Huntley Place, Reading

What facilities are available?

There are lots of facilities at Huntley Place to support you, as well as areas for the wider community to visit, this includes:

• Restaurant and café
• Hair and beauty salon
• Hobby room
• Multifunction room for games and movies
• Communal lounge
• Assisted bathing spa suite
• Guest suite
• Landscaped gardens
• Bicycle and mobility scooter store

Who delivers the care on-site?
Reading Borough Council commissions the care delivered on-site by Radis Community Care. offering a planned care package including 24 hours support, seven days a week and care for emergency needs.

You can choose to have your care package delivered by another provider if you would like to.

As part of the care contract with Reading Borough Council at Huntley Place, we provide one waking care colleague on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is available to all customers, regardless of their chosen care provider. This colleague's time will be used flexibly in case of emergencies.

Having this additional waking colleague allows us to offer:

• A swift response to alarm calls and emergencies by trained reablement team members
• Comfort for those with care needs to remain in their own home, knowing they are safe and help is available if they need it
• The ability to feel included and socialise by taking part in our wellbeing activities
• A reduction in the need to increase care packages at short notice, for example, hospital discharges, where a customer may require additional short-term reablement support
• A reduced need for hospital admissions/readmissions

How many apartments are there?

There are 81 two bedroom and 48 one-bedroom apartments.

Are the apartments to rent or buy?

We have a mixed tenure scheme and a variety of affordable rent, private rent, sales and shared ownership apartments. We also offer Rent to Buy, so you can rent your property while selling your home.

Are the apartments furnished?

The apartments are unfurnished so you can make the apartment your own. You will need to provide your own furniture and soft furnishings, but we can support you in sourcing furniture if needed.

All apartments are finished to a high specification with a cooker and hob. Some apartments also come with white goods. Plumbing and electrical points for a washer or dryer are provided, as well as network points for phone and broadband.

What are the bathrooms in the apartments like?

All the apartments have a wet room-style bathroom with a shower. There’s also an assisted bathing suite which you can book to use.

Am I eligible to live at Huntley Place?

To be eligible, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:

• You’re aged 55 or over. In exceptional circumstances, applicants under this age will be considered. For example, someone with a long-term disability or condition
• Any partner living with you is aged 50 or over
• You'll be considered if you’re an older carer with an adult son, daughter, or dependant with a learning or physical disability who requires care and support
• You have a care, support and/or a housing need.
• You have a positive attitude towards retaining or regaining independence

Please note that you will typically need to be a resident of the Reading borough to apply to live at Huntley Place. We will also consider applications from out of the area (for instance, if you have local connections).

How can I apply to live at Huntley Place?

You can express an interest in living at Huntley Place through Reading Borough Council or directly with us using the form below.

If you have a social worker, they can fill in a referral form for you, or they can help you complete one. Once completed, this can then be sent to Home Group alongside any care assessments to huntleyplace@homegroup.org.uk.

How do I apply if I don't have a social worker?

In this case, you can apply by using the form below. Our team can contact you to chat you through the process and the level of care and support you need.

How are the apartments allocated?

Our apartments are allocated according to availability, but we will also consider eligibility and mobility where possible.

Can I bring pets?

We assess this on a case-by-case basis, but, unfortunately, we cannot accept dogs or cats at Huntley Place. If you have a pet that isn't a cat or dog, we will work with you during the assessment process to determine whether it would be suitable for you to bring pets to the scheme. Please let us know by using the form below if you’d like to learn more about our pet policy.

Is there a laundry room on site?

There isn’t a communal laundry room. There’s space in the apartments to fit either a washing machine or a combined washer/dryer.

Is there car parking?

There are two car parking areas to the front and rear of the building. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We carry out regular car park patrols to ensure they are used by customers, colleagues and visitors to Huntley Place only.

What are the cooking facilities like?

An electric cooker and hob will be gifted to the first person to let each apartment. There’s also a restaurant and café where you can buy meals, drinks and snacks.

How are repairs managed?

Colleagues at Huntley Place can help you log a repair through our customer service centre. We also have a housing management team on site who can help with maintenance and repair issues.

What TV services are available?

There are BT and Sky connections available to set up your own account.

What are the costs and charges at Huntley Place?

The rent charge has been agreed with Reading Borough Council and is eligible for housing benefits. The cost is £294.28 per week for a one-bedroom apartment and £376.95 per week for a two-bedroom apartment. There is also a personal charge payment of £36.79 - £44.72 per month.

How does the billing for utilities work?

Gas and water are serviced through one main supply to the building, and each apartment will have a smart meter. Your electricity is provided directly to your apartment by a supplier. You’ll pay for these services through your utility supplier.