Berneslai Homes has announced that it will shortly be launching a new online housing application service. Anyone wishing to join the housing register will soon be able to make that application by a click of the button on Berneslai Homes website www.berneslaihomes.co.uk. Berneslai Homes Lettings Manager, Bob Cartwright said: "This new service is designed for people who find it inconvenient to apply to join the housing register by the traditional methods. Customers will soon be able to apply from home at a time that suits themselves. It is all part of the efforts by Berneslai Homes to provide customer focused services." Berneslai Homes' new lettings service was launched in January 2008 with the aim of improving the way council homes are let in Barnsley. The changes were brought about because of new Government guidance and the previous lettings policy was difficult for customers to understand. At present, including those tenants who want to transfer homes and those who want to become council tenants, there are about 8,500 applications for re-housing, yet on average there are about only 1,200 council properties a year that become empty for re letting. Under the Homeseeker lettings scheme there is just one re-housing list with five priority categories. The new policy provides the opportunity for people on the register to make decisions for themselves and express an interest in properties that are advertised each week in the local press, on our website and in our Barnsley Connects offices.

Sources: www.berneslaihomes.co.uk, www.housingnews.co.uk

8th August 2008