SNAPE WITH THORP PARISH COUNCIL

Next Door

Snape

Bedale

Tel 01677 470707

1 August 2007

Dear Resident

Affordable Housing Scheme: Housing Needs Secondary Survey

The recent Parish survey showed a strong result in favour of progressing to the next stage in the process of defining any local affordable housing needs.

The next stage is to understand/ascertain, as accurately as possible, the current level of need. This will be achieved by asking residents to complete a survey form. In order to simplify this process the council has decided that the survey is only required to be completed by those who have, or know of, an affordable housing need.

The survey will be dealt with by the Housing Enabler and treated with the utmost confidentiality.

If you can answer yes to the following question then please complete the form on the bottom of this letter.

“Would you, or any member of your family, now or in the next 5 years, like to live in Snape but can’t because of the lack of affordable housing?”

Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

John Duck

Chairman

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

I would like to take part in the affordable housing survey

Name: …………………………………………………………………………………………………

Address: ……………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Please forward to Amanda Madden in the envelope provided by 31st August 2007

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What is affordable housing?

It is renting at below-market rents from a public body or a housing association and/or shared ownership sponsored by a housing association.

Why is affordable housing needed?

Many communities, particularly those in rural areas, have found increasingly that the cost of housing has outstripped the financial means of many local families meaning that many households lack the resources toeither buy or rent the properties available in their local area. This may result in families leaving a locality where they would normally wish to remain.

Has there been a need for such housing identified for Snape?

In 2004 Hambleton District Council sent out a questionnaire throughout the District to assess such need. This did identify a small need for affordable housing in Snape. However as this survey was undertaken some time ago, it would be necessary to survey the community again to identify current and future requirements before any decision was made about a development here.

If a need was identified what size of development would be likely?

A community such as ours could not sustain a large development. Any development would be small and of up to 6 to 8 properties as a maximum. Houses would be likely to be 2 or 3 bedrooms in size. No larger site or extension of a site could occur unless a further survey indicated a need for further such housing.

There are few building plots in Snape; where would one be sited?

A site can be new build or renovation. A new development can be built within the normal building line. Alternatively a 100% affordable housing development can be built on a site outside the normal building line provided it is physically related to one within the building line. There would be full consultation with the community on appropriate sites, design etc.

Who would be able to occupy such housing?

The housing would only be available to those with a local connection ie living or working in the immediate parish or with a close family connection to the parish. If there is a need to consider those outside this connection then the housing would be for those living or working in a neighbouring parish. These rules would all be agreed with the Parish Council at the outset. The Parish Council would then be required to confirm the prospective tenant’s connection with the local community each time a property was due to be let. The Parish Council would not determine who was allocated a property; this would be the decision of the Housing Association and would be based on who was in greatest need.

Who builds and runs the affordable housing?

The development would be undertaken, managed and maintained by a Housing Association with which the tenant would hold a tenancy.

Will the properties only be for rent?

Properties can be for rent or for low cost ownership where part of the property is sold to the occupier. In the latter case there are rules about what happens when the property is sold including the need to ensure that the property remains affordable housing for the future and occupants would still be required to have a local connection.

Are there any local examples of affordable housing?

There are recent examples at Crakehall, Coxwold and Stillington.

Housing Needs Survey for Snape and Thorp Parish

Thank you for requesting this form. If you are a household requiring accommodation and either currently live in this parish or wishing to return to the parish please complete this form and return it to us by31st August 2007

You and Your Household

1.Has anyone from your family moved away from the parishYes1No2

in the last 5 years, due to difficulties in finding a suitable home locally?

Family means your children, parents, brothers and sisters

2.Is there any member of your family who is currently not living in the parish due to difficulties in finding a suitable home in the parish? Yes 1 No2

3.Does everyone living in this houseneed to moveYes1No 2

together from this home, now or in the next five years?

4.Is there anyone living with you who needs to move to Yes1No2

alternative accommodation now or in the next five years?

If you answered ‘Yes’ to any of the above questions and the household is looking to return/remain within the parish then please complete the remainder of this questionnaire, which collects information on your housing needs. If there is the need for more than two households to move then please request an additional form from the Rural Housing Enabler at Hambleton District Council, Civic Centre, Stonecross, Northallerton DL6 2UU or by telephoning Amanda Madden on 01609 767048.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire. The results of this survey will be available in the coming months, and will help the parish to decide on its future plans.

This questionnaire is confidential and will only be seen by the Rural Housing Enablers.

Housing Needs

1.Where does your household currently live?

Together as a household within this parish1

Within another household in this parish 2

Outside the parish 3

2.When does your household need to move from this home?

Within the next 2 years 1

Between 2 to 5 years from now2

In 5 or more years3

3. What is the minimum number of bedrooms you require? (Tick one box only)

One bedroom/bed-sit1Two bedrooms2

Three bedrooms3Four or more bedrooms4

4.Which tenure would you prefer?

Buying on the open market1Renting from a private landlord2

Renting from council/Housing Association3Shared Ownership *4

* Allowing you to buy a share of your home, usually from a housing association, and pay rent on the remaining share you do not own.

5.Are you on the Local Authority or Housing Association Yes1No2

register or waiting list?

6.What type of accommodation do you require?

House1Bungalow2

Flat/maisonette/apartment3Sheltered/retirement housing4

Other (specify)5

7.What is your main reason for needing to move?

Need larger accommodation1

Need smaller accommodation - Present home is difficult to manage2

Need physically adapted accommodation3

Need to be closer to employment4

Need to be closer to a carer or dependent, to give or receive support5

Need to avoid harassment 6

Need secure accommodation7

Need to change tenure 8

Need to set-up independent accommodation 9

Other (specify) ______10

8. Please indicate the age, gender and occupation of each person moving with you.

AgeGenderOccupation

You
Other Household member 1
Other Household member 2
Other Household member 3
Other Household member 4
Other Household member 5

9. If you selected renting in Q4, what is the maximum rent you could afford, including any service charges? (Tick one box only)

Less than £50/wk (£200 /month)1£50 - £99.99/wk (£200 - 399 / mth)2

£100 - £149.99/wk (£400 - 599 / mth)3£150 - £199.99/wk (£500 - 799 /mth)4

£200 - £250/wk (£800 - 999 /mth)5More than £250/wk (£1000 /mth)6

10. Could you please indicate the total net income (i.e. after deductions), of everyone responsible for the cost of housing (rent or mortgage)? (Tick one box only)

Weekly IncomeorMonthly Income

Less than £95 Less than £420 1

£95 - £192.99£420 - £834.992

£193 - £288.99£835 - £1,249.993

£289 - £384.99£1,250 - £1,665.994

£385 - £576.99£1,666 - £2,499.995

£577 - £769.99£2,500 - £3,299.996

£770 +£3,300 +7

If you would like to add comments to explain your responses to any of the questions in this questionnaire more fully please write here.

In order for the Rural Housing Enabler to keep you up to date with the situation concerning the rural affordable housing scheme, please provide your name and address below.

Name______

Address______

______

______

Telephone No.______Is there anyone living with you who needs to move to Yes  1 No  2

8.What was their main reason for needing alternative accommodation? (Tick one box only )

To be closer to a job..... 1

To go to college or university..... 2

To find accommodation of a suitable size which was not available within your parish..... 3

9.What was their main reason for needing alternative accommodation? (Tick one box only )

To be closer to a job..... 1

To go to college or university..... 2

To find accommodation of a suitable size which was not available within your parish..... 3

10.Of this, how much can you contribute towards the deposit?

Less than £1,0001Between £10,000 and £15,000.....2

Between £1,000 and £2,0003Between £15,000 and £20,000.....4

Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire. The results of this survey will be available through the Parish Council, and will help the parish to decide on its future plans.

Please return this completed form by31st August 2007in the enclosed envelope

This questionnaire is confidential and will only be seen by the Rural Housing Enablers

Affordable Housing Questionnaire-Snape - Draft 3 - June 2007 (1) From Stpc 03/11/2018 1