Stockland Green Community Housing (SGCH) has launched its social housing allocations scheme with 14 new homes at social rent levels.

Part of The Pioneer Group, a well-respected housing association with its roots in the regeneration of Castle Vale, SGCH is committed to providing high quality homes in the Stockland Green area.

The organisation has already established a strong footprint in the area by providing 37 homes for market rent. This tenure offers an alternative to an oversupply of low-quality exempt shared accommodation.

Lee Steele, Head of Housing & Customer Services at the Pioneer Group said:

Our recent housing needs study showed there is a real need for good quality, well-run social housing in Stockland Green. We are delighted to be offering 14 new self-contained homes at social rent levels on the popular thoroughfare of Slade Road which will provide real security for households.

Following an initial probationary period of 12 months, our social tenancies will convert to assured tenancies allowing tenants to remain in their homes without the risk of being asked to move after 6 months through no fault of their own. This stability really allows people to put down roots, creating more stable communities

SGCH works in partnership with Birmingham City Council to let homes on the scheme. After the initial letting, the properties will be let through a mixture of Council nomination from the city’s allocation scheme and through SGCH’s own scheme.

The SGCH scheme gives the highest priority to people with a connection to Stockland Green and after this priority to people with a connection to the neighbouring wards of Kingstanding, Perry Common, Erdington, Gravelly Hill, Nechells, Aston and Perry Barr.

Supporting those in housing need, applicants must have been accepted onto the Birmingham City Council scheme and have been awarded a banding under that scheme. Although priority is given to people with a local connection, anyone can join the scheme if they meet the Birmingham scheme requirements.

Social rents are set based on a government formula taking into account average wages and property valuation. These homes will be let at a rate of £82.99 for a one bedroom flat and £96.35 for a two bedroom flat. In addition to this there is a service charge ranging from £16.44 to £20.09 which covers the cost of services including cleaning, grounds maintenance and extensive CCTV coverage and monitoring.

More information about the scheme and the other homes available can be viewed on the SGCH website – www.sgoht.org.uk where you can also download the application form.

The Pioneer Group owns and manages around 2,600 properties across the north of Birmingham and is actively developing new homes for social rent. It also offers other options which allow residents to secure a place on the housing ladder through shared ownership and rent to buy schemes. Further information can be found on The Pioneer Group’s website at www.pioneergroup.org.uk