Housing

Welcome to Mendip's Housing pages.

Please choose from the A-Z list below.

Building Control

Even if you already have planning consent for your building project, you will almost certainly need Building Regulation consent before you can start work.

Caravan Sites

Licensing, inspection and enforcement of residential, static, touring/holiday caravan sites, and camping sites.

Conservation Areas

Advice on Conservation Areas within the Mendip District Council area.

Council Tax - Appeals Against Banding

Since 1 December 1993 there are only limited occasions when taxpayers can challenge their Council Tax banding.

Council Tax - Common Questions

Common questions and answers regarding Council Tax.

Council Tax - Discounts and Exemptions

Discounts on your council tax are available if only one person is living in the dwelling, or if the other people living there can be disregarded for council tax purposes.

Council Tax - Methods of Payment

How to Pay your Council Tax.

Council Tax - Paying Your Bill

A quick guide to the details of your Council Tax bill and how you can pay it.

Council Tax and Finance - Assessment of Charge

There are five main components to your council tax bill. These are the Special Expenses Rate and the Parish Charge which will both vary from one parish to another.

Council Tax and Finance - General Information

An outline guide to the laws and procedures that govern council tax.

Council Tax and Finance - Valuation Bands

The Valuation Office Agency give a "Banding Value" for each dwelling.

Council Tax Benefit - Backdating

Backdating Council Tax Benefit means that we award benefit for a period before the date when you actually made your claim. To receive backdated benefit you must have good reasons for not making an earlier claim (e.g. a serious illness or a bereavement).

Council Tax Benefit - Current Claim

If you currently receive Council Tax Benefit and there is a change in any of your personal circumstances, you must let us know as soon as possible.

Council Tax Benefit - New Claim

You can claim Council Tax Benefit if you are on Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance, or if you are on a low income (this includes people who are self employed)

Council Tax Benefit - Overpayments

When we give you too much benefit, we call it an 'overpayment'. If we give you too much benefit, we will send you a letter.

Council Tax Benefit - Reviews

As part of the Government's Housing Benefit Reform the Council is no longer required to issue renewal claim forms.

Council Tax Discount - Apprentices

Application for Council Tax Discount - Apprentices

Council Tax Discount - Care Workers

Application for a Council Tax Discount - Care Workers

Council Tax Discount - Carers

Application for Council Tax Discount - Carers

Council Tax Discount - Empty Properties

Application for Council Tax Discounts - Empty Properties

Council Tax Discount - Members of Religious Communities

Application for Council Tax Discount - Members of Religious Communities

Council Tax Discount - Persons in Detention

Application for a Council Tax Discount - Persons in Detention

Council Tax Discount - Reduction for Disability

Appliaction for Councli Tax Discount - Reduction for Disability

Council Tax Discount - Residents in Hospitals/Homes/Hostels

Application for Council Tax Discount - Persons Resident in Hospitals/Homes/Hostels

Council Tax Discount - Self Contained Part of Property Occupied by a Dependant Relative

Council Tax Discount - Severe Mental Impairment

Application for Council Tax Discount - Severe Mental Impairment

Council Tax Discount - Sole or Main Residence Questionnaire

Application for Council Tax Discount - Sole or Main Residence Questionnaire

Council Tax Discount - Students

Application for Council Tax Discount - Students

Council Tax Discount - Under 20s in Full Time Education

Application for a Council Tax Discount - Under 20s in Full Time Education

Council Tax Discount - Youth Training Scheme

Application for Council Tax Discount - Youth Training Trainees

Council Tax Liability

Council Tax can only be charged on a 'chargeable dwelling' (usually a building or part of a building used as a private residence), and there are rules to determine who is liable for the payment.

Decent Homes Assistance

Grants are available to help people to carry out repairs to their property, or to provide disabled adaptations if you are registered disabled. All grants are means tested.

Discretionary Housing Payments

Discretionary Housing Payments are designed to help Housing and Council Tax Benefit claimants who require further financial help with their housing costs.

Energy Efficiency

Energy saving advice and initiatives for households in the Mendip area.

Facilities and Services for Homeless People

Information about facilities and services for homeless people.

Grants for Historic Buildings

Discretionary grants associated with the repair of historic buildings and areas.

Home Composting

Composters are recycled plastic bins for the garden. To help Somerset residents get started, a Home Composting Promotion has been setup - offering compost bins for as little as £8.

Homefinder Somerset Choiced Based Lettings (CBL)

The way social housing is allocated across the district is set to change in 2008.

Homelessness

Mendip District Council can offer advice and assistance to help you if you are homeless or about to lose your home.

Household Waste Recycling Centres

Where to find your local household waste recycling centre.

Housing - Allocations System

The local authority or Registered Social Landlord uses a housing point system as a guide to priority when allocating housing. The points system reflects the current situation or condition in which an applicant lives.

Housing - Condition Complaints

Responding to complaints concerning the conditions of tenanted properties, in relation to the new Housing Health & Safety Rating System under The Housing Act 2004 (this replaces the old “unfitness” standard).

Housing - Development of Affordable Housing

Promoting and enabling the development of new and refurbished properties in order to provide affordable housing.

Housing - Empty Properties

Empty properties are a wasted resource. Bringing empty properties back into use features as a key priority in Mendip District Council's Housing Strategy. Demand for affordable good quality housing in the District remains high.

Housing - General Information and Advice

Advice to tenants and landlords in the private sector on housing related matters.

Housing - Grants

Grants are available to help people to carry out repairs to their property, or to provide disabled adaptations if you are registered disabled. All grants are means tested.

Housing - 'Lets Move Mendip' Private Sector Letting

Mendip District Council private sector letting scheme

Housing - Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

The 2004 Housing Act introduces the licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

Housing - Mendip Common Housing Register

A list of all applicants requiring social housing within the Mendip district.

Housing - Mutual Exchange

This service provides lists of tenants wishing to move, either within the area or to other areas. Existing tenants can exchange their home with another tenant provided the landlord agrees the mutual exchange.

Housing - Private Tenants - Advice and Support

A local authority may be able to provide help and advice to existing private tenants who may be a victim of harassment, illegal eviction or experiencing trouble or issues with their landlord

Housing - Shared Ownership (New Build Homebuy)

New Build Homebuy, formerly Shared Ownership, in Mendip.

Housing Allocations - Housing Decisions Appeal

An applicant who has been refused a place on the housing register, who is unhappy with their allocation of housing points or who has been suspended from the waiting list can ask the local authority to review their decision. The authority should publish details of their appeals procedure.

Housing Association - Nomination and Registration

Housing Associations are 'Registered Social Landlords' not private landlords. They provide housing in a very similar way to the Council and are non-profit making. People on the local authority transfer list or housing register may be offered a Housing Association.

Housing Benefit - Backdating

Backdating Housing Benefit means that we award benefit for a period before the date when you actually made your claim.

Housing Benefit - Current Claim

If you currently receive Housing Benefit and there is a change in any of your personal circumstances, you must let us know as soon as possible.

Housing Benefit - New Claim

You can claim Housing Benefit if you are on Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance or have a low income.

Housing Benefit - Overpayments

When a claimant's circumstances change, it could result in an overpayment, in which case we must actively seek to recover the overpayment.

Housing Benefit - Reviews

As part of the Government's Housing Benefit reform the Council is no longer required to issue renewal claim forms.

Housing Regeneration

Housing Regeneration is responsible for delivering the entire housing service within the District which significantly contributes to the corporate priorities.

Landlords Accreditation Scheme

Mendip has introduced the following accreditation scheme to help Private Sector landlords to provide accommodation that fully complies with current Housing legislation, including the Housing Act 1985, Management Regulations and Decent Homes policy.

Listed Buildings

Buildings which represent the best of the nation's historic and architectural built heritage are Listed by the Department of Culture Media and Sport under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, on advice from English Heritage. Listed buildings are a finite and irreplaceable asset. The District Council has a statutory duty to ensure that Listed Buildings, their settings and any features of special architectural or historic interest which they possess are preserved.

Housing

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