We play a vital role in helping local authorities discharge their housing responsibilities and to address local housing need by entering into nominations agreements which guarantee that a certain proportion of lettings are made to people prioritised by the council. We also participate in local authority operated choice-based lettings schemes. The way we work with local authorities is set out in more detail in our Allocations Policy.
We also address local housing need through our work with care leavers and domestic abuse survivors in Jigsaw Support, and our hospital discharge work in our Housing for Over 55s and Extra Care services.
As an active developer of new housing, Jigsaw helps deliver local housing strategies across the north-west and east midlands. The homes we develop include affordable rent and affordable home ownership options.
Our Allocations Policy sets out how we let homes that have been adapted to meet specific needs, and we participate in disability housing registers. When a substantially adapted home becomes available to re-let we will work with our local authority partners to allocate it to an individual who will benefit from the adaptations.
Our new build homes are constructed to accessible homes standards. We also work with local authorities to identify where an individual’s needs can be incorporated into the design of new build homes.
We work pro-actively to address under-occupation and overcrowding in our homes. We call this ‘right-sizing’. Our approach includes:
- Supporting tenants who wish to downsize to move homes
- Helping to fund a ‘right-sizing service’ in Manchester
- Creating local lettings plans to facilitate downsizing and freeing up larger homes.
Jigsaw’s Tenancy Policy sets out how we tackle tenancy fraud in our homes, including unauthorised sub-letting, non-occupation, and fraudulently obtaining social housing. Our neighbourhoods teams will investigate all reports of tenancy fraud.
Where the fraud is a criminal offence we will work with local authorities and/or police to assist them in bringing about a criminal prosecution.
Our Allocations Policy and Complaints Policy set out how we provide a fair, reasonable, simple and accessible appeals process for allocations decisions that we make.
Jigsaw is required to record all lets and sales using the Continue Recording of Lettings (CORE) system.
