Rent

It's important to check your finances before you bid on a property. Think CASH:

• Check - Does your bank or building society account let you make direct debit payments? We will need to see copies of your bank statements to verify income and outgoings.
• Ask - Do you have the money to pay for the costs of moving and furnishing your home? You may be eligible for help with moving costs and rent in advance in the form of a Discretionary Housing Payment, please contact your local authority for more information. Additional grants and loans can be applied for, visit the Turn2Us website for further details.
• Save - Have you saved a months' rent in advance? If you are in receipt of certain benefits, charitable help or short-term benefit advances may be available to you. Charity Search and the GOV.uk website have plenty of helpful resources available.
• Help - Have completed your own credit check? It’s important to look at your credit report to establish that it’s accurate. If you have any outstanding debts, ensure that you’ve set up repayment plans and or have enough disposable income to make the minimum repayments. Plymouth Community Homes will carry out a credit check with Experian as a part of the Tenancy Assessment process, so it’s advisable to assess your financial situation beforehand. 

Completing the CASH check is important, because if you don’t, it could mean you miss out on a property.

Make sure that you have documents to prove your identity. Without proof of identity, we will be unable to offer you a property.

Your identity will need to be confirmed with photo ID including a passport, EEA Permanent Residence card or a UK driving license, but other documents can be accepted.

Ensure you have documents that can provide proof of address.

Utility bills, benefit award letters, payslips or bank statements that are dated within the last three months can be accepted.

If you’ve chosen paperless billing, you can provide digital or printed copies of your documentation as proof of address.

If you need to prove a local connection to the area, make sure that you have the relevant evidence to support your application.

There are different types of rent, including social rent, affordable rent, rent to buy and shared ownership.

Watch our quick video to ensure you pick the best one suitable to you. 

You may be able to keep a pet but this will depend on the type of property that you live in or based on certain circumstances.

If you would like to keep a pet in your home, you'll need to get our permission first. Contact your Housing Choices Officer, send an enquiry or call us on 0808 230 6500.

You can refer to our Pets Policy for more information.

We will make contact with you if you are shortlisted for the property.

If there is a preference on the advert, for example preference to mobility, your position will not reflect the preference.

If your property doesn’t have a bin, you’ll need to contact Plymouth City Council or your local authority (Cornwall Council or South Hams District Council) to request one. PCH does not provide these.

If your waste will not fit in your household bin, you’ll need to arrange for it to be removed. There are options for removal including bulky waste collection, taking your items to a recycling centre or donating them. Anyone caught fly-tipping could face a fixed penalty notice and any items left in a PCH property may be subject to charges.

Have a look on Facebook or Gumtree for any freecycle furniture.

PCH does not provide furniture or carpets. Shelter England provides advice about getting a grant or a loan to cover this.

To move home, arrears need to be paid off in full or you need to be in an agreed payment plan in the last six months. View our Tenancy Allocation Policy for more information.

If you obtained our permission for the alterations made to your home, you will be able to move.

If you didn’t get our permission to make these alterations you will still be able to move, however we will charge you for the cost of putting the property back to a lettable standard.

View our Letting Standards for more information.

If you are moving from one PCH home to another, PCH will notify your utility provider. Once you move into your new home, you’ll then need to contact your new energy supplier to set up a payment method.
When you move, you should also notify the following companies about your change of address (PCH will not do this for you):

• Council Tax
• Electoral register
• Bank
• Subscriptions
• Employer
• Pension administrator
• Insurers including home and car insurance
• TV License
• DVLA for your driving license
• Pharmacy, GP and hospital

PCH is unable to provide help for the removal of furniture or items from your home. You may be able to get help from family or friends, or you may need to hire a removal company.

There are a range of ways to clear items without throwing them away including recycling, selling online, donating to charity or organising a bulky waste collection through your local council.

If you are moving out of a PCH home, you’ll need to remove all rubbish and waste materials as well as any unwanted furniture, carpets, curtains, or other possessions. As well as the general living space you should also clear any loft, storage shed or the garden if you have it.

If we have to clear away rubbish or household items after you have left, we will recharge you for our expenses to do so. View our Clearance charges.

 Give notice to your landlord

 Ensure your rent has been paid fully on your current home

 Arrange removals or packing

 Leave your current property clean, tidy and clear of possessions

 Take meter readings

 Take meter readings

 Set up new payment plan for energy supply

 Redirect post

 Update your address

 Contact new suppliers