Social Rented Housing – Parliamentary Written Answer

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to facilitate greater freedom for local housing authorities to set allocations and qualifications criteria for social housing in respect of (a) low-paid working families, (b) those with a strong local link and (c) those with a record of community activity; and if he will make a statement.
Andrew Stunell: The Localism Act 2011 gives back to local authorities the freedom to manage their own housing waiting lists. Local authorities will be able to decide who should qualify for social housing in their area, and to develop solutions which make best use of limited stock. This would include disqualifying applicants who do not have a strong local link with the area, if the local authority chose to do so. Local authorities already have flexibility within the allocation legislation to include their own local policy priorities within their allocation scheme. We will shortly be publishing for consultation new statutory guidance to local authorities which encourages them to take advantage of this flexibility to give greater priority to families in low paid work or to those who otherwise contribute to their communities.