Agenda item

The Service Lead, Strategic Housing Services reminded the Committee that the introduction of the Localism Act 2011 enabled Local Authorities to make local decisions on who should be given priority for an allocation of social housing.  Consultation had taken place on the current Housing Allocation Scheme, as agreed in 2014 and the proposed changes were highlighted as:

·  Community Contribution: the Community Contribution priority be changed from one year to six months.

·  Priority for Disability and Medical: It was proposed that these households receive additional preference and Band B priority. Applicants assessed as having some need to move on medical/welfare grounds are placed in band C. As at the end of March 2017 there were 69 applicants meeting this requirement. It was unlikely that those placed in band C on medical priority (unless in need of older persons accommodation) would ever receive an offer of social housing due to the large demand from band B.

·  One Offer Only: That the current two offer policy is changed to one offer only. The current scheme enables two offers of social housing to be made. In the last year 123 offers of council property were refused. In some cases newly built properties were refused because there was no Right to Buy or Right to Acquire. A legal review process was in place to deal with the suitability of all offers.

·  Owner Occupiers: In exceptional circumstances owner occupiers be enabled to join the Housing Register for an offer of designated housing for the over 60s.

·  Homelessness: Qualifying homeless households are transferred to Band B irrespective of community contribution. It was also proposed that other agreed homeless households who do not meet the 5 year residence criteria are placed into Band C irrespective of community contribution.

·  Key Workers: Key workers (Teachers and Social Workers dealing with vulnerable adults and children) are given reasonable preference when joining the Housing Register in relation to the specific pilot scheme being adopted in 2018/19.

It was noted that all 2,500 applicants on the Housing Register had been consulted and the majority of responses were in support of the proposed changes. The local MP had also responded, requesting that priority be given to those individuals under occupying properties and the Lettings and Void Manager confirmed that this had been addressed in the proposed changes.

Speaking under Rule 30, Councillor Plenty sought clarification on the time period requirement for Key Workers and owner occupiers being eligible to join the Housing Register. It was explained that the five year residency in the borough criteria would be reviewed for key workers. Owner occupiers were currently unable to join the Housing Register and the changes being proposed would benefit an older person to move into older persons housing. However, a provision of selling or leasing the existing home would need to be in place to facilitate any offer. 

Resolved – That details of the proposed changes to the Council’s Housing Allocations Policy, as detailed in the report, be noted.