The vast majority of affordable housing in Cornwall subject to Section 106 agreements will have certain occupancy restrictions.
This means that the proposed buyer must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to the Council's satisfaction. This is before approval can be given for the transfer of the property. Most affordable homes are advertised through
- local estate agents
- developers
- registered providers or
- through a housing register
It depends on the type of affordable housing you are applying for. You will need to check with the organisation advertising the property whether there are deadlines that may apply for your application to be considered.
Eligibility usually covers:
- local connection to the area (town/parish)
- you must be in housing need
- you must be unable to afford to buy on the open market in the area
Please note: only one applicant needs to meet the local connection to the area if you are applying as a couple for a property.
Check your eligibility
If you are buying a discount sale or local needs affordable home, you need to apply through this process. Once you have viewed and made an offer on a Section 106 property, the estate agent or developer will confirm whether you are the proceeding applicant. You do not need to complete the assessment process if you have not been chosen to purchase the property. The Council will check whether you meet the provisions in the Section 106 agreement and verify your eligibility for the property. You need to choose your local connection to the area from the options provided below to start the assessment process:
Can you provide the following information?
You will need to provide evidence that:
- you are a permanent resident of the local area
- you have lived in the area for a continuous period of time at the time the property was advertised
- you are in housing need
- you cannot afford to buy a property on the open market
- you have a cash deposit and a mortgage in principal to cover the amount of the property
Proof that you are a current resident
We will need 1 document for each year of residency that is required.
For example; property with 3 year residency requirement:
If you are using a Council Tax bill as evidence and the house was advertised in January 2021 you would need to supply 3 Council Tax bills showing your address covering the period covering January 2018, 2019 and 2020
The following documents to show your residency are accepted:
- Utility bills (gas, electric, phone, water etc.)
- Council tax bills
- Credit report where your registered address clearly shows the period required
- Bank/Building Society account/credit card statements
- State benefit books or receipts showing rent paid
- Payslips showing home address
Income and Savings
We will conduct our own financial assessment to establish whether you can afford a property on the open market and ensure that you don't hold any other mortgages.
Income and savings evidence
- For us to be able to carry out a financial assessment, you will need to provide the following information:
- Four most recent wage slips OR 3 years continuous accounts/self-assessment returns if self employed; OR
- A letter from your employer confirming your basic gross annual salary. Your employer should also confirm whether any guaranteed overtime or bonus payments are payable.
- Copies of bank statements for the previous three months
- Confirmation of your entitlements to child benefits and tax credits and the amount payable.
- Proof of your household savings including where your deposit is coming from
A full credit history for each applicant, this can be obtained on line from either Experian or Equifax. (please see details below) - Confirmation of any loans/HP agreements and when they will be fully repaid.
- Details of any maintenance payments that you may receive/pay out
A Credit Report can be obtained online at www.experian.co.uk or www.equifax.co.uk. If you have a Credit Report done by either of these there is usually a free 30 day trial. You will need to cancel this at anytime within your 30 day trial. Checking your own credit report will not lower your credit score.
Other eligibility criteria and evidence
Applicants will also be required to demonstrate other eligibility requirements:
- ID for each applicant
- Housing need (i.e. current tenancy agreement, HomeChoice registration number, confirmation letter from friend/family if living with others). Please note that on certain properties we reserve the right not to allow under-occupancy. Thia may mean that we cannot accept an application from you if you do not have a need for the size of property you are applying for.
- Mortgage in principal from a s.106 lender covering the full amount of the home you are seeking the Council's approval to purchase
- Household income of less than £80k
Once you have collated all of your evidence please:
Can you provide the following information?
You will need to provide evidence that:
- you have formerly lived in the area for a continuous period of at least 5 years
- you are in housing need
- you cannot afford to buy a property on the open market and
- you have a cash deposit and a mortgage in principal to cover the amount of the property
Proof that you are a former resident
We will need 1 document for each of the years required to demonstrate a former residency
For example; property with a 5 year former residency requirement:
If the house was advertised in January 2021 and you are sending us old utility bills as evidence - you could provide a bill for any month covering a 5 year period you lived in the town/parish
we can accept the following things:
- a letter from Council's electoral registration team confirming that you were on the electoral roll for this time
- a letter from GP/school/other professional stating you were registered with them for this period of time
- A full credit report showing your registration at the former address for the required period of time
- Utility bills (gas, electric, phone, water etc.)
- Council tax bills
- Bank/Building Society account/credit card statements
- State benefit books or receipts showing rent paid
- Payslips showing home address
Other eligibility criteria and evidence
In addition to the local connection, purchasers will also be required to demonstrate the other eligibility requirements:
- Evidence of your household income of less than £80k
- ID for each applicant
- Housing need (i.e. current tenancy agreement, HomeChoice registration number, confirmation letter from friend/family if living with others). Please note that on certain properties we reserve the right not to allow under-occupancy. This may mean that we cannot accept an application from you if you do not have a need for the size of property you are applying for.
- Mortgage in principal from a Section 106 lender covering the full amount of the home you are seeking the Council's approval to purchase
- Full credit report for each applicant- we use this to verify your affordability for the home you are looking to purchase
Income and Savings
We will conduct our own financial assessment to establish whether you can afford a property on the open market and ensure that you don't hold any other mortgages.
Income and savings evidence
For us to be able to carry out a financial assessment, you will need to provide the following information:
- Four most recent wage slips OR 3 years continuous accounts/self-assessment returns if self employed; OR
- A letter from your employer confirming your basic gross annual salary. Your employer should also confirm whether any guaranteed overtime or bonus payments are payable
- Copies of bank statements for the previous three months
- Confirmation of your entitlements to child benefits and tax credits and the amount payable.
- Proof of your household savings including where your deposit is coming from
- A full credit history for each applicant, this can be obtained on line from either Experian or Equifax. (please see details below)
- Confirmation of any loans/HP agreements and when they will be fully repaid.
- Details of any maintenance payments that you may receive/pay out
A Credit Report can be obtained online at www.experian.co.uk or www.equifax.co.uk. If you have a Credit Report done by either of these there is usually a free 30 day trial. You will need to cancel this at anytime within your 30 day trial. Checking your own credit report will not lower your credit score.
Other eligibility criteria and evidence
Applicants will also be required to demonstrate other eligibility requirements:
- ID for each applicant
- Housing need (i.e. current tenancy agreement, HomeChoice registration number, confirmation letter from friend/family if living with others). Please note that on certain properties we reserve the right not to allow under-occupancy. This may mean that we cannot accept an application from you if you do not have a need for the size of property you are applying for.
- Mortgage in principal from a s.106 lender covering the full amount of the home you are seeking the Council's approval to purchase
- Household income of less than £80k
Once you have collated all of your evidence please complete the following form:
Can you provide the following information?
You will need to provide evidence that:
- you work in the area - this must be 16 hours or more a week (not including seasonal or casual employment) for a continuous period of time immediately prior to the house advertised
Proof you are employed in the area
- letter from your employer on headed paper clearly setting out your employment status
- number of hours worked
- where you are based
- salary/wages
- how long you have worked there
- or payslips/P60 covering the relevant period
For example; property with 3 year employment requirement
If the house was advertised in January 2021 you could provide a letter on headed paper from your employer stating that you have worked there since (employment start date at least 3 years prior to today's date), you are based at (address), your contracted hours are (number of hours) and your salary is (amount inc bonuses/overtime).
Income and Savings
We will conduct our own financial assessment to establish whether you can afford a property on the open market and ensure that you don't hold any other mortgages.Income and savings evidence
- Four most recent wage slips OR 3 years continuous accounts/self-assessment returns if self employed; OR
- A letter from your employer confirming your basic gross annual salary. Your employer should also confirm whether any guaranteed overtime or bonus payments are payable.
- Copies of bank statements for the previous three months
- Confirmation of your entitlements to child benefits and tax credits and the amount payable.
- Proof of your household savings including where your deposit is coming from
- A full credit history for each applicant, this can on line from either Experian or Equifax. (please see details below)
- Confirmation of any loans/HP agreements and when they will be repaid.
A Credit Report can be obtained online at www.experian.co.uk or www.equifax.co.uk. If you have a Credit Report done by either of these there is usually a free 30 day trial. You will need to cancel this at anytime within your 30 day trial. Checking your own credit report will not lower your credit score.
Other eligibility criteria and evidence
Applicants will also be required to demonstrate other eligibility requirements:
- ID for each applicant
- Housing need (i.e. current tenancy agreement, HomeChoice registration number, confirmation letter from friend/family if living with others). Please note that on certain properties we reserve the right not to allow under-occupancy. This may mean that we cannot accept an application from you if you do not have a need for the size of property you are applying for.
- Mortgage in principal from a s.106 lender covering the full amount of the home you are seeking the Council's approval to purchase
- Household income of less than £80k
Once you have collated all of your evidence please complete the following form:
Can you provide the following information?
You will need to provide evidence that:
- you have a close family member who has lived in the area continuously for a period of time immediately prior to the property being marketed (mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter); and in some cases
- they or you are in need of support for the foreseeable future or on an ongoing basis.
- Proof you have a family member in the area who needs care or cares for you
For example; property with 5 year family connection requirement
If the house was advertised January 2021; you could send us a council tax bill for that family member as evidence - covering January 2016, anytime 2017, anytime 2018, anytime 2019, and January 2021.
we also accept the following things:
- Utility bills (gas,electric, water, phone etc.)
- Bank/Building Society account/credit card statements
- State benefit books or receipts showing rent paid
- Payslips showing home address
Proof of connection to the resident
birth/adoption certificate from all parties to show you are related
Evidence that the family member or you have care needs
Letter from either a:
- Social Worker
- Doctor
- Childcare provider
- Advocate
If you your care need is for your childcare, please also provide proof of employment
- Letter from employer
- Wage slips
- Income and Savings
We will conduct our own financial assessment to establish whether you can afford a property on the open market and ensure that you don't hold any other mortgages.
Income and savings evidence
For us to be able to carry out a financial assessment, you will need to provide the following information:
- Four most recent wage slips OR 3 years continuous accounts/self-assessment returns if self employed; OR
- A letter from your employer confirming your basic gross annual salary. Your employer should also confirm whether any guaranteed overtime or bonus payments are payable.
- Copies of bank statements for the previous three months
- Confirmation of your entitlements to child benefits and tax credits and the amount payable.
- Proof of your household savings including where your deposit is coming from
- A full credit history for each applicant, this can be obtained on line from either Experian or Equifax. (please see details below)
- Confirmation of any loans/HP agreements and when they will be fully repaid.
- Details of any maintenance payments that you may receive/pay out
A Credit Report can be obtained online at www.experian.co.uk or www.equifax.co.uk. If you have a Credit Report done by either of these there is usually a free 30 day trial. You will need to cancel this at anytime within your 30 day trial. Checking your own credit report will not lower your credit score.
Other eligibility criteria and evidence
Applicants will also be required to demonstrate other eligibility requirements:
- ID for each applicant
- Housing need (i.e. current tenancy agreement, HomeChoice registration number, confirmation letter from friend/family if living with others). Please note that on certain properties we reserve the right not to allow under-occupancy. This may mean that we cannot accept an application from you if you do not have a need for the size of property you are applying for.
- Mortgage in principal from a s.106 lender covering the full amount of the home you are seeking the Council's approval to purchase
- Household income of less than £80k
Once you have collated all of your evidence please complete the following form:
