Choice-Based Lettings

Legislation

Relevant legislation, including the Housing Act 1996 and various Codes of Guidance provide the framework for the policy.

Categories

Applications are classed either as “Priority” or “Non-priority”, using a filtering system.

Priority

“Priority” will be given to people who meet any of the following criteria:

• Statutory homelessness.
• Living in overcrowded conditions – This will be based on our property and size eligibility criteria, whereby an applicant is considered “priority” when they are overcrowded by 2 or more bedrooms.
• Staying in supported accommodation, fleeing violence or suffering severe racial or other forms of harassment.
• Severe medical condition or disability.
• Subject to possession order.
• Living in properties described by the local authority as statutorily unfit.

Non-priority

In order to ensure balanced communities, the Association will carefully consider the housing needs of “non-priority” applicants if they meet any of the following criteria:

• In employment and able to afford renting without recourse to public funds, particularly, Housing Benefit.
• Access to private income or savings and can afford to rent.
• Moving to take up paid or voluntary employment (especially, if in a key worker role).
• Moving to give and/or receive support in long term family / extended family situations.
• Moving to be close to a community in which they are active.
• Moving to have access to medical or other specific community support.
• Moving because they have a smaller family necessitating a smaller house.

Please note that these lists are not exhaustive and are not in priority order. Waiting time will decide the priority between customers in the lists.