A - B - C - D - E - F - H - I - J - L - M - N - P - R - S - T - U - V - Y
Access Point
There are many places in Birmingham where you can use a computer, free of charge, or look at the most recent property newsletter. These are called access points and include libraries, children's centres, community and voluntary groups. To find your local access points, please click here
Adapted Properties
This is a property that has been adapted for a person with a disability. Examples of how this could be done include ramps, level access showers etc.
Advocate
A responsible person who has been given permsission by the aplicant to 'act' on their behalf e.g. relative, friend, support worker
Affordable Housing
This is a term used to describe housing provided by social landlords for a rent at below market levels
Age Restrictions
Some properties are only available to people of a certain age. This is called an age restriction. Where this applies, we will tell you in the advert
Allocations Scheme
By law, all Local Authorities must have an allocations shceme. This scheme tells you, amongst other things, who can apply for council housing, who can be offered a council home (also known as an allocation), how applicants are placed on the register in order of importance, how the council measure housing need, and how council homes are allocated. The council must, by law, only allocate a council home to people on the housing register, and must always follow the rules set out in the allocation scheme. You can read a summary of Birmingham City Council's scheme here, or click here to download the full version
Antisocial Behaviour
Antisocial behaviour can be any intimidating or threatening activity that scares you or damages your quality of life.
Antisocial Behaviour Order/ASBO
A court order meant to protect the public from behaviour that causes or is likely to cause them harassment, alarm or distress. ASBOs bans the offender from specific antisocial acts or entering certain areas for a minimum of two years. ASBOs are civil orders made in the magistrates court and are community-based orders that involve local people in collecting evidence and in helping to monitor breaches. Breaches of an order is a criminal offence that can be punished by a fine or imprisonment.
Applicant
Someone who has applied for housing with a social landlord. This can be either someone who is not a tenant of the landlord or someone who already lives in a social housing tenancy and wishes to move. This is known as applying for a transfer.
Application Number
A unique number given to a housing application and generated by the housing computer system.
Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO)
An organisation set by, but separate from, a local authority to provide management of its council housing. The council still own the properties.
Assessing Needs Team
The team responsible for assessing housing application forms and awarding points to applicants for housing.
Assisted bidding
If someone is not able to place a bid themselves then a friend, family member or support worker can bid for them.
Assured Shorthold Tenancy
Assured shorthold tenancies are commonly granted for six months to twelve months initially. After the initial tenancy period, they then continue until one party ends the tenancy. This type of tenancy offers limited security of tenure and can be ended by the landlord issuing a section 21 notice.
Assured Tenancy
Type of tenancy agreement usually offered by housing associations. It grants security of tenure to the tenant and tenants can continue to live in the property for as long as they wish, as long as they do not break certain conditions set out in the Housing Act 1988. A landlord can only gain possession of the property with a court order.
Attendance Allowance
A benefit paid to people 65+ who need care and attention or supervision because of a disability.
Audit Commission
The Government body that inspects council housing and housing associations, giving them star ratings following inspections. Responsible for making sure public money is used economically, efficiently and effectively.
Automated Telephone Line
Customers can place bids using our automated telephone line (also referred to as the IVR). This type of telephone line will ask you to use your telephone keypad to key in numbers. You must follow the instructions given. If you are using our telephone service, you will need your user ID and PIN. You will also need the Property Reference Number, which is available on the advert. Please note, your bids are automatically transferred to the computer system without staff involvement. There is not a facility to leave messages on this service.
Banding
Banding is a method of measuring housing need. Birmingham City Council uses 5 bands, based on the number of points you have. These bands give customers an idea of where they are on the register compared to other applicants.
Bed and breakfast / B&B
From time to time, we place applicants who need temporary accommodation in B&B accommodation. This is accommodation in a bed and breakfast hotel. Many bed and breakfast hotels expect occupiers to vacate their rooms during the day.
Bed space
The term used to describe how many residents can be housed in a property.
Bedroom eligibility
The number of bedrooms a household is assessed as needing. You will be informed of your 'bedroom eligibility' when you are accepted on to the housing register. This will be the size of accommodation you are able to bid for.
Bid
To be considered for an available home, customers are required to bid for properties.
Bidding
This is the term used when applicant households express an interest in a particular property, no money is involved
Bidding cycle
This is the time in which a customer has the opportunity to bid for a home once it is advertised in the weekly advert. The bidding cycle runs from 12.01 am Thursday morning to 11.59 pm on the following Tuesday.
BME
Black Minority Ethnic; The term used to describe minority groups recognised as falling under the Race Relations Act 1976
Change of circumstances
If your circumstances change, for example, if you have moved to another home or your family size has changed, it is important that you inform us. We check your details at various points in our process and you will need to be able to provide proof of your circumstances. If you do not tell us about a change in your circumstances, or if you cannot verify a change in your cirucmstances, it will result in delays for you, and it may ultimately result in us being unable to let a property to you that you have placed a bid on.
Change of circumstances form
A form you will need to fill in if anything on your application changes.
Chartered Institute of Housing(CIH)
The CIH is a registered charity designed to help raise the standards of housing management.
Choice Based Lettings
This is the general name for schemes such as Birmingham Home Choice run by councils and registered social landlords. The schemes allows customers to see all the available properties each week and put in a bid for the ones they would like to move to.
Co-op
See Housing Co-ops
Council Tax Benefit (CTB)
CTB helps people on low incomes and with few savings to pay their council tax. For more information, please click here
Council Tax
A property based tax paid to local councils to help pay for the services it provides.
Crisis Loan
A discretionary interest free loan from the Social Fund available to assist those who need help to deal with a crisis, such as fire, flood or loss of income.
DDA
This refers to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005), which is a piece of legislation that promotes civil rights for disabled people and protects them from discrimination.
Decanting
Moving a person out of their home and into a temporary home while works of improvement, adaptation or repair are carried out.
Decent Homes Standard
The standard that all social housing must meet by 2010.
Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
Government department responsible for policy on housing, planning, devolution, regional and local government and the fire service.
Direct Let
A home that may be offered directly to a customer without them having to make a bid. Please see our allocations scheme for more information on when Birmingham City Council carries out direct lets.
Disability
A diagnosed medical condition (physical or mental), which makes it difficult for a person to be involved in day to day activities over a long period of time.
Disability Living Allowance / DLA
This is a tax free non means tested benefit for adults and children with disabilities. It is for people who need help looking after themselves and those who find it difficult to get around
Disabled Facilities Grants
Government funding to local housing authorities to provide and improve adaptation services to disabled people enabling them to continue to stay in their own homes.
Diversity
The range of values, attitudes, beliefs, ethnic background, sexual orientation, skills, knowledge and life experiences of the individuals making up a group of people.
Domestic Violence
Any form of physical, sexual or psychological violence that puts the safety or welfare of a family member at risk and/or the use of physical or emotional force or threat of physical force, including sexual violence within the family or household. Includes child abuse, incest, wife beating and sexual or other abuse of any member of the household
Eligibility Criteria
To be able to bid for a property you must fit the eligibility criteria shown in the advert. This can be a minimum age, number of people in the household etc.
Extra Care
Covers a range of types of supported housing which provide a caring environment for older people. It is often specially designed self-contained housing and may have a range of communal facilities. These facilities are sometimes available to older people in the local community as well as people living in the scheme. There are dedicated care teams and personal care is provided either by the housing provider or on a contract with another agency or social services.
Full homeless duty
The duty a council has towards a homeless applicant who is eligible for assistance, homeless, has a priority need, and is not intentionally homeless. The duty is to offer the person temporary accommodation until they can be offered settled accommodation. The duty may be passed to another council if the applicant does not have a local connection. The duty also ends if the applicant voluntarily leaves or becomes intentionally homeless from the temporary accommodation.
Housing Action Trust (HAT)
A temporary body set up to repair and refurbish homes on run down local authority estates and to improve living and social conditions in an area.
Housing Application form
Form used to apply to join the housing register and be able to bid for properties.
Housing Association
This is another name for a registered social landlord, a not for profit organisation that provides rented accommodation.
Housing Benefit (HB)
Housing Benefit is a means tested benefit to help those on a low income to pay their rent. Previously it was known as a rent rebate or rent allowance. In nearly all cases, local councils run the scheme for their tenants. It is now called the Local Housing Allowance.
Housing Co-Ops
Housing Co-ops are formed by a group of tenants that then manage homes on behalf of the council. The council retains ownership of these properties and is still the landlord. Each Housing Co-op is an independent organisation which is run by a committee of residents. These residents are elected to a committee by their neighbours to represent their views and manage the services the Housing Co-op takes on.
Housing needs assessment
An assessment of a person who is in housing need, identifying the cause of that housing need, factors that make it difficult for the person to sort out their housing problem, and appropriate solutions to the problem. Local Authorities use this assessment to decide what priority to give applicants.
Housing Needs Points
The council gives people on the Housing Register points to recognise their housing needs. Points are given in accordance with the allocations scheme so that the process is open and fair
Housing Officer
Someone employed by the council or housing association to manage homes owned by the organisation.
Housing Options
Housing Options is the term used to describe the range of options available to people in housing need. These options can range from moving home, to measures to enable people to stay in their homes. Due to the high demand for social housing in Birmingham, it is important to consider all of the options available to you. For some more ideas on what is available, please click here, or make an appointment at your local Neighbourhood Office by calling 0121 303 1111
Housing Register
A list of customers requesting social housing accommodation.
Immigration control
The way in which the Immigration and Nationality Directorate controls the number of people from abroad entering the United Kingdom e.g. some people from abroad may have certain restrictions imposed, which means their length of stay is limited and/or they are ineligible for local authority housing.
Intentional homelessness
A person becomes homeless intentionally if they have deliberately done (or failed to do) something that has caused them to lose their accommodation.
Introductory Tenancies
This is an initial tenancy set up by a local authority in England and Wales for a limited period of time, usually one year. If a tenant completes an introductory tenancy in a satisfactory way, they may be granted a secure tenancy by the local authority.
Joint Applicant
A person who applies to register with the main applicant on the same application form.
Let
In housing terms letting a property means giving someone a tenancy for the property.
Local connection
Local Connection is a way of determining whether you have a connection to Birmingham. We look at a number of factors, such as how long you have lived here, whether you are employed here etc. If you have no local connection, we may reduce your points or, in the case of homeless applicants, ask another local authority to rehouse you.
Local Housing Allowance
If you rent your home and have a low income or are claiming welfare benefits, you may be entitled to housing benefit to help you pay your rent. Local housing allowance is a new way of working out how much housing benefit you are entitled to if you rent from a private landlord.
Maisonette
An apartment on two levels with its own entrance. A maisonette is part of a larger building.
Marketing officer
An officer of an RSL or council responsible for contacting people to arrange viewings.
Neighbourhood Office
The council has a number of neighbourhood offices around the city where you can speak to staff about Birmingham Home Choice as well as other housing and council related queries. You can find your nearest office by calling 0121 303 1111 or visit http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/neighoffice
Nomination
Birmingham City Council works in partnership with RSL's in the city in order to increase the amount of housing available for people in Birmingham. RSL's allow Birmingham City Council to allocate some of their properties to people on our register. Under these agreements, Birmingham City Council “nominates” a person from their register to the RSL as a prospective tenant. Birmingham City Council uses its allocations scheme in order to decide who to nominate for these properties. We use our points scheme to shortlist applicants and then pass their details to the RSL. They will then apply their criteria to select an applicant to become their tenant
Overcrowding
A household is overcrowded if there is not enough bedroom space for each member of the household. Birmingham City Council uses the "Bedroom Standard" to measure how much space a person needs. In addition to this, Birmingham City Council also assesses overcrowded households to ensure that they are not overcrowded, based on the standards set out in the Housing Act 1985 (known as statutory overcrowding). For more details, please see our Allocations Policy Summary, or alternatively, you can find more information in our Allocations Scheme
Partner Organisation
A landlord that advertises 100% of their vacancies through Birmingham Home Choice
PIN
see User ID and pin
Priority need
Certain categories of people who are considered to be vulnerable when homeless. They are listed in Part VII of the Housing Act 1997 (as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002).
Privately rented accommodation
Any accommodation rented from a landlord who is a private person or company.
Property Newsletter
A printable newsletter showing all the properties available in the week's bidding cycle. You can either download this from our property site or view one at your nearest access point.
Property Site
The pages on our website where available properties are advertised.
Registered Provider
A term introduced by the Housing & Regeneration Act 2008, to replace the term Registered Social Landlord.
Registered Social Landlords (RSLs)
These are charitable or not for profit landlords that provide affordable housing and are regulated by the Government. They include housing associations, trusts and cooperatives. Now the UK's major providers of new homes for rent. They also may run shared ownership schemes to help people who cannot afford to buy their own homes outright. They offer tenants an assured tenancy whereas the council provides secure tenancies, but housing associations generally try to ensure that their tenants enjoy similar rights and obligations as council tenants. With an assured tenancy you do not have the right to buy but you may benefit from the right to acquire (eligibility for this would depend upon the age, location and client group the property was built for).
Registration certificate
When you join the Housing Register, we write to you with a registration certificate. This tells you how many housing points you have and what type of properties you can bid for.
Review
If you make a housing application and do not agree with the council's decision then you have the right to appeal against the decision. An appeal against a decision is called a review of the decision.
Secure tenancy
Type of tenancy that allows tenants to remain in a property for life, and in some circumstances pass it on to a relative. Generally used by local authorities. Tenants can only be evicted by a court order if they have broken criteria such as paying rent.
Service charge
Charge paid to landlords for maintaining communal areas or facilities, for example, gardens, hallways to flats, window cleaning etc.
Service standards
These set out the standard of service that you can expect for Birmingham Home Choice You can ask for a copy at your local neighbourhood office or download them at www.birmingham.gov.uk/service-standards
Settled accommodation
Accommodation that is not temporary.
Shared ownership
A way of buying a share in a property if you cannot afford to buy it outright. You have sole occupancy rights which means that you do not have to share your home with anyone else. You buy a share of a property, and pay rent to the RSL for the remainder. You can then buy further shares until you own the property outright.
Sheltered accommodation
Self contained accommodation for people 50 or over. This can be a house, bungalow or flat. Support services range from none to very low level support for those who want it.
Shortlist
After a property has been advertised for a week (the bidding cycle) we draw up a list of up to six successful applicants to view the property. This is based on your housing needs points; those with the most points will come highest.
Sleeping rough
This means not having accommodation. It includes sleeping on the streets, in open buildings (for example, a car park), in a tent, or in a vehicle.
Social exclusion
This is a general term used to describe a range of social problems that leave people or areas excluded from wider society, ranging from poverty and unemployment to drug addiction.
Social Housing
The name given to homes let by local councils and registered social landlords.
Social services
The local government department responsible for providing services to children and vulnerable adults. In Birmingham, this service is split between our Children, Young People and Families and Adults and Communities directorates.
Statutory Homeless
See Full Homeless Duty
Studio accommodation
Self contained flat with one main room and kitchen and bathroom. The main room is the living room and bedroom in one.
Supported accommodation
Accommodation where support is provided to help residents manage. There will often be a charge on top of the rent for the support. Most supported accommodation projects for young people are Foyers.
Symbols
A set of pictures to represent various aspects of the property, for example, number of rooms, floor level, pet restrictions etc. These will appear on the website and in the property newsletter. Click here to view symbols
Temporary accommodation
Accommodation offered to a homeless applicant after we have considered their application. If we accept that we have a responsibility to house them (known as a full homeless duty), the council normally has a duty to offer temporary accommodation until the applicant is offered settled accommodation. If we decide that the applicant has made themselves homeless on purpose, we have the duty, for a set period of time, to give the applicant the opportunity to secure accommodation for themselves. If the decision is that the applicant has no local connection, then the duty will continue until the applicant is referred to another authority.
Tenancy
A tenancy gives you the legal right to occupy a property as your main home for which you pay rent.
Tenancy agreement
This is a written agreement which sets out the terms of a tenancy and the rights and obligations of the landlord and the tenant.
Tenant Management Organisation (TMO)
A group of council or housing association tenants or leaseholders can take on responsibility for managing the homes they live in. This is called a TMO. The council or housing association still own the properties. For more information, please click here.
Tenant Services Authority
Government body set up after the 2008 Housing and Regeneration Act to issue codes of practice and assess performance in relation to standards.
User Guide
A guide we have produced to show you how to use Birmingham Home Choice. A copy is available here
User name and PIN
A unique identification number given to you to once you have joined the housing register.
Viewing
The opportunity to go and have a look at a property you may be interested in living in.
Void
An empty property that is or will be available to let.
Voluntary organisations
Not-for-profit organisations, including charities.
Young person
A person aged between 16 and 25 years old.