Changes made to the way social housing is allocated in Teignbridge

On Tuesday 30 July, Teignbridge District Council’s Executive approved a series of amendments to its social housing allocation policy.

The changes, which come into effective on 1 April 2014, are aimed at creating a fairer system while giving people access to the most suitable housing advice and support that is right for them, especially in more rural areas. It will also provide the council with greater flexibilities so those who are on the housing waiting list stand a better chance of getting the home they want.

Allocation policies used to be subject to tight legislative requirements which gave little room for local authorities to be flexible but the Localism Act relaxed the rules and, as a result, Teignbridge decided to make some changes so it could make the system fairer and more effective on a local level.

In this instance Teignbridge is changing the way it deals with applicants for Devon Home Choice which is the housing register for Devon. It is the process people use to look and apply for social housing. It has different bands from A-E with A classed as ‘Emergency Housing Need’ and E is ‘No Housing Need’.

With a few exceptions, anyone over 16 can register for housing. People generally apply to join the housing list online and it takes about 20 working days to process the information. Available properties are then advertised and people on the list can bid for up to three homes at a time. This means a lot resources goes into processing information that isn’t helping people get into social housing. The policy amendments will help prevent that.

From next April, Band E applicants will be removed from the register and only those applicants in Bands A-D will be eligible for social housing. Teignbridge is also introducing a new category of need for ‘community contribution’. The amendment will allow those who have been working, or volunteering, in a rural area for a minimum of one year prior to their application to be placed in Band D for housing in that area if they have no other housing need.

Teignbridge is the first council in Devon to make this change to their housing policy. Although other larger authorities in other parts of the county have introduced a community contribution category to their allocation policy, Teignbridge is one of the first to make this happen for its rural communities.

Teignbridge District Council’s Leader Cllr Jeremy Christophers said:“There is an greater pressure on providing suitable housing, including social, and priority needs to be given to those who are most in need. Our changes are aimed at making sure this happens, rather than encouraging false hope and large waiting lists.

“We’re the first to introduce a new category of need for ‘community contribution’. This amendment means that applicants living in rural communities who have worked either paid or unpaid in employment for 12 months or more locally will be eligible for Band D placement. This is a really important proposal because it will help residents who need it but will help us meet the aspirations for providing rural affordable housing schemes through Community Land Trusts.

“I’ve always said housing is a priority and hopefully this will go a long way in proving that. Being able to help people into the right homes for them – or give them the right support and assistance – will make an immense different to their health, happiness, quality of life and it will make the system a lot fairer and more effective.”

At the same time the changes will compliment a lot of the other work the Council is doing to help give people the right houses for them. This includes careful development of new housing in rural areas to create sustainable communities, self build, working with parish councils to complete rural housing need surveys.

Allowances will be made so Band E applicants can reapply if their needs change or they can ask for a review of their application if they are unhappy with Teignbridge’s decision not to allow them to register.

In addition Teignbridge’s Housing Services team will put in place an action plan so any affected applicants are offered advice and support on their housing options before they are removed from the register.

There are a range of options open to them such as shared ownership, shared equity and the Government’s FirstBuy scheme. Last year Teignbridge also helped 284 applicants into the private rented sector with loan guarantees and money advice.

The changes were made after the council asked people for their views with results revealing overwhelming public support to implement the changes.