Rochford District Council is inviting residents to share their views on proposed changes to the Council’s social housing allocations policy.
At the last meeting of the Communities, Wellbeing & Housing Committee, councillors agreed to consult on the proposed changes to the policy before any changes were made.
The proposed changes are not about reducing numbers on the Housing Register, however high numbers mean the people near the bottom of the list may never get housed and the proposed changes will help us to manage expectations.
Rochford District Council do not own their own housing stock and are reliant on nominations from registered providers of social housing in the district, so it is essential that the policy remains relevant and fit for purpose, to take into account ever changing local housing pressures to ensure we can meet local housing demand and need.
With the number of properties becoming available being less than the demand for these properties, we need to ensure that these properties are going to those in the most housing need.
The Council’s current policy is more generous than some other policies in the surrounding boroughs and districts, where people who do not currently live within the district can still apply to join our Housing Register if they have a ‘family’ connection. Unfortunately, for residents of the district, they do not always have the same opportunities and cannot always join waiting lists in other areas. However, they still have to compete for properties here against people who do not currently live in the district.
We are also considering introducing Choice Based Lettings, which provides greater opportunity for people needing homes to choose where they would like to live and gives greater transparency to where they are in the queue, to help them get an understanding of how long their wait to be successful is likely to be.
Councillor Lisa Newport, Chair of the Community, Wellbeing and Housing Committee at Rochford District Council, said: “We recognise that housing is one of the most pressing issues for our residents, and this review is part of our commitment to ensuring our allocations policy works for those who need it most. The proposed changes aim to create a fairer, more transparent system that prioritises local residents and better meets the challenges of housing demand in the Rochford District. I encourage all residents to take part in this consultation and share their views. Your feedback is vital in helping us shape a policy that reflects the needs and priorities of our residents.”
For more information and to complete the consultation, visit: www.rochford.gov.uk/RDCHousingSurvey
The consultation closes on Wednesday 5 March.