The property is usually offered to the applicant who is in the highest priority band, has been waiting the longest and who meets the criteria of any local lettings policy of the Landlord. If that applicant refuses, the property is offered to the next highest placed applicant and so on, working down the shortlist until the property is let. If the property is subsequently refused and a long period has passed since the property was advertised, it may be re-advertised. Each week, you can see feedback from properties that have previously been let through Homesearch, including how many people bid for them, which band the successful applicant was in, and how long they had been waiting. This can help you to decide what type of properties to bid for in future, and see how likely you are to be successful. 6. ELIGIBILITY To be eligible to join the housing register, you must: Be aged 16 or over; AND Live in the Common Travel Area at the time of the application; AND (The Common Travel Area is the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland) Belong to one of the following groups British and Irish Citizens Commonwealth Citizens permitted to stay in the UK People from the European Economic Area who have the right to reside in the UK Refugees who have been granted leave to remain within the UK. There are some other people who are eligible to apply, such as vulnerable British nationals formerly resident in Zimbabwe who are part of the UK Government’s Zimbabwe Planned Resettlement Programme; if you think this may apply to you, you should contact your local council’s Housing Needs Team. By regulations2 made in November 2012, there are certain further people who are not eligible to apply for housing. These are: those who have rights of residence in the UK as a result of regulation 15A(1) and (4A) of the Immigration (European Economic Area) (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2012 those who have a right derived from Article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in a case where rights of residence arise because a British citizen would otherwise be deprived of the genuine enjoyment of the substance of their rights as a European Union citizen 2
SEXUAL (Gay/Lesbian/bi- sexual people) No impact on this protected characteristic has been identified. RELIGION OR BELIEF (People from different faiths) Choice Based Lettings is an improvement on the nomination system, as applicants can decide for themselves which property they want to live in, taking into account places of worship, cultural facilities, social networks etc. GENDER REASSIGNMENT (Trans people) No impact on this protected characteristic has been identified. PREGNANCY AND MATERNITY Applicants who are pregnant are treated as family applicants, allowing them to bid for family- sized properties before the baby is born. This avoids overcrowding when the baby is born. MARRIAGE AND CIVIL PARTNERSHIP No impact on this protected characteristic has been identified. AGE (People of different ages) Some properties are only available to people over a certain age (generally 55 or 40). This is justified as the properties have been designed with the physical and social needs of older people in mind, and letting them to younger people would undermine their purpose. Some younger people who are disabled can still apply. People over 50 who have no identified housing need still qualify for housing, whereas younger people do not. This is justified by the much greater supply and lower demand for older people’s accommodation.
What changes could be made to the policy/service/procedure to address any negative impacts? None identified as necessary. Negative impacts on some people with protected characteristics (principally age) is justified given the great imbalance between supply and demand for social housing, and the need to make best use of both available properties and staff resources. What monitoring will be carried out to ensure this policy/service/procedure meets diverse needs? Review: housing applicants who qualify for housing; qualifying applicants who actively bid for housing; applicants who bid successfully and gain social housing; against the overall population of Gedling in terms of the protected characteristics. This analysis to be carried out every year. What actions will be included in your service plan arising from this assessment? Action Outcome Date? Who? Review housing allocations and engagement with Choice Based Lettings against protected characteristics Are you satisfied that all aspects of this policy/service/procedure have been thoroughly assessed for all the strands of diversity and that no further investigation is required? Y If no then a fuller impact assessment is required. Signed………………………………………………. (manager) Signed……………………………………….. (Corporate Equality Representative)