Providing housing to help locals stay local
Registered in July 2003, Caractacus Housing is a charity formed to provide low cost rented accommodation to help people on a low income who have a strong local connection to the areas of West Somerset and Mid-Devon.
Thanks to the exceptional generosity of the charity’s founder, Sheila Laxman, the trustees have steadily added to the housing portfolio over this period and the charity now owns over 20 properties.
Area of benefit
The map on the left shows the area that we cover, which includes the parishes of:
Brompton Regis, Brushford, Cutcombe, Dulverton, Exmoor, Skilgate, Withypool & Hawkridge, Exford Exton, Winsford, Bampton, Upton, Morebath, Oakford.
Some of our houses are within the Exmoor National Park boundaries and when tenanting these properties we implement the Park’s own Selection Criteria as well as our own.
The Caractacus Stone
Most local people will recognise the Caractacus Stone. It bears a Latin inscription dated to about 500AD, although the stone itself may be much older. Our favourite of the various legends that surround the stone is that it marks the site of buried treasure (although it has never been found).
Located on Winsford Hill, the Caractacus Stone stands in the geographical centre of the area covered by the charity and just as the Stone has a roof over its head, Caractacus Housing aims to provide locals with a house in the region so they can live, work and bring up a family in the local area to which they and their families belong.
Eligibility for tenancy
We require you to be from the local area, which means:
You are currently a resident in ‘the area of benefit’ and have been permanently and continuously for 5 years.
OR, you are not currently a resident in ‘the area of benefit’ but you have a strong local connection including a period of permanent and continuous residence of 5 years or more within the last 20 years.
OR, you have an essential need to live close to another person who is currently resident in ‘the area of benefit’ and has been permanently and continuously for the last 5 years.
If none of these apply but you have a strong local connection in ‘the area of benefit’ by way of family, employment or services to the community. then this may be accepted.
Secondly, you have a genuine need to be housed such as: homeless, notice received from present landlord, overcrowding, unsatisfactory accommodation, unaffordable rent.
Finally, you are living on a low income.
How it works
Step 1
An advert is placed in the local press giving the area of the property, number of bedrooms, where to apply and the date to apply by.
Step 2
Returned applications are assessed by our Tenant Selection Committee.
Step 3
Shortlisted candidates are invited to attend an interview. Interviews typically last half an hour and you will need to prove your income eligibility.
Step 4
References and supporting documents are checked. You will be contacted either way within 10 days of the interview.
“Without Caractacus helping families in and around Dulverton, the area would be a different place”
— Caractacus Tenant
Contact
Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Email
info@caractacus.co.uk
Phone
07900 694525