Allocations – Parliamentary Written Answer

Jim Cunningham MP (Labour, Coventry South): Will the Government place in the Library a copy of the criteria used by local housing authorities to determine priority applicants?
Andrew Stunell MP (Liberal Democrat, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government): Local authorities in England are responsible for drafting and making available their own scheme for determining the priorities to be followed in allocating social housing. However, under s.167 of the Housing Act 1996 an allocation scheme must be framed to ensure that 'reasonable preference' (i.e. overall priority) for social housing is given to the following categories of people:
*people who are homeless or owed certain duties under the homelessness legislation
*people living in insanitary, overcrowded or unsatisfactory housing
*people who need to move on medical or welfare grounds, including ground relating to a disability
*people who need to a particular locality in the district to avoid hardship to themselves or others