Council's Allocations Policy for Applicants to the Council's Social Housing Register

1) The length of the council's housing register/social housing waiting list (number of households)
20050
2) The number of council homes in the borough's housing stock
Approx 12,000
3) The number of housing association homes in the borough's housing stock
We do not hold this information, each Housing Association would need to be contacted under the Freedom of Information for the details.
4) The number of social housing allocations made each year since 2010.
1.4.10 – 31.3.11 = 989
1.4.11 – 31.3.12 = 742
1.4.12 – 31.3.13 = 601
1.4.13 – 31.3.14 = 738
1.4.14 – to date = 489
5) The number of years people must live in the borough to be eligible to join the housing register
24 months consecutively.
6) The council's criteria for priority bands
Please see attached published local policy for full details of bandings
7) Could you send me the council's complete preference criteria for
• Band A housing register applicants
• Band B housing register applicants
• Band C housing register applicants
• Band D housing register applicants
please see full details in the policy.
Could you also tell me:
8) How does the council determine priority between applicants who meet reasonable preference criteria in each band?
This is by date they applied or joined that band – refer to policy attached.
9) Does the council prioritise social housing applications from people who are employed over people who are unemployed?
We have a policy where up to 50% of council properties are let to people who meet the criteria for the working positive contributing priority. This means that people can be working, volunteering or caring for someone outside of the home. We do therefore have a 50% split so that all people have a chance at being rehoused by us.
10) Does the council and/or the borough's housing associations have council or social housing homes, builds or estates that exclude people who are unemployed?
No
11) Does the council prioritise social housing applications from serving or ex-members of the armed forces?
Yes if they meet the criteria set out by national government.
12) Does the council prioritise social housing applications from people who are engaged in voluntary or community work or activities?
Yes, we have a priority for volunteers. The full details for this in full is in policy attached.
13) Does the council prioritise social housing applications from people who have caring duties?
Yes, we have a priority for carers outside of their own home. The full details for this in full is in policy attached.
14) Are there any other categories of applicants that the council gives social housing selection priority to/ are there any other means by which applicants can improve their priority for housing?
The Bandings are in the policy and show who this councils administration made a decision to prioritise.
15) Please also send me a complete copy of your housing application policy.”
As confirmed above we have the policy on the councils website and I have attached it for your ease.