New housing allocations policy
Released: 4 July 2007
A new simplified housing policy is being proposed for allocating council properties in Wolverhampton.
The draft housing allocations policy calls for a change from the complex points system used currently to a much simpler banding system.
Deputy Leader Councillor Peter Bilson, who has strategic responsibility for housing, explained: “There is a shortage of decent affordable housing in Wolverhampton and an increasing demand for what little there is.
“Our local policy helps determine to which applicants the small supply of properties can be offered and it must be fair, consistent and understandable, as well as lawful.
“These new proposals include criteria which reflect a local connection when allocating properties, as well as specific housing needs, and also ensures that the council’s statutory duties are met,” he added.
Consultation found a huge amount of support for giving priority to people with a connection to the area they want to live in. It is possible to include this in the new policy, so long as it doesn’t dominate the selection criteria.
Under the new scheme, applicants on the housing register will be placed in one of five bands, including an emergency band.
As well as giving some priority to a local connection, priority will also be given to severely overcrowded families, people wanting to ‘downsize’ by moving from a house to a smaller or different property type, families with children living in flats, children leaving the care of the local authority and people with an urgent medical or social reason to find housing.
Instead of holding a waiting list for allocations, is proposed that applicants from the relevant bands will be told about properties as and when they become available, and then invited to express an interest. Offers will be made to the most eligible person from the correct band who has been waiting longest for accommodation.
It is also proposed to limit the length of time given to ‘emergency band’ applicants to pick a property, after which an offer will be made on their behalf. People’s status in the emergency band will be reviewed after three months.
The draft housing allocations policy was drawn up following six months’ consultation with users, council members, managing agents, Tenants Federation, voluntary sector partners, housing associations, accredited landlords and other council departments.
Members of the Scrutiny Board will be asked next Tuesday (July 10th) to approve the draft and send it to the next council Cabinet meeting on July 18th for a decision.
Issued by the press office.