Sheltered housing is specially designed accommodation, available for rent, for older people or those with medical needs. It is also sometimes called retirement housing.

Within Erimus Housing our sheltered schemes are managed by our sheltered housing team.

What does a sheltered housing scheme provide?

There are variations between sheltered housing schemes. However they usually have many of the following features:

• Self-contained flats or bungalows with their own bathrooms and fitted kitchens
• Many schemes include communal facilities such as a laundry, a communal lounge for social activities, gardens and a guest room or a communal meeting room
• A warden on-site service
• 24-hour emergency call centre assistance

What do scheme managers do?

This varies according to the nature of the scheme and the needs of the residents. They usually:

• Help newcomers settle in and explain how everything works
• Make regular contact with each resident
• Deal with emergencies
• Encourage social activities
• Report and monitor repairs and maintenance work
• Assess needs and, in consultation with residents, liaise with families, statutory, voluntary and private agencies to ensure these needs are met
• Co-ordinate and give advice on services such as shopping, cleaning, cooking, personal and nursing care.

Who is eligible for sheltered housing?

Different providers and landlords set different criteria but most state that you should be over 60 or have medical needs. We do not directly provide care but are able to assist residents access care via social services.

How much does it cost?

You pay a weekly rent plus a service charge and a support charge.

The service charge includes the costs of the cleaning, maintenance of common areas and sometimes communal heating and electricity charges.

The support charge covers the services provided by the scheme manager and the out of hours service.

You may be entitled to assistance from housing benefit or income support - we will let you know about this when you apply to live in sheltered housing.

The support charge is set by the local authority’s contracts and commissioning team. You may be entitled to help with this charge - again we will let you know about this when you apply to live in sheltered housing.

What are the benefits of living in Erimus Housing's sheltered housing?

• Good quality housing
• Your own front door
• Security
• Company of other residents
• Independence
• Remaining part of a local and wider community
• Peace of mind, with help on hand via the scheme manager or 24 hour call centre in emergencies.

What should I look for in a sheltered housing scheme?

Be clear about what you want and decide which of the following factors are important to you:

• Location and ease of access to shops, transport and surgeries
• A design suitable for special needs (do you need a wheelchair or have sight difficulties?)
• Communal facilities (are they what you want?)
• Size and layout of flat (does it meet your needs?)
• Scheme manager (are they welcoming, informative?)
• Cost, including the service charge
• Other residents (what do they say about living there?)
• Pets (do they allow pets?)

How to apply

The local authorities in Darlington, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough operate a choice based lettings system called Compass.

If you are looking for accommodation in any of these areas or want to find out more about how choice based lettings works, please click on the following link www.compasscbl.org.uk

Alternatively please contact customer services on 08000 461600 for a Compass application form.

A list of the schemes available can be downloaded here. If you have any queries specifically about this type of accommodation, please contact Rose Edwards via our call centre on 08000 461600.