Dear Ms Knuckey,

 

FOI request: FOI-291

 

Thank you for your request dated 17/08/2023

 

Your request will be answered by 14/09/2023

 

If you have any queries about this request, please contact me, quoting the
reference number above.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

David White

Head of Information, Safety and Community Services

Directorate of Communities, Environment and Central

Royal Borough of Greenwich

 

*   3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ

8 [1]www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

 

ü Please consider the environment before printing this email

 

 

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Dear Ms Knuckey,

 

FOI request: FOI-291

 

Thank you for your request dated 17/08/2023

 

Our response is as follows:

 

Application to Decision for Additional Preference:

I would like to inquire about the current waiting time for applicants
seeking additional preference in the housing allocation process.
Specifically, I am interested in knowing the average duration it takes
from the submission of an application for additional preference to the
final decision being made by Greenwich Council.

 

The Housing IT department have no way of measuring this as when an
applicant requests additional preference, there is nothing unique held on
the system.

 

 

Requirements for Additional Preference:

Please provide me with the detailed requirements that applicants must meet
in order to be eligible for additional preference in the housing
allocation process. This information will help me understand the criteria
that applicants need to fulfil in order to be considered for this
particular housing preference.

 

Please refer to the Allocations Policy, paragraph 4.6 and 9.3 stated below

 

 

4.6 Additional Preference

The law enables the Council to provide additional preference to people who
must move due to threats of violence likely to be carried out, or for
urgent medical reasons

 

9.3 Direct allocations and bidding for priority applicants

Some properties are offered directly to applicants without being
advertised. These properties are also allocated according to the Council’s
Allocation Scheme and lettings plan so will count as an offer. When making
direct offers the Council always tries to meet applicant’s preferences for
the areas where they want to live, and for the sort of property they are
interested in. However, in a borough where there is very high demand for
social housing and a lot of priority needs to meet, applicants in Bands A,
B1 and B2 are expected to consider a wide area of choice. 

Examples of where we may consider making a direct offer or bid for the
applicant are:

• Where an applicant is excluded from bidding due to the risk to others
e.g., rehousing close by would threaten the safety of a previous
victim.
• Where a household has received a priority in accordance with the
reasonable preference categories but has either failed to bid or has
placed limited bids
• Where a property is identified as meeting the needs of a high priority
household
• In discharge of our duty in accordance with Part VII of the Housing
Act 1996
• In order to facilitate a decant programme

 

Timeframe from Additional Preference Grant to Direct Offer for a 2 Bedroom
Home:

 

I would like to know the approximate time interval between an applicant
being granted additional preference and subsequently receiving a direct
offer for a 2 bedroom home. This information will help me understand the
process and timeline that applicants can expect after being approved for
additional preference.

 

Please refer to question 1.

 

If you have any queries about this correspondence, please contact me,
quoting the reference number above.

 

If you are not satisfied with our response to your request, you can ask
for an Internal Review.  Internal review requests must be submitted within
two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original
request.  If you wish to do this, please contact us in writing, setting
out why you are dissatisfied.

 

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the Internal Review, you may
apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. 
Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the
Internal Review procedure provided by the Council. You can contact the ICO
by emailing [1][email address], or by post at Customer Contact,
Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
SK9 5AF.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

David White

Head of Information, Safety and Community Services

Directorate of Communities, Environment and Central

Royal Borough of Greenwich

 

*   3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ

8 [2]www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

ü Please consider the environment before printing this email

 

 

From: foi <[Greenwich Borough Council request email]>
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2023 9:00 AM
To: 'Paige' <[FOI #1015775 email]>
Cc: foi <[Greenwich Borough Council request email]>
Subject: FOI-291: Freedom of Information request - Additional Preference -
Housing Allocation

 

Dear Ms Knuckey,

 

FOI request: FOI-291

 

Thank you for your request dated 17/08/2023

 

Your request will be answered by 14/09/2023

 

If you have any queries about this request, please contact me, quoting the
reference number above.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

David White

Head of Information, Safety and Community Services

Directorate of Communities, Environment and Central

Royal Borough of Greenwich

 

*   3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ

8 [3]www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

 

ü Please consider the environment before printing this email

 

 

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