Finding a new home

Understanding your housing needs 

We will work with you to find a suitable, comfortable, and secure home that meets your needs. Once we have done this, you will need to move out of your current home. 

The local Neighbourhood Team have now completed a personal Housing Needs Assessment will all customers in Lambton, Londonderry and Lumley towers. These assessments have helped us understand: 

• The type and size of home you need 
• The support and assistance you need to enable you to move as easily as possible to your new home 
• Any additional support that you may need to help you to move to your new home 
• Any accessibility or health-related requirements 
• Your preferred location within Sunderland 

Based on your assessment, we will offer you up to three suitable properties. If none of these are right for you, we will work with you to understand your housing needs before offering any more properties. If you choose not to remain with Gentoo, the team can still support you until you terminate your tenancy. 

How does bidding work? 

We have placed you in a Band1+ which is our highest priority banding when bidding on a property.

We rank bids and create shortlists for each property. For customers living in Lambton, Londonderry, or Lumley towers, your bids will be ranked based on continuous tenancy length. This is the length of time you have been a Gentoo customer. For example, if two customers from Lambton, Londonderry or Lumley towers bid on the same property, the customer who has been a Gentoo customer the longest will receive priority. 

How to find your new home with us

We advertise available properties every Wednesday at 2pm. Each advert runs for 7 days until midday the following Wednesday. You can apply to join or bid for a home on our online housing register at gentoo.housingjigsaw.co.uk 

For customers who do not have access to the internet, or do not feel confident using a computer, we will help you to bid. This means we can bid on suitable properties for you, using the information from your Housing Needs Assessment. 

How we will support you 

If you are a Gentoo customer, you are entitled to compensation under the Home Loss Payments Regulations 2023 scheme. This payment is £8,100 and will be paid when you end your tenancy at Lambton, Londonderry or Lumley tower. We will review any rent arrears or other debts on your account before making the statutory home loss payment and discuss your specific circumstances with you. 

For customers moving to a new Gentoo property, we will also provide additional financial support of up to £1,500 to help cover things like: 

• Decorating your new home 
• Installing carpets or flooring 
• Purchasing household items such as furniture or window coverings 

A colleague from the Neighbourhood Team can support you in making these choices 

Additional support 

We understand that moving involves more than just finding a new home. That's why we will also help with the following, if you need it: 

• Financial support 
• Disconnection and re-connection of white goods 
• Removal firm and packing service 
• Broadband, telephone and sky re-connections 
• Mail redirection
• Support in registering with a new GP or dentist 
• Helping you update council tax and electoral roll information 

There may be other support or guidance you need from the team that isn't listed above. Please contact a member of the Neighbourhood Team who will support you in any way they can.