Housing Allocations Scheme Consultation

Overview

Richmond Council’s current housing allocations scheme was published in 2012.

The Council is proposing to review and update its housing allocations scheme for two key reasons:

1. To reflect guidance issued by the Courts following recent case law in relation to the qualification criteria
2. Due to Richmond and Wandsworth Councils establishing a shared staffing arrangement (SSA) with effect of 1 October, to develop a scheme based on best practice across both boroughs which will be as close as is practicably possible in each borough.  It won’t be identical in each borough.  But if the schemes are broadly similar, it will be easier for staff to handle queries/applications in either borough.

This new policy and the joint work with Wandsworth Council will not involve Richmond Council rehousing people from Wandsworth and vice versa.

Before making a final decision, the Council would like the views of our partner organisations, including housing associations, local residents, the voluntary and community sector and Council Staff on our proposals for the new housing allocation scheme and the key changes from the existing scheme.

We would especially like to hear your views on whether the proposed changes might be likely to have a negative impact for any particular groups of people. Have your say by completing the online survey the survey closing date has been extended until Monday 12 September 2016.

A summary of the main changes to Richmond's current scheme is outline below, please read through the full consultation material before completeing the survey.

The main changes from Richmond’s current scheme:

1. Introducing a multiple queue system

It is proposed to move to a multiple queue system, whereby applicants sit in a particular queue e.g. homeless queue, supported housing queue, older persons queue.  This does not mean the Council is changing its housing allocation priorities and going forward can retain quotas e.g. for rough sleepers, people with learning disabilities. Where our assessment processes involve external organisations we can also retain our existing assessment processes where necessary.

This approach is known as ‘allocation planning’ or ‘resource forecasting’, the Council will set targets and estimates for the supply/demand of various types of properties across the various queues, and will calculate estimated costs annually which are periodically reviewed. This is a more structured and consistent approach than previously used in Richmond.

2. Introducing a three year residency rule as a high priority for rehousing

Currently Richmond has a rule that applicants need to have lived in the borough for six months before they can join our housing register (expect for exceptional cases, around 2-3 cases a year), Wandsworth currently have a two year residency rule.
Recent case law has made it unlawful to exclude anyone in a ‘reasonable preference’ category (those identified as a priority by the Council i.e. homeless or overcrowded households), from a housing register.  It is therefore proposed to move to a system that gives households who have lived in the borough for at least three years a higher priority (they will be placed in bands A or B see full policy for further details). External applications from reasonable preference groups will mostly be processed and sit low down in the queue for an offer, external applications with low need can be blocked.

3. Changes to prioritising in-work and overcrowded households

In Richmond since 2012 we have given priority to local households that are in work. We have rehoused many such households where there is no property defect’s or overcrowding. The ‘need’ of these households was simply requiring help to get on the property ladder. While we have not analysed exactly how many such households went on to purchase their properties some have. This policy aimed to genuinely incentivise working households.

Recent case law has indicated it may be unlawful to allocate more than 5-10% of homes to people not in a ‘reasonable category’. So the Council is proposing to move to a policy of prioritising those who are local, in paid work and have ‘need’ e.g. in poor housing or homeless. Our existing housing register indicates there are over 1,000 households who are currently overcrowded, this approach while still incentivising working households prioritises those with overcrowding or other such housing needs. These households will mainly sit under the General Needs queue.

4. Changes to the minimum age for entry onto the housing register

The minimum age for entry onto the housing register nationally is rising from 16 to 18 years. Richmond Council’s current policy allows 16 and 17 year olds to receive a social housing offer however, because minors are not subject to contract law they cannot be responsible for adhering to tenancy conditions including payment of housing charges. Richmond currently accommodate under 18s in hostels or self-contained temporary flats which it is proposed will continue.