How do I rent a CHP home?
Homes for social rent
Social rent homes tend to be around 50 percent cheaper than you’d pay a private landlord. These types of homes are allocated to people who are nominated to us by local authorities. If you’re looking for a social rent home, the first thing you need to do is register with the housing department for the local authority in the area you’d like to move to. You can do this by contacting your local council. You can find more information about the process and where to bid for properties on the Rent a home page of our website.
Other rental options
We also offer other rental options. These include immediately available homes which are exclusively for people over the age of 60, or over 50 if you receive disability benefit (or Personal Independence Payment). We offer intermediate market rent homes where rent is charged up to 80 percent of current market prices and open market rent homes, where prices are in line with private landlord prices. You can find more information about each of these and how to apply by visiting the Rent a home page of our website.
How do I buy a CHP home?
We offer a range of home ownership options including shared ownership, right to buy or acquire, and outright purchase. You can find more information about each of these options by visiting the New Home section of our website.
If you’re an existing tenant, you can find more information on the Buying your home page in your online account.
I’m a tenant moving into my new CHP home, what do I need to know?
You can find an overview of useful information on the Before you move in page of our website. This includes what a tenancy agreement is, how to register for an online account with us, how to find rent and payment information, and home safety advice.
How do I pay my rent?
We recommend that you set up a Direct Debit to pay your rent, where payments come straight from your bank or building society. You can request to set up a Direct Debit on the About your payments page in your online account.
Alternatively, you can Make a payment through your online account, which is quick and easy to do.
If you don’t want to do either of these, there are other ways you can pay your rent. These are:
- by standing order
- over the phone
- at a Post Office or PayPoint using your Allpay rent card.
You can find out more about each of these options on our website or on the About your payments page in your online account.
If you’re having difficulty meeting your payments, or would like to discuss your rent, Universal Credit or Housing Benefit, please email imt@chp.org.uk or call us on 0300 555 0500 (text relay: 18001 0300 555 0500).
Why do rents increase?
Social housing rents are set by government legislation. Rents are usually reviewed by housing associations each year and tend to match the rate of inflation in September plus one per cent. Rent increases are communicated to customers in February and will start from April the same year.
We’re a not-for-profit organisation, so all the money we make is invested back into the homes we own and manage, and the services we provide. By increasing rents, we can invest money in repairing and maintaining homes, including installing new kitchens and bathrooms, windows and doors, as well as improving energy efficiency.
It also means we can build new homes to help with the shortage of affordable housing in our region, and we have more money put aside to help any of our customers who may be struggling.
If you’re worried about being able to pay your rent, or need to set up a payment plan, please talk to us. There are several ways we can help, and we’ll do everything we can to support you. Call us on 0300 555 0500 (text relay: 18001 0300 555 0500) or email enquiries@chp.org.uk.
How do I set up a Direct Debit?
The easiest way to set up a Direct Debit is to fill in the form on the About your payments page in your online account. We’ll then give you a call to complete the process.
Alternatively, complete and return the Direct Debit Mandate which you can also access on the About your payments page in your online account.
Or call us on 0300 555 0500 (text relay: 18001 0300 555 0500).
How can I find benefits advice?
You can find information about different types of benefits and the help we can give you to access them by visiting the Benefit advice page on our website.
To speak to one of our friendly welfare benefits advisors call us on 0300 555 0500 (text relay: 18001 0300 555 0500) or email mb-welfarebenefits@chp.org.uk.
You can also get face to face support from one of our welfare benefits advisors and Peabody at our Parkside Community Hub on Melbourne Avenue in Chelmsford on Tuesdays 9.30am – 12.30pm.
How do I report a repair?
The easiest way to report a repair is through the Your repairs page in your online account. As well as being able to book a repair, you can view a log of your repairs since the start of your tenancy and see any that are pending.
Or you can call us on 0300 555 0500 (text relay: 18001 0300 555 0500) or email repairs@chp.org.uk (non-urgent only).
We’ll only attend outside office hours if it's an emergency repair. Our office hours are 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
An emergency repair is anything that presents a safety concern or real danger to you or your home, including major damage to the building, flooding, faulty electrics, no heating, lots of mould, or an unsecure property. It also includes situations where there’s major inconvenience to occupants such as no electricity.
I'd like an update on a repair - who do I contact?
You can email us at repairs@chp.org.uk or call us on 0300 555 0500 (text relay: 18001 0300 555 0500) to ask for an update.
How do I report damp, mould, or condensation?
If you have signs of damp, or find mould in your home, please contact us as soon as possible so we can help assess the situation, give you advice, and make any repairs that may be needed.
You can call us on 0300 555 0500 (text relay: 18001 0300 555 0500) or email reportdampandmould@chp.org.uk.
You can also find advice in the Guide to damp and mould on our website.
How do I report anti-social behaviour?
The easiest way to report anti-social behaviour is through the Problem with a neighbour page in your online account.
If you’re not a CHP customer and want to report anti-social behaviour in relation to one of our customers, email antisocialbehaviour@chp.org.uk or call us on 0300 555 0500 (text relay: 18001 0300 555 0500).
I'd like an update on my anti-social behaviour case - who do I contact?
You can email us at antisocialbehaviour@chp.org.uk or call us on 0300 555 0500 (text relay: 18001 0300 555 0500) to ask for an update.
I want to move house, what do I need to do?
You can apply to transfer to another one of our homes. You can also swap your home with another housing association or council tenant in a mutual exchange. You can find out if you might be eligible and how to apply by visiting the Transfer or exchange your home page in your online account.
Does CHP have sheltered schemes?
We have several sheltered housing schemes in Essex. They are only available to people over the age of 60, or over 50 if you’re receiving disability benefit (or Personal Independence Payment).
You can find more information about our sheltered schemes, how to apply, and access our helpful guide by visiting the Sheltered housing page on our website.
I need my home to be adapted - how do I request this?
Simple adaptations
To request a simple adaptation, visit the Adaptations page in your online account and complete the online form.
Examples of simple adaptations include grab rails, accessible lever taps to wash basins, shower seats, and accessible sockets and switches. Most simple adaptations are carried out by our Trades Team, and we don’t charge for the work.
Complex adaptations
If you think you need a complex adaptation such as ramped access to your doorway or a stair lift, you will need to get a written recommendation from an occupational therapist from social services. Call Social Care Direct on 0345 603 7630 and they will arrange a visit to your home to assess your needs.
You can find more information about the next steps, as well as our guide to adaptations and our policy on the Adaptations page in your online account.
Who should I report dumped rubbish, untidy gardens, or problems with trees to?
The easiest way to report dumped rubbish is through the Problem in your community page in your online account.
To report untidy gardens, visit the Problem with a neighbour page in your online account.
If you don’t have an online account or you’re not a CHP customer, you can call us on 0300 555 0500 (text relay: 18001 0300 555 0500) or email enquiries@chp.org.uk.
If you’re concerned that a tree is causing a health and safety hazard or structural problems to your home, please call us immediately on 0300 555 0500 (text relay: 18001 0300 555 0500).
How do I report parking issues?
To report an issue with parking, visit the Problem with a neighbour page in your online account. Or you can call us on 0300 555 0500 or email enquiries@chp.org.uk.
We can act when an untaxed, unsafe, or abandoned vehicle is parked on our land. If cars are blocking a road, they should be reported to the police (who may respond if it's dangerous).