Put People Before Process When Allocating Social Housing

Rules and processes designed to decide who gets access to social housing could be failing those in greatest need, according to new research from the Chartered Institute of Housing. In Rethinking Allocations, the CIH found that, faced with not enough genuinely affordable homes, councils and housing associations are forced to ration the housing they have – and that the way they allocate these homes can exclude some very vulnerable people. There are at least four million households in England waiting for social housing, and this number is growing all the time. Download the report from the CIH website.

http://www.cih.org/resources/Rethinking%20allocations.pdf

Families Threaten Council With Legal Action Over Allocation Policy

A group of families is preparing to take a London council to court as they claim the authority’s housing allocation policy discriminates against homeless people.  The families, some of which claim to have been in temporary accommodation for more than 10 years, said the amount of time they have been left waiting for permanent accommodation in the borough of Camden is “indefensible”.

Camden Council denied that its policy is discriminatory and said it has met its statutory duty in all the families’ cases. However, the solicitor who is representing the families, said that the council’s allocation policy means many homeless families that are placed in temporary accommodation are “more or less stuck there indefinitely”. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/families-threaten-council-with-legal-action-over-allocation-policy--62973?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

'LHA Cap': Landlords Toughen Criteria For Under 35s

From 1 April 2018, social tenants who are under 35 and childless will only be eligible for housing benefit at the ‘shared accommodation’ rate, based on the cost of renting a room in a shared house or flat locally. Of 47 large housing associations surveyed, 60% said they plan to change their allocations policy for under 35s in the future as a result of the cap, while 13% reported they have already done so. Only 11% of respondents said they plan to make no changes. The cut will affect any tenancies signed from 1 April this year. Read more on Inside Housing.

Increase In Complaints About Allocations

Complaints and enquiries about councils’ housing allocations policies have increased 13% in a year, prompting concern from a local government watchdog.  The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) has revealed it received 978 complaints and enquiries about housing allocations in 2014/15, a 13% increase on the previous year. This was made up of 533 enquiries and 445 complaints. The ombudsman investigated 245 cases further and found fault in 42% of these cases. The LGO said that “a significant proportion” of the complaints are from people who have been denied access to the housing register due to changes in qualification requirements, although it was not able to provide figures. It said councils should ensure they don’t disadvantage vulnerable groups. Download the report from the LGO website.

Thousands Could Lose Homes If Salix Transfer Goes Ahead

Salford Council and Salix have been spending tens of thousands of pounds on propaganda urging tenants to vote `Yes' in a ballot, which would see 8,800 properties transferred from Council ownership to an independent company.  Neither the Salix propaganda leaflets, nor the Offer Document, make any mention of a few paragraphs contained on page 32 of the 76 page official Business Case, not so easily available to tenants. Under the title of the Strategic Case for the transfer, the document quite clearly states that "Salix Homes would have greater freedom, for example, in the range and types of tenancies provided and locations/lettings policy." It adds that there will be the "development of a new tenancy policy" which will "work to change the view that social housing is a home for life towards being a resource for a particular time". Read more on the Salford Star website.

Councils Bar 113,000 from Waiting Lists

126 English local authorities use new powers to reduce waiting lists. More than 100,000 people have been struck off or denied access to waiting lists since councils were given new powers to prevent people from applying for social homes. Research by Inside Housing found 126 English local authorities have used powers granted by the Localism Act to change their allocations policies. Seventy-seven councils that provided detailed figures informed 113,049 people that they no longer qualify for social housing for reasons including a lack of connection to the local area and anti-social behaviour. Using powers under the Localism Act 2011, councils have since June 2012, bumped an average of nearly a third of applicants off their social housing waiting lists. Read more on Inside Housing.

Council Prioritise Locals And Armed Forces But Punish Bad Behaviour

Southwark Council has decided to prioritise its social housing to people with a local connection and members of the armed forces, but misbehaving tenants can expect penalties.  Subject to cabinet approval, Southwark’s new housing policy will see anti-social tenants given penalties but those who make an active contribution to their local community through voluntary work or similar activity bumped up the waiting list. And under-occupiers who are genuinely in need of extra space that are affected by the bedroom tax will be awarded the highest priority on the register. As well as giving armed forces personnel priority, those applying for housing will now require a five-year local residency qualification before joining the housing register. Read more on 24dash.

Housing Benefit - Parliamentary Written Answer

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what housing needs of tenants claiming housing benefit can be met by the discretionary housing payment scheme; and whether a local authority can change its allocation policy within a financial year. 

Steve Webb: Housing costs which may be eligible for assistance via discretionary housing payment are comprised of rental liability, rent in advance, deposits and other lump sum costs associated with a housing need such as removal costs. Local authorities are able to amend their DHP allocation policy as required according to their assessment of local needs and in order to best reflect their particular circumstances and priorities. This may be within the financial year where appropriate. The Department provides comprehensive guidance to local authorities on administering DHP. A link to the guidance is included here:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/184207/discretionary-housing-payments-guide.pdf