Contents Introduction Management of the Allocations Scheme and Information The Allocations Scheme Elected Members Involvement What we do with Personal Information Statement of Fair Processing Statement of the of Applicant’s Choice Staff applying for Social Housing Legislation Fraud (Offences) Equality and Diversity Travelling Families Scheme Aims Definition of an Allocation Overview of Choice Lettings and Housing Register (operational) Process for Housing Register Annual Re-Registration Change of Circumstances Process for Homechoice at Reading (Choice Based Lettings) Adverts Bidding Viewing Offers Tenancy Types Family Intervention Tenancy Housing Needs Groups Transfer Applicants Homeseekers Who is not eligible for an Allocation of Accommodation? Who is considered a Qualifying Person for Reading Borough Council’s Housing Register People who are not Qualifying Persons Transition to new scheme
Registered Providers are able to offer properties at a different rent level, known as Affordable Rent. This will typically be 80% of market rent. Applicants need to be aware when they are bidding for accommodation if this will be affordable for them. More detail on Reading Borough Council’s expectations on how Registered Providers manage flexible tenancies and Affordable Rent is available in Reading Borough Council’s Tenancy Strategy at . For applicants currently in a secure or assured tenancy and are considering bidding for accommodation with an Affordable Rent or flexible tenancy, it is important to understand the implications on any future tenancy. Please see the following guide: Current Tenancy Type The Current Tenancy Start Date Rent on New Property Tenancy Entitled to Secure/Assured Before 1/4/ 2012 Social Rent Assured/Secure Secure/Assured Before 1/4/2012 Affordable Rent Assured/Secure or Fixed Term (if this is what is being offered) Secure/Assured After 1/4/2012 Social Rent Assured/Secure or Term (if this is what is being offered) Secure/Assured 1/4/2012 Affordable Rent Assured/Secure or Term (if this is what is being offered) Family Intervention Tenancy (FIT) This is a non-secure tenancy within Reading Borough Council or Registered Provider accommodation which may be offered to those with complex needs. Those families considered for a FIT will be assessed and agreed in partnership with Social Care and other appropriate agencies. The FIT will generally be for a fixed period of time with conditions attached, such as, engagement with relevant agencies and support. They have limited security of tenure, and as such they will be terminable on notice with no need to prove any ground for termination or possession. The aim is to allow households to be supported in order to achieve independence. On the successful completion of a FIT a direct offer may be made to the property being occupied (see section 22). Housing Needs Groups There are 2 main groups of applicants on the Housing Register. Transfer Applicants Transfer applicants comprise of Reading Borough Council and Registered Provider tenants who register with the Council for alternative social housing.
APPENDIX 1: Banding Scheme Band A Emergency need to move Band B Urgent need to move Band C Intermediate need to move Band D Identified need to move Band E Low Level need to move No Priority for Housing Reasonable Preference Applicants with 5 Reasonable Preference Categories* Applicants with 4 Reasonable Preference Categories* Applicants with 3 Reasonable Preference Categories* Applicants with 2 Reasonable Preference Categories* Applicants with 1 Reasonable Preference Category* Do not meet any of the criteria for Reasonable Preference * With the exception of medical or welfare priority Additional Preference Very severe/life threatening need to move on medical or welfare grounds Severe need to move on medical or welfare grounds Moderate need to move on medical or welfare grounds Mild need to move on medical or welfare grounds need to move on medical or welfare grounds No need to move on medical or welfare grounds Children – Where a move will support a family and is the only option to prevent the children from being taken into care and all other options have been exhausted Evidence will be required from Social Services ideally following a case conference or professionals meeting Hospital Discharge – Where a move is urgently required because the client is bed blocking and it is not possible for them to return to their previous accommodation as it is unsuitable on medical grounds. Evidence will be required from the Support – Where a move is required to be closer to a relative to give or receive support that is substantial and ongoing and where the carer is unable to travel across Reading Evidence will be required in relation to welfare Sheltered Accommodation – Where an actual need has been identified for sheltered accommodation as opposed to a desire Evidence of medical, social/welfare identified at sheltered home visit
hospital and Community Care benefits paid to confirm the need for the carer to support the individual. In addition Community Care will need to confirm the arrangement Serious risk to life due to violence and/or harassment – This is for cases who are not current tenants of Reading Borough Council (as these would be considered via a Management Transfer process), and where there is an identified high risk, supported by other professionals Evidence to be provided by any agency involved who has the ability to assess a level of risk, including Police, BWA, Social Services, etc. Move on From Supported Housing – cases to be agreed by the Move On Panel and/or Outreach Officer. There will be a limit on the number of cases agreed as per quotas. Evidence to be provided by the supported housing provider or Care Manager. Clients must be capable of independent living and have a vulnerability and urgent housing need that is best Severe Unsanitary living conditions Where it cannot be resolved within a 6 month time period. Evidence will be required from the Environmental Health Service. which are subject to Prohibition Orders and recovery of the premises is required or a where a statutory notice that a property is to be demolished is served will be dealt with through Sheltered Accommodation – Where an individual has confirmed that sheltered accommodation is unsuitable for them and that general needs accommodation would be better suited to their needs. Evidence to be provided by the Sheltered Housing Officer
met by the provision of long term settled accommodation, including successful completion of Precariously Housed Agreement. the Housing Advice Team. Adaptations – where a DFG has been requested and landlord permission has been refused as other accommodation could be found via CBL that would be more appropriate for adaptation. This will be agreed by the DFG Panel and there will be evidence why landlord permission was not granted along with an OT report regarding what other accommodation would be suitable Children – where a move is required to facilitate adoption or a child being fostered and the case has been prioritised by Childrens Services Management Team Evidence to be provided from Childrens Services Severe Overcrowding – where a family lack 2 or more bedrooms as per the Bedroom Standard and there is a significant impact on the welfare of those within the household Evidence will be required from medical professionals involved with the family, school head teachers and/or social services Witness Protection To avoid a placement into
Where a person is at risk and need to move urgently This needs to be supported by the relevant Police authority with evidence of risk residential care – where independent living is considered the most suitable options for the application, taking into account the resources available. Cases would be agreed at the ASC Panel. Evidence will be required from the referring agency. Homeless household who has successfully requested a review of suitability of accommodation and have to that accommodation – this will enable the applicant to move on from permanent accommodation which has been offered under Part VI of the Housing Act, deemed by the local authority as unsuitable
This will be evidenced via the review of suitability of the accommodation occupied. Management Transfer – those who have been accepted as being at risk in their accommodation and accepted as a Management Transfer Supported by a signed approved Management Transfer Application from the panel Vulnerable Adults – Where exploitation is taking place and the person is at risk in their home. Evidence will be required from the police and Community Care. This will apply to Council/RSL tenants only. Private sector tenants can seek assistance through the Housing Advice Team in obtaining alternative private rented accommodation Exceptional Strategic Lettings Succession to a property larger than required where legal actions has commenced to reciver the property Under-occupation including those who have succeeded the property – Tenants Couples – Tenants of 2 1 bedroom Reading Borough Council rented accommodation
– Tenants of Reading Borough Council who have the right to succeed a Council tenancy but the property is larger than they require. Reading Borough Council reserve the right to award this priority assessed on a case by case basis Evidence will be required from Housing Management of a Council or Registered Provider who have 1 or more bedrooms than they need Evidence will be required from Housing Management or from the relevant Registered Provider who want to live together in another 1 bedroom home Renovation – Tenants of Reading Borough Council whose home requires major renovation and the property needs to be vacant in order to carry out this work Evidence will be required from Maintenance Team, however they will only attract this priority if a decant is deemed unreasonable – Families – Tenants of Reading Borough Council who occupy 2 social rented family sized accommodation and want to move to one property.
evidence of this to be presented by Housing Management Demolition – Tenants of Reading Borough Council whose home is about to be demolished or redeveloped. Evidence will be required from the Regeneration/Property Team Those who are living in a property with adaptations that are no longer required or the property type is in high demand – Where major adaptations have been made to a property and are no longer required by the tenant or their household, for example, through floor lifts, wet rooms. This will not apply to those who have had low level adaptations such as hand rails. Consideration of the level of funding provided for the adaptation to be evidenced from the DFG Team and the level of need of a