FAQs

The core responsibilities of the board of directors are:

• To define and maintain the values and objectives of Johnnie Johnson Housing.
• To set the organisation’s strategic direction.
• To approve policies and plans to achieve the objectives.
• To approve the accounts and the annual budget and business plans.
• To ensure that there is adequate delegation and good internal controls.
• To ensure proper risk management.
• To make decisions on important financial matters, or on issues which carry major risk, or are matters of principle.
• To monitor the performance of the organisation and measure it against others.
• To appoint the chief executive and fix his/her contract terms.
• To ensure that the organisation acts within the law.
• To ensure that governance standards are maintained.
• To appoint and (if necessary) remove the chair of the board.

The board meets approximately six times a year in formal session to receive reports from officers and make decisions on the future of the organisation.

Board members may also be involved in other aspects of our governance, and serve as members of the Audit and Risk Committee, Nominations and Remuneration, or our Johnnie Johnson Development Board. They may attend housing conferences and become involved with the voluntary members forum of the National Housing Federation. So apart from the actual board meetings, members may give considerable time to the organisation.

All board members have to be elected by shareholders at general meetings. Shareholders comprise a mix of former and current board members, residents, and others with a genuine interest in our work.

There is a rota for retirement from the board to ensure a reasonable turnover of members and, in line with regulatory requirements, no members serve for more than nine years. Johnnie Johnson Housing pays board members in line with sector guidelines at a median level.

Anyone over the age of 16 can apply to rent one of our properties.

Applicants between the ages of 16 and 18 will, however, be required to provide a guarantor and we strongly recommend that they seek advice from social services and/or the local authority homeless services.

Applicants looking for our Independent Living properties must normally be 55 years of age. In the case of couples, one partner should have reached 55. In certain circumstances, however, we can consider applicants under the age of 55, e.g. someone who is registered disabled and is in receipt of a relevant disability benefit. Some of our schemes have specific restrictions on who can apply. You will be advised of any restrictions on application.

At Johnnie Johnson Housing we have a clear Equality and Diversity policy. We welcome applications from anyone regardless of age, gender, religious beliefs, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, physical characteristics or disability.

Johnnie Johnson Housing uses a Banding system to assess a person’s level of housing need. Your current housing circumstances will be assessed and you will be given the Band which reflects how urgently you need to move.

There are five Housing Need Bands and all applications received from people who want to move into a Johnnie Johnson rented property will be assessed and placed in one of the Bands. You can find out more about the Bands on our property website.

When allocating a property we will shortlist applicants, taking into account:

• Their housing need (i.e. their Band)
• Who will occupy the property fully (see ‘How we calculate bedroom need’)
• The effective date of their application (i.e. the date that their Band was awarded)
• Any other eligibility rules such as local connection, age limits etc.

Using our new property website, you can bid on a maximum of 3 properties at any one time. However, if we have made you an offer of a property you will no longer be permitted to place bids and any previous bids for other properties will not be considered, pending the signing of the tenancy.

It’s easy to register online – all you need is an email and a password. Simply create an account to get started.

For more details on how to sign up, read all you need to know as a new applicant.

Use our guide to find on how to bid on properties and manage your account. There you can find all the details you need about bidding, managing your bids, and offers of accommodation.

For leasehold properties, a rent charge may apply to cover the remaining share of the property that Johnnie Johnson Housing owns. Some leasehold properties may include a service charge or annual charge that covers communal gardening and maintenance. In some cases, this charge will be collected on the re-sale of the property based on a percentage per year that you lived at the property.

The external repairs of leasehold properties are normally covered by Johnnie Johnson Housing, although, there are exceptions to this. The internal repairs are normally the responsibility of the homeowner.

There is normally a minimum age restriction of 55 or 60 years set for leasehold properties under the terms of the lease so anyone who fits the minimum age requirement can apply. You will be advised of any restrictions on application.

At Johnnie Johnson Housing we have a clear Equality and Diversity policy. We welcome applications from anyone regardless of age, gender, religious beliefs, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, physical characteristics or disability.

Leasehold is a type of homeownership similar to shared ownership where you purchase only a specific share of the property (usually 70%). The difference between leasehold and shared ownership is that you cannot buy 100% of a leasehold property.

Buying a leasehold property can be a more affordable option because you are purchasing a share (usually 70%) of your home instead of paying for the full value of the property. Leasehold can be a great option if you are looking to downsize or relocate.

You can learn more about the benefits of choosing a leasehold property here.

Our Independent Living properties are suitable for people over the age of 55. We use Astraline‘s services to help our residents feel confident and able to live independently in their own home.

Astraline is a provider of customer-led, flexible safety services and technology to support independent living. Their friendly telecare specialists are available 24-hours a day, seven days a week through TEC (Technology Enabled Care) devices that you can purchase or rent.

Astraline’s telecare services are suitable for anybody who may be at risk of falling or who are worried about their health and safety.

If you are interested in learning more about Astraline or would like to sign-up for their services, you can find out more or call their team on 01625 466681 or email sales@astraline.co.uk.

Two-Step Verification adds an extra layer of security to your account. Rather than just relying on your password, you will also need to have your mobile phone available to receive a code each time you log in. This way, your account can only be accessed if you enter something you know (your password) and have access to another device (your phone).

You can disable Two-Step Verification, though we do strongly recommend that you use it to ensure that your account is secure.

To disable Two-Step Verification, on the Update your profile page, select the ‘Contact details’ section. By unchecking the ‘Enable Two-Step Verification’ box, you will turn this off. You will be asked to enter a code to confirm your selection in order to disable it.

When you have enabled Two-Step Verification, you will be sent a new code each time you log in. This code is valid for 10 minutes and must be entered to access your account. If you do not receive a code, you can request the code to be resent to you via text or via email.

Make sure you have your phone close by, as you will need to be able to receive a code from us.

When you log in to your account, you will be presented with a box asking you if you wish to enable the extra layer of security. If you wish to proceed, you will be taken to your contact details where you can select the box to enable Two-Step Verification. You will then be asked how you would prefer to receive your security code. If you select text message, you will be sent a code to your mobile phone which is valid for 10 minutes. Enter this code in to the box that appears on your portal and the screen will update to show that Two Step Verification has been enabled successfully.

Due to security reasons, we are unable to enable or disable 2 Step Verification for you. This can only be done by yourself through logging in to the Portal and going to your contact details page.

For shared ownership properties, the rent charge covers the remaining share of the property that Johnnie Johnson Housing owns. Some shared ownership properties may include a service charge or annual charge that covers communal gardening and maintenance. However, the homeowner is usually responsible for all repairs to their individual property; the service charge covers only communal areas.

A minimum age restriction may apply for some shared ownership properties. You can check the property details for more information on who can apply and you will be advised of any restrictions on application.

At Johnnie Johnson Housing we have a clear Equality and Diversity policy. We welcome applications from anyone regardless of age, gender, religious beliefs, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, physical characteristics or disability.

Buying a shared ownership property can be a more affordable option because you are only purchasing a share of your home instead of paying for the full value of the property. Shared ownership can be a great way to get on the property ladder sooner or downsize at a time that is right for you. By choosing shared ownership, you benefit from lower upfront costs, making your money go further.

Yes, with shared ownership you can choose to purchase 100% of the property later. However, the lease for some properties may restrict when you can purchase the remaining share of your property.

Shared ownership is a type of home ownership where you own a share of your home while paying rent on the rest. With shared ownership, you can purchase a percentage share of the property, these shares are normally purchased at 25%, 50% or 75%, with the possibility of purchasing 100% of the property later. Johnnie Johnson Housing owns the remaining share of the property and you pay a rent charge based on the percentage share that Johnnie Johnson Housing owns.