New Housing Allocations Policy approved for adoption

Following a six-week consultation on proposed changes earlier this year, the Policy and Resources Committee approved the updated policy for adoption earlier this month.

The council is committed to allocating all social and affordable housing within the district to those in most need. The council’s Housing Allocations Policy sets out how we prioritise individuals for registered provider homes based on their circumstances and housing need.

The policy sets out who qualifies to join the council’s Housing Register and how the council will allocate social and affordable rented homes via the council’s Housing Register.

Some of the key changes include:

• All Armed Forces veterans, irrespective the length of Service or when this Service ended, are exempt from the local connection criteria to join the council’s Housing Register.
• Care leavers under the age of 25 will have an exemption to the council’s local connection criteria.
• There has been lowering of the age requirement for joining the council’s Housing Register, from 60 to 55, for those with a local connection to the district who do not have a housing need. These individuals will only be considered for age restricted properties and only prioritised in Band E.

Cllr Steve Drury, the council’s Lead Member for Community Engagement, Public Safety & Housing said: “I am pleased this updated policy is in place – the revisions have been made to provide greater clarity, as well as improving the efficiency of officers”.

The policy also includes amendments required in response to updated Government guidance and legislative changes, as well as embedding best practice for specific groups who engage with the Housing Service.

A copy of the updated Housing Allocations Policy is available online: https://www.threerivers.gov.uk/services/housing/strategies-and-policies