Documents you need for your Gateshead Home Choice application

We need some documents from you as part of your application. If you do not provide them, we may not be able to process your application.

We need the documents listed below for all main and joint applicants.

Identification

One of these:

• passport (current or expired)
• photo driving licence from the UK or EEA (full or provisional)
• Armed Forces ID Card
• Residence permit for EU nationals issued by the Home Office (current, with photo)

OR

Two of these:

• benefit agency letter showing your name and address. If it does not show your current address, it must be dated within the last three months
• UK paper driving licence (full, not provisional)
• birth certificate
• recent utility bill showing your current address

Income and benefits

• if you work: a copy of your payslips, a P60, or your employment contract
• if you work for yourself: your earnings for the year and tax certificate from HM Revenue and Customs

Savings, investments or property

If you have money saved or invested, or if you own property, we need:

• your most recent statement for all bank accounts
• the current value of any shares, bonds, or other assets
• proof that you no longer own any homes or buildings. This could be a final statement showing any money you received from the sale
• if you own property now, the current value and your most recent mortgage statement

Evidence from renting a home

• a landlord reference from all homes you've rented in the last two years. If you cannot provide a landlord reference, we will ask to see your tenancy agreement instead
• rent statements covering the last six months. We will also ask how long you lived at the property

Local connection

To qualify for housing, you need to show that you have a connection to Gateshead. We'll need one of the following reasons:

• you have lived here for at least six of the past 12 months
• you have lived here for three out of the last five years
• you work here - provide a copy of your employment contract or a letter from your employer showing when you started, the type of contract, and location
• you study here - tell us where you study and how long the course will last
• you have family here - provide their name, address, how long they have lived here and their relationship to you
• you were moved by the council - we placed you out of Gateshead and you want to return
• you have been living in supported housing in Gateshead for at least six months
• you are giving or receiving support from someone who lives or needs to live in Gateshead - provide their contact details, an explanation of their/your care needs and what is involved, and a completed medical application form (PDF, 160 KB)(opens new window).
• you lived here before prison or a special facility - provide your old address and a copy of your release papers
• you lived here before you were discharged from the armed forces - provide your discharge papers

Immigration status

If you're applying for social housing, you must prove your right to live in the UK without immigration restrictions.

You can do this by providing one of these:

• biometric residence permit (BRP)
• UK passport
• share code from the Home Office (if you're from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland)

Extra documents

You may also need to provide other documents depending on your situation.

• if someone in the household is pregnant, we need a MATB1 form
• if you have children in your care, we need evidence of child benefit, a court order or proof of fostering
• for split households, in addition to the above we also need the name and date of birth of the child
• if you're a former armed-forces member, we need your discharge papers

How to provide your supporting information

You have a few options to provide us with your documents:

Upload online: you can only do this after you submit your application

Step-by-step: uploading supporting information for your housing application

1.     Sign into your My Housing Account (opens new window).

2.     On the main screen, select 'My Saved Housing Applications'.

3.     Next to your application, click the drop-down menu under 'Actions'. Then choose 'Upload Documents'. You will be taken to the 'Upload Documents and Files' page.

4.     Select and upload files:

• choose the file you want to upload
• select the type of document it is from the options provided
• click 'Upload'

Repeat these steps for each document you need to upload.

In person: bring your documents to Gateshead Civic Centre.

By post: please only send copies. We cannot promise to return originals and are not responsible for replacements if they get lost.