Thurrock
Homes for older people
Sheltered Housing
What is Sheltered Housing?
Sheltered housing is designed and built with the needs of older people in mind. Most of our sheltered housing schemes are made up of one-bedroom flats or bungalows, but we do have a few two-bedroom properties.
Sheltered Housing enables older people to live independently with security and peace of mind. It means that you can still have your own property and all the privacy that comes with it but with the security of being able to contact Council staff should you need any help.
What types of Sheltered Housing is available?
Thurrock Council has three different types of sheltered housing, which deliver different levels of support and care depending on the needs of the individuals living in the properties.
Community Alarm Scheme
This scheme provides a community alarm service to accommodation located throughout the borough designated for older people. Adults with a sensory or physical disability or other vulnerabilities who would benefit from the provision of an emergency alarm, within their home, may also be considered for this accommodation.
To be considered for the Community Alarm Scheme, applicants must be
- 60 years and over, requiring the support of an emergency alarm
or
- Under 60 years with a physical or sensory disability or other vulnerabilities.
Sheltered Housing
Sheltered Housing enables older people to live independently with security and peace of mind. It means that you can still have your own property and all the privacy that comes with it, and also have the security of having a member of staff available in case you should need any help. It is really like living in a small village, where you live independently in a small, friendly community.
To be considered for a property within Sheltered Housing applicants must be:
- 60 years plus, or 55 – 59 year old in receipt of high level Disability Living Allowance and
- Requiring housing support
Extra Care Housing
The Extra Care Housing schemes are located at Piggs Corner, Grays and Kynoch Court, Stanford-le-Hope. The schemes are designed to meet the needs of people who have a higher level of support needs.
Applicants should be in receipt of the higher rate of Disability Living Allowance and wish to live independently with support.
Applications will be considered from all council and housing association tenants, owner occupiers and people in privately rented accommodation who are in need of at least five hours of care each week and in receipt of the higher rate of Disability Living Allowance.
Applicants must qualify to join the Councils Housing waiting List.
How can I apply for a Sheltered property?
Applicants need to register on the Councils housing waiting list.
All sheltered properties are advertised by Thurrock Choice Homes (excluding the Extra Care properties at Piggs Corner and Kynoch Court) in the usual way and the adverts will indicate that they are sheltered properties.
Applicants will need to bid for these properties.
Before a sheltered property can be offered we need to determine whether or not an applicant has housing support needs. This is assessed by means of a self-assessment form which all applicants aged over 55 years are invited to complete when they register an application.
The information you provide on this form will be used to assess what type of accommodation suits your needs and which type of sheltered housing you wish to be considered for.
If you are successful in bidding for a sheltered property, a viewing will be arranged at which the sheltered housing officer will assess you to determine the suitability of the accommodation. If the property is not deemed suitable then the offer will be withdrawn.
Hard to let Sheltered properties
Sometimes the Council has properties which are harder to let and have been advertised for a number of weeks with no successful bidders.
In these cases it may be possible to register an application and be re-housed very quickly.
Usually these properties are on the 1st or 2nd floor without a lift.
Help the Aged
Help the Aged give advice about various housing options and how to get the assistance you may be entitled to. To open a new window and visit the Help the Aged website click here.