How housing is allocated
How council housing is allocated
All council housing is advertised through the choice based lettings scheme (apart from specialist properties)
You will need to bid (express an interest) on properties you want to live in. We will only consider bids from people who are eligible. The property details will tell you who is eligible.
How we shortlist applications for housing
When deciding who to offer a property to we take account of three things:
| 1. Property eligibility: | Your age, household size and make up in relation to the size and type of property. |
|---|---|
| 2. Banding Priority: | Your priority banding on the Housing Needs Register (A to E). |
| 3. Date in band: | The date you were awarded a priority banding. |
If there are applications from people with the same priority banding, the property will be given to whoever was awarded that band first. If they were awarded the priority band at the same time it will go to whoever joined the Housing Needs Register (applied) first.
This may change in execeptional circumstances.
How we decide who is eligible for each property
For each property type we decide which household type and housing need criterion will be given priority. Homeless families will be prioritised for some properties.
Some properties have adaptations or special features, if you need these your application will be prioritised.
Generally you will only be eligible for properties the same size as your family. Occasionally we may consider allowing people to apply for slightly bigger properties if that is the best use of our housing. This needs to be approved by us.
Households with specific property needs
Where possible we will consider your needs when making a decision about your housing.
If you bid for a property is not suitable for your specific needs, we will overlook your bid and explain our reasons for this.
How we shortlist for different types of property
Supported Housing
This is for people over the age of 60 or those with support needs. Each property has communication equipment in it which connects you to our 24-hour help line.
Charges for communal facilities
Traditional sheltered housing has communal facilities, Neighbourhood Schemes do not.All sheltered housing properties are charged for communal facilities whether they use the Scheme Manager or communal facilities.
How supported housing is allocated
We only offer this to people whose needs can be met by the supported housing service and us. They will not normally be offered to people under the age of 60. We may occasionally consider people under 60 if they have support needs. This will need to be approved by us.
Some supported housing is in areas not reserved for elderly people or people with support needs. Some properties may be decommissioned in the future. Decommissioned properties only be offered to people who meet the set criteria until every property in that block is decommissioned.
Purpose built or significantly adapted properties
If our independent Medical Advisor thinks that you need a significantly adapted property, your application will be 'flagged' to show this.
If a property has significant adaptations extra priority will be given to your application.
If it becomes clear that property would need more adaptations to meet your needs we will review whether it is right for you.
If you have a disability you will be prioritised for purpose built or significantly adapted properties which meet your need.
Partially adapted properties
Details of basic adaptations will be included on the advert so you can decide if a property is right for you.
Partial adaptations include:
- a level access shower
- ramps
- widened doorways.
If you need these adaptations you will usually be given priority over someone with the same priority banding who does not.
Ground floor flats
Some ground floor flats (normally one or two bedroom) will be advertised with priority for applicants with an identified medical need for ground floor accommodation.
Properties with a second bathroom or toilet
Some two and three bed houses may be advertised with priority for applicants with an identified medical need for an additional bathroom or toilet
Local Lettings Policies which may affect shortlisting
Local Lettings Policies are normally short term measures to address issues such as promoting sustainable and balanced communities.
Such as:
- increasing the proportion of tenants in employment
- reducing child density in an area
- reducing anti-social behaviour or incidence of crime in an area.
These policies may temporarily override the normal shortlisting rules for some neighbourhoods, local housing estates or developments. They will be monitored, developed and amended and have to be agreed by us.
Registered Provider rules which may affect shortlisting
As well as council owned houses we also advertise Registered Provider properties. We use the same rules to shortlist for these properties as with our own. Some Registered Provider's may have extra rules that they also apply. This will be clearly shown in the advert.