How to apply
1. How do I join the Housing Register?
If you believe that you meet the eligibility criteria, then you will need to make an application on Housing Online. If you do not have access to a computer at home, you can use a computer for free at your local library.
There are two different ways to register a housing application. We need to know if you are a new applicant, or an existing applicant or Council tenant.
If you are a new applicant
If you are new and have never held an account with us before, you need to select the option ‘Don’t have an existing account with us? Register here’ and continue with the registration from there. You will need a valid email address that you can access to be able to do this. You will be directed to log into your new account once this is complete. Once logged in you can select ‘Create New Application’, answer all questions (please refer to the user guide in the top right corner of the ‘Log in’ page to help you with this) and submit your application.
Uploading Documents
Once your application is complete you can upload all the requested documents via ‘My Saved Housing Application’. There are user guides available on the ‘Log In’ page to assist you with this.
If you are an existing applicant, current or former Council tenant
You will need to select ‘Register securely using your existing details’ this will then take you through verification for an existing user.
Even if you do not think you have an active application, but you do have a current or former council tenancy, you must compete verification this way.
The system will ask for a reference number from you to verify you in our system. This reference number can be either your old Keychoices Reference, Your Application reference (which is different now we have changed our systems) or your person reference. If you do not have access to any of these details, you will need to call us on 01709 336009 before you can continue, and we will provide you with this.
Once you have completed verification you will be directed back to log in to your account. You will need the email address and the password you have just created to do this. Once logged in to your account you can view any existing applications by clicking ‘My Accepted Housing Applications’. You can also place bids, update contact details and upload documents from here. There is a link to some helpful user guides in the top right corner of our ‘Log in’ page to assist you with this. If you are an existing or former Council tenant and want to make a new application, please select ‘Create new Housing Application’ after you have logged on. You will need to answer all of the questions (please refer to the user guide in the top right corner of the ‘Log in’ page to help you with this), and submit your application.
Uploading Documents
Once your application is complete you can upload all the requested documents. If you have already got an active Housing Application, you can upload documents by clicking on ‘My Accepted Housing Application’. If you have made a new application and it is pending, then you will need to click on ‘My Saved Housing Application’. There are user guides available on the ‘Log In’ page to assist you with this.
Documents required
Your application cannot be processed until you have uploaded all relevant documents:
- proof of identity for everyone to be rehoused including children (such as a passport, birth certificate or driving licence)
- proof of income (such as one month's full bank statement, pay slips, benefit award letters)
- proof of current address (such as a bank statement, or recent gas or electricity bill)
- details of your address history for the past five years
- proof of your local connection to Rotherham (such as proof of your address history dating back at least three years OR proof of relatives addresses in Rotherham for past three years, OR proof of employment dating back at least three years)
- proof of your bank account including recent bank statements for all accounts held showing at least one month's transactions and dated within the last three months (it will be mandatory to pay your rent by Direct Debit)
- proof of pregnancy including MAT B1 form (if applicable)
- proof of child benefit (if applicable)
- proof of overnight access to children (if applicable)
- evidence of your right to reside in the UK if you are not a British citizen. This could be your passport and other relevant documents from the Home Office (if applicable)
- if you are currently renting, please provide an up-to-date rent payment statement from your landlord
2. I do not have access to a computer, how do I join the Housing Register?
If you do not have computer access at home, you can use a computer for free at the library. You will require an email account that you can access to complete the registration.