Housing Allocations Scheme Consultation

Period of residency

Currently, residents must have lived continuously in the Borough for 2 years to qualify to join the register. We propose to change this so that applicants need to have lived in the Borough for a minimum of 3 years within the past 4 years.

This is intended to focus resources on people with a strong connection to the Borough, but also to protect them if they may have to move away for a short period for personal reasons.

Do you agree with the change?

Exclusions from the Register

We are proposing to exclude applicants from the register where the applicant has an ownership interest in a property or if any member of the household has, in the last 5 years:

- Been subject to a Community Protection Order

- Been subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order

- Had an Injunction served upon them relating to acts against public sector staff.

- Been non-compliant with a payment plan for rent arrears.

- Given a false or misleading statement in support of their application.

- Lost a previous tenancy due to mistreatment or subletting.

Household Income

It is proposed that in addition to assessing household savings a households income must be below a certain level to be eligible to join the housing register. This level of income shall be linked to the size of the property required, which is based on household need. The proposal is that the income level should be set at:

- Studio or 1 Bedroom - maximum income £35,000 per annum

- 2 Bedroom - maximum income £45,000 per annum

- 3 Bedroom - maximum income £50,000 per annum

- 4 Bedroom or larger - maximum income £60,000 per annum

Priority Bands

Currently the housing register has 4 Bands. These are:

- Band A - Urgent priority need

- Band B - High Priority

- Band C - Medium Priority

- Band D - Lower Priority 

It is proposed to replace these with a more closely defined banding system.

Band 1 - Emergency Priority

This band is intended for applicants who are living in extreme circumstances and where existing accommodation is a contributory factor to a serious medical, physical, or social condition.

Band 2 - Urgent Need to Move

This band is intended for applicants who have an urgent need to move. It will only be awarded to those where different accommodation is essential for significant health, safety and/or social issues.

Band 3 - High Housing Need

This band is intended for applicants who have an identified housing need. It will only be awarded to those where different accommodation is required for wellbeing and safety issues.

Band 4  Low Housing Need

This band is intended for applicants who have a relatively low housing need, who meet the general criteria of the scheme, but do not have the needs to place them in Bands 1, 2 or 3.

Do you think these Band descriptions are clear, fair and appropriate?

Care Leavers

We are proposing to create a new separate Band for Care Leavers (young people aged 18-25 where RBWM has a corporate parenting responsibility and where the young person is ready to live independently). A specific number of lettings will be allocated to this band each year.

Care leavers have a priority within the existing allocation scheme, but this proposal is intended to help us to address the vulnerabilities of this group more effectively.

Do you agree with these changes?

Temporary Accommodation Outside of the Borough

We propose that for homeless households placed into temporary accommodation outside of the Borough, the time in that accommodation will count as time spent living in RBWM, for the purposes of the residency qualification (as described in Q1) .

The purpose of this change is to protect homeless households who have been required by the council to accept temporary accommodation outside RBWM.

Do you agree with these changes?

Private Rented Sector Offers

It is proposed that homeless households who accept an offer of a tenancy in the private rented sector facilitated by RBWM or make their own arrangements for accommodation while homeless, will be able to retain their position on the register in a similar manner to those placed into temporary accommodation.

This is to recognise that there are similarities between the accommodation types, and households in placed in either should have the same chances of securing longer term social housing.

Do you agree with these changes?

Community Contribution

It is proposed that additional priority for housing is given to households where at least one member has carried out paid work for a minimum of 16 hours a week for 18 of the previous 24 months. The Community Contribution undertaken shall be in addition to other requirements of the register such as length of residency in the Borough and income, also being met.

Do you agree with these changes?