
You must let us know if anything changes, particularly
020 7525 4180. They will send you a sheltered
if you move, or you may lose out.
questionnaire. You should return the completed
questionnaire, together with a completed housing
list application form (if you are not already
Being suspended from the list
registered). Once you are assessed, you will be
assigned a Band according to your needs and you
You may be registered on the list but we may not be
will be offered support to bid for the property of
able to consider you for an offer of accommodation
your choice. Generally sheltered accommodation is
because your application is subject to a suspension.
for people aged 60 or over. However, we are able to
This will apply if
consider some applicants over 55.
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You owe rent to us or to a housing association.
I You will be suspended until you pay the rent you
Adapted housing
I owe. This also applies if you are a homeless
I person in temporary accommodation.
If you or a member of your household uses a
wheelchair within your home and needs
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If you have made a homelessness application
accommodation that is adapted for this purpose,
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there will be a temporary suspension whilst we
please contact our medical assessment service on
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check your new circumstances
020 7525 4201. They will determine whether you
need an assessment by our occupational therapists.
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You gave up a tenancy with us. You will be
If so they will arrange for a referral.
I suspended for one year from the date you left.
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You are 16 or 17 years old. We can help only a few
What happens next?
I 16 and 17 year olds and they are normally referred
I by the social services department or have been
We will process your application for the housing list
I assessed as homeless by the homelessness service.
and put all your details on our computer system.
We will send you a letter confirming your details and
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You are a council tenant using your right to buy
explaining the level of priority you have for a council
home or transfer.
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We are waiting for more information to support
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your application (for example, proof of identity)
If at any time after that you want to check your
application, you can simply contact the HomeSearch
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You are a homeowner. We do not offer
centre on 020 7525 4140.
I homeowners housing except under exceptional
I circumstances. Contact the HomeSearch centre
Every year we will send you a letter asking if you still
I for advice on 020 7525 4140.
want to be on the housing list. We will ask you to
confirm whether your details are still correct.
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Southwark HomeSearch
Letting Southwark Homes
Homesearch bands
Immigration status
People who are on the housing list are placed in
band one, two, three, or four, depending on how
You will not qualify to go on the housing list if you
we assess your housing needs.
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Are restricted by certain immigration controls
Band one is the highest priority and band four the
lowest. Within each band you will be put in order of
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Do not regularly live in the United Kingdom
priority according to your qualifying date.
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or the European Union, or
This means that those who have waited longest in
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Are asked to leave the United Kingdom by
each band will be considered first.
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the Government
This is a complicated area and we are unable to
provide all of the details here. These rules do not
apply if you are already a council tenant.
Review
If you do not qualify to go on the housing list, or
you are suspended from it, we will explain this to
you in writing. You have the right to ask for a
senior staff member to review the decision.
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Band one
Band three
Who is in band one?
Who is in band three?
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Underoccupiers – tenants of larger properties
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Homeless people who have no home of their
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who want a smaller one (who qualify through
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own, who have not made themselves homeless
I ‘Small is Beautiful’ our under-occupation initiative)
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on purpose, and who are also vulnerable, such
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as the elderly, families with children or people
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Families put forward by the social
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with mental or physical health problems. These
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services department
I people should also have a link with Southwark.
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Council tenants who need to move so that
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People who live in overcrowded housing,
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new homes can be built or old ones can be
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who are short of at least one bedroom
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improved or repaired
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People whose serious illness or disability is
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Tenants affected by fire or flood
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made worse by their current home and who
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need to move to improve their medical
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Those to whom we have a legal duty, called a
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condition (medical priority)
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statutory obligation, because of overcrowding
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or a court order
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Council tenants whose relationship has broken
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down (you will need to qualify under the terms
I of your tenancy agreement)
Band two
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If you lack kitchen/bathroom facilities or an
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inside toilet
Who is in band two?
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If you lack permanent electricity or a hot
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water supply
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People whose serious illness or disability is
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made much worse by their current home and
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whose need to move is assessed as being vital.
I This is known as urgent medical priority
Band four
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People put forward by the single homeless
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nominations and allocations group (SHNAG)
Who is in band four?
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Young people leaving care put forward by
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All those remaining who do not fall into one
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the social services department
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of the three bands above
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People who need to be moved for their personal
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protection or to stop them from being harassed
Usually your band will only change if you have a major
change in your circumstances. For example, you may
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People who have more than one priority
have a medical problem that has got much worse.
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reason to move, such as being overcrowded
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and being a medical priority. This is known
If you do have any major changes in your circumstances,
I as multiple need
contact the HomeSearch centre on 020 7525 4140.
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Southwark HomeSearch
Letting Southwark Homes
Suitable housing
We have rules about the size of property we are
Refusing an offer
able to offer because there are so many people
looking for a home.
If you make a successful bid for a property but decide
to refuse the offer, then in most cases you will be
free to bid again and no penalty will apply. However,
Working out the size of home to suit you
if you refuse a total of 10 offers following successful
and/or your family
bids, your application will be suspended from the
bidding process for six months.
We look at the number of people in your family and
how old they are
Direct offers
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Couples are entitled to one bedroom
Sometimes we will make an offer of accommodation
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Single adults are entitled to one bedroom
directly to someone who is on the housing list. The
I (for us an adult is someone who is 16 or over)
circumstances in which we will do this include:
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Two children of the same sex are usually
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Housing adapted for people with disabilities
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expected to share a bedroom
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National Witness Protection Scheme moves
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A boy and girl under 10 are expected to share
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a bedroom
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Some tenants who are being rehoused as part
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of a regeneration scheme
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Children are only expected to share a double
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bedroom, one that is 10 square metres or larger
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Tenants who are moving temporarily to allow
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extensive repair works to be carried out to
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One bedroom for any other child aged under 16
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their home
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Homeless applicants depending on the
Housing associations
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availability of temporary accommodation for
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homeless households
The council owns and manages most of the properties
it advertise and offers.
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Tenants who need to move urgently on grounds
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of personal protection/harassment and who
Some are owned by housing associations that provide
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have been provided with temporary
homes for rent in a similar way to that of the council.
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accommodation by the council
Most of a housing association’s new tenants are
people who have applied to the council for housing.
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Exceptional circumstances which fall outside
Not many housing associations have their own
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the normal provisions of our lettings policy
waiting lists.
8
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Refusing a direct offer
There is more information about what happens if
you refuse a direct offer and the appeals process in
In some circumstances, applicants who refuse a
our leaflet
Offers and Refusals, which we send out
direct offer that we think is suitable, will not be
with every direct offer we make.
offered housing again. This depends on the category
of need of the applicant. It does not apply to people
with disabilities.
Consultation
A refusal is considered unreasonable if the
This policy was developed in consultation with
property offered
local people, tenants, residents, public and
voluntary organisations, other landlords, and
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Is the correct size for the household’s needs
local community groups.
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as per council policy
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Takes into account any medical recommendations
Appeals
In some cases, applicants who have been made a
direct offer can appeal against a decision of
unreasonable refusal.
Where there appears to be grounds for an appeal,
the appeal will be heard by an appeals panel whose
decision will be final.
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Southwark HomeSearch
Letting Southwark Homes
Equality and diversity in Southwark
The diversity of our community is one of our
Our aims will be to
most valued assets.
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Improve the quality of life by improving access
Strong communities will thrive and prosper if
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to services and by reducing gaps in health,
individuals and groups are treated fairly, with
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employment, education attainment and
respect, and given access to rights and services.
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community safety – particularly with those
Our aim is to create an environment where this is
I most affected
possible and to put equality and diversity at the
heart of everything we do.
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Improve social cohesion by promoting positive
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relationships and a sense of community and
We will promote equality and diversity by
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belonging – by reducing fear and tensions –
I particularly around race issues and by promoting
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Building values of mutual respect where
I a vision in which individuals, groups and
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individuals have a sense of belonging and are
I communities are properly valued
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encouraged to participate and gain full access
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to services to which they are entitled
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Promote citizenship rights and responsibilities
I We will do this by ensuring that the council does
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Recognising that some individuals and certain
I all it should in providing real leadership and
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communities are particularly disadvantaged
I compliance with its duties and by encouraging its
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and will require extra recognition and support
I partners, particularly in the public sector to do
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to deal with their disadvantages
I likewise. We will also do this by acting to protect
I the rights of individuals and groups by ensuring
I that abuse, mistreatment or discrimination is
I recognised and properly dealt with.
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Promote a workforce which understands and is
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committed to achieving these goals and retains
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retains the confidence of our local communities
To deliver this vision we have created a single
coherent framework to address all equality and
diversity issues and have developed a corporate
equalities action plan in order to communicate our
intentions and to drive change.
Our policies and plans will be reviewed regularly
in order to target effort and resources where it
is most needed.
10
www.southwark.gov.uk
Useful addresses
Advice
Housing offices
Libraries
If you need housing advice or are
Borough and Bankside area
Blue Anchor library
worried about becoming
housing office
Market Place
homeless, arrange a housing
Library Street
Southwark Park Road SE16 3QW
options interview by contacting:
Borough SE1 ORG
Brandon library
HomeSearch Centre
Part of Borough & Bankside area
Maddock Way
25 Bournemouth Road
housing office
Cooks Road SE17 3NH
Peckham
Tabard Gardens
SE15 4UJ
169 Long Lane SE1 4PN
Camberwell library
17-21 Church Street SE5 8TR
Tel: 020 7525 5950
Camberwell area housing office
Harris Street
Dulwich library
Camberwell SE5 7RX
368 Lordship Lane SE22 8NB
Southwark Homesearch
East Street library
magazine pick-up points
Dulwich area housing office
168-170 Old Kent Road SE1 5TY
including housing offices:
41-43 East Dulwich Road
SE22 9BY
Grove Vale library
Bermondsey One Stop Shop
25-27 Grove Vale SE22 8EQ
17 Spa Road
Kingswood sub-office
London SE16 3QW
39-40 Kinsey House
John Harvard library
Seeley Drive SE21 8QR
211 Borough High Street
Peckham One Stop Shop
Borough SE1 1JA
Ground Floor
Nunhead and Peckham Rye area
Peckham Library
housing office
Newington library
122 Peckham Hill Street
27 Bournemouth Road
155-157 Walworth Road SE17 1RS
Peckham SE15 5JR
Peckham SE15 4UJ
Nunhead library
Walworth One Stop Shop
Rotherhithe area housing office
Gordon Road SE15 3RW
Wansey Street, off Walworth Road
155-159 Abbeyfield Road
SE17 1RY
Rotherhithe SE16 2LS
Peckham library
122 Peckham Hill Street SE15 5JR
Southwark Town Hall
Aylesbury sub-office
Peckham Road SE5 8UB
Taplow
Rotherhithe library
Thurlow Street SE17 1NS
Albion Street
Rotherhithe SE16 7HY
Leathermarket JMB
26 Leathermarket Street SE1 0RG
11
This booklet gives you information about how
Southwark Council lets properties to tenants.
If you would like a copy of the booklet in large print, Braille or translated into
another language, please contact us at the HomeSearch centre (address inside).
www.southwark.gov.uk
Bengali
Ce livret vous informe sur la manière dont le Conseil de Southwark propose des biens destinés à des
locataires. Si vous souhaitez obtenir une copie de ce livret imprimée en gros caractères, en Braille ou
rench
F
traduite dans une autre langue, veuillez nous contacter au HomeSearch Centre (adresse à l’intérieur).
Buug-yarahan wuxu macluumaad kaa siinayaa siday Guddiga Southwark Council guryaha u siiyaan
dadka. Haddii aad jeceshahay inaad bug-yarahan ka hesho nuqul ku qoran far waaweyn, farta
Somali
indhoolaha ee “Braille” ama mid luqad kale loo tarjumay, fadlan nagala soo xidhiidh HomeSearch
Centre (cinwaanka gudaha).
Este folleto le informará cómo alquila el Municipio de Southwark propiedades a inquilinos. Si usted
deseara una copia del folleto en letras grandes, Braille o traducida a otro idioma, por favor
contáctenos en el Centro de Búsqueda de Vivienda (dirección adentro).
Spanish
這份小冊子是解釋南華克地方議會出租房屋政策。如果你想索取大字體，盲文，或翻譯成其他語文的版本，
請聯絡找屋中心（HomeSearch centre）（地址附內）
Chinese
Bu broşür Soutwark Belediyesi'nin kiracılarına konutları ne şekilde kiraladığına ilişkin bilgi vermektedir.
Bu broşürün büyük puntolarl veya Bray Alfabesiyle yazılmış bir kopyasını veya başka bir dile çevrilmesini
rkish
isterseniz, lütfen HomeSearch Centre'da (Ev Arama Merkezi-Adresi Broşürün çerisinde Belirtilmiştir)
Tu
bizimle kontak kurunuz.
Cuốn sách nhỏ này cho bạn biết Hội động Quận Southwark tiến hành cho thuê nhà tới những người đi
thuê như thế nào. Nếu bạn muốn có một bản copy của cuốn sách này với cỡ chữ to hơn, in chữ nổi
hoặc được dịch sang ngôn ngữ bạn muốn, xin hãy liên lạc với chúng tôi tại Trung tâm tìm kiếm nhà ở
(địa chỉ ở bên trong).
Vietnamese
Publication date: May 2008 Letting Southwark homes/30522
