Applications will be administered by Cardiff County Council and will be registered on the appropriate waiting list.

Shortlisting Applicants

If we have a vacant property, we will shortlist for an applicant from the Cardiff Common Waiting List.  We invite the applicant to attend a verification interview. This is to confirm the details concerning their housing circumstances with us at CCHA’s offices, or if the applicant has difficulty visiting us, we will visit them at home.

Following the interview, should the applicant’s needs and requirements match the available property then CCHA will send them a Provisional Offer of Tenancy.

They will sign and return a declaration of interest.  This confirms that they are interested in viewing the property.

When you are Allocated a Property

When the property is ready, we will arrange for the property to be viewed.

If the offer is accepted, the successful applicant will sign the tenancy agreement, be given a pack full of useful information and the keys of the property.

They will then need to inform various people that you have moved, such as gas and electricity companies and, if you are claiming Housing Benefit, Cardiff County Council

In most cases, our tenancies are let on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy for all new tenants for the first year.  At the end of the twelve month period, the tenancy will automatically convert to a standard housing association tenancy, so long as the terms and conditions of the tenancy have not been broken, particularly in relation to neighbour nuisance, harassment, violence or threatening violence, serious damage to any premises or criminal activity.

Refusing an Offer

If you decide to refuse an offer of accommodation, you should let us know as soon as possible and explain your reasons for the refusal. 

If it is your first offer, then your application will not be affected and will remain on the Register in its original position.

A further offer will be made as and when another suitable property is available. Should you again decide to refuse, you will once again be required to tell us why.

We will then consider the reason for refusal and can recommend that your application is deferred from the Common Waiting List unless your refusal was due to the following:

• The property was not of a type requested by you
• The property was not in an area requested by you
• The rent was considered to be too high for you
• Other personal circumstances

The exception to these criteria is Homeless Applicants who will be made ONE offer of accommodation and in doing so; the Council considers that it has discharged its duty under Section 184 of the Housing Act 1996.

Furthermore, applicants awarded Priority Status on the Common Waiting List will generally receive ONE offer.  If it is refused then their Priority Status will be reviewed and may be withdrawn.

Having a Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the way our allocations policy has been applied to yourself, there are a number of actions you can take:

• You can complain following our Complaints’ Procedure
• You can ask to inspect the information recorded on your file
• You can complain directly to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
• You could seek the advice of an independent solicitor or Citizens Advice Bureau