Finding Accommodation...
Frequently Asked Questions
Search
Finding Accommodation
Agencies which provide permanent housing
Several years ago councils transferred their stock of permanent housing to local housing associations. Contact information for these housing associations in Cumbria, as well as others, can be found below. The associations can be contacted directly or alternatively, agencies such as C.A.S.S., which provide housing-related advice and support, can help in making applications.
Anchor Housing Association (for the over 55s)
- www.anchor.org.uk
- 0845 7758595
Brampton Rural Housing Association
- Tel; (01697) 72323
Carlisle Housing Association
- http://www.carlisleha.org.uk/
- Tel; 0800 169 3245
Copeland Homes (part of Home Housing)
- www.homehousing.org.uk
- Tel; Copeland Homes; 0845 155 0980; Home Housing (North West); 0845 60 63 033
Derwent and Solway Housing Association (part of Harvest Housing Group)
- www.harvesthousing.org.uk
- Tel; Workington; (01900) 607500
Eden Housing Association
- http://www.edenha.org.uk
- Tel; Penrith; (01768) 861400
Home Housing Association (Home North West)
- www.homehousing.org.uk
- Tel; North West England area office; 0845 60 63 033; Maryport; (01900) 812071; Cockermouth; 01900 823131 Wigton; 016973 44816
Impact Housing Association, Workington
- www.impacthousing.org.uk
- Tel; Carlisle; (01228) 633600
- Tel; Workington; (01900) 842100
- Tel; Penrith; (01768) 861650/ 863153
Two Castles Housing Association
- www.twocastles.org.uk
- Tel; Carlisle; (01228) 547463; North West regional office; 01228 547463
- Tel; Whitehaven; (01946) 591848
Westfield Housing Association
- Tel; Workington; (01900) 602906
However, sometimes it can be a lengthy process from applying to a Housing Association to actually securing a property with them.
This is due to the fact that they work on banding/points systems and applicants are put in order of priority; this is usually based on what their current housing situation is (e.g being homeless) and their personal circumstances (whether that may be pregnant or have medical problems that may be affected by their housing).
Private Landlords
A quicker, alternative option of housing is to rent through a private Landlord. Normally advertisements for private lets are issued in local newspapers, shop windows and through word of mouth.
Local Authority Homeless/Housing Departments also issue lists of private Landlords who wish to be contacted by those seeking private accommodation.
A Private Landlord may take a Deposit before letting a property-they retain this until the end of the tenancy-it acts as a guarantee in case any damage is incurred on the property. If all is satisfactory at the end of the Tenancy then the Deposit will be returned. However, if the Landlord feels there is good reason they may keep the Deposit to cover any costs of work they may have to do to get the property back to its initial state.
The DIGS (Deposit Guarantee Scheme) is available to help people with a Deposit-specifically those who are on a low income from employment or just a benefit income.
For West Cumbria DIGS can be contacted on 01946 694166.
Letting Agents
Some Private Landlords use Letting Agents who advertise and manage their properties-this is generally because they have a large amount of properties to let.
When applying for a property through a Letting Agent applicants are asked to pay a fee for checks to be carried out on them to determine whether they will be accepted as a Tenant. These fees vary depending on the Company and the checks normally look into a persons Housing history and financial circumstances.
Below are details of various Letting Agents across Cumbria:
Adrian Windridge
Cockermouth Office - 01900 821812 / Whitehaven Office – 01946 590550
Belvoir
Cockermouth Office – 01900 823659
Bulman Properties
01228 819888
Butterworths
Carlisle Office - 01228 538139
Penrith Office – 01768 868989
www.butterworths-solicitors.co.uk
Cumbrian Properties
Keswick Office – 017687 73066
Wigton Office – 016973 49771
Dinah’s Letting Shop
Cockermouth Office - 01900 829249
Edwin Thompson
42 St Johns Street, Keswick – 017687 72988
9 College Road, Windermere – 015394 48811
Grisdales Estate Agents
Cockermouth Office – 01900 829977 / Workington Office – 01900 605544
Hopes Estate Agents
High Street, Wigton – 016973 43641
Mitchells
Cockermouth Office – 01900 827292
Reeds Rains
Cockermouth Office – 01900 825114
Smeatons
Maryport Office – 01900 812091
Workington Office – 01900 606007
Cockermouth Office – 01900 824305
The Letting Centre Carlisle Ltd
01228 819333
www.lettingcentrecarlisle.co.uk
YAS Properties-Jackie/Bobby
01900 608149
If you'd like advice about homelessness, housing
and/or benefits or would like to enquire about C.A.S.S.
services you can "Ask online"
To use the Ask Online form, just type your query above, fill in the ‘name’ and ‘e-mail’ boxes, select an ‘age range’ and ‘gender’ then click ‘submit’.
A C.A.S.S. worker will receive your query and get back to you within a few days. They’ll do this by sending an e-mail to the address you’ve provided. It might be that your query is straightforward and can be answered quickly. Alternatively, if it’s more complicated the worker may take a little longer to get back to you or may have to e-mail you, requesting further information, before a full answer can be provided.