Housing after divorce

The request was successful.

Dear Warrington Borough Council,

Good morning.

Can you please forward me all council documents, guidelines and policies relating to rehousing after a divorce.

As you will understand, one party will be required to vacate the property.

I would like to know you procedure for handling such divorce events within the Warrington area.

I am aware that CHOOSEaHOME undertake yous, amongst other property association, rentals, however I am not receiving a reply from CHOOSEaHOME.

Yours faithfully,

Graham George

FOI E&R, Warrington Borough Council

Dear Graham George,
I acknowledge that your freedom of information request (as below) has been
received.
A response should be sent to you within 20 working days of receipt of your
request, therefore you should be sent a response by 7 June 2013.
Should you need anything further please let me know.
Regards
 
Karen Kellett
Performance & Programme Officer
Performance & Business Services Unit,
Environment & Regeneration Directorate
New Town House, Buttermarket Street
Warrington WA1 2NH
Tel: 01925 443061
[mobile number]
Email: [email address]
Web: [1]www.warrington.gov.uk
 
 

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Catterson, Helen, Warrington Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Sir,
 
Please see attached our reply to your recent Freedom of Information
request.
 
 
Regards
Helen Catterson
Housing Policy & Programme Officer
Warrington Borough Council
 
Telephone: (01925) 246891
Email: [email address]
 
housingplus
The Gateway
85 - 101 Sankey Street
Warrington
WA1 1SR
 
 
Warrington, proud hosts of Rugby League World Cup 2013.

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Dear Helen Catterson,

Thank you for your recent reply.

However, I have read and understood that particular page of your procedure several times.

Unfortunatly I can not find reference to "Divorced persons"

Please provide documentation, or explanation for procedures involving long term tenants, can we say, more than fifteen years, who may have the unfortunate experience of divorce.

It is probable that when such couples get divorced, one party to the divorce is ruled by the courts to leave the rented social house to the other party.

I would like to know your procedure, when Law Courts rule that one of teh divorcing couple must remove their name from the tenancy agreement of a home belonging to social housing, then just how is that party re-homed.

Yours sincerely,

Graham George

Catterson, Helen, Warrington Borough Council

Dear Mr George,

There are no specific procedures within the allocations policy with respect to divorced applicants. Where an applicant has left or is required to leave the former martial home their housing need and social /medical priority would be assessed in accordance with the policy and they would be allocated the appropriate band and can bid on properties accordingly.

Where the applicant leaving the property has dependant children and is in receipt of child benefit the size of property on which they can bid would be determined according to the bedroom criteria within the policy.

Your sincerely,
Helen Catterson
Housing Policy & Programme Officer
Warrington Borough Council

Telephone: (01925) 246891
Email: [email address]

housingplus
The Gateway
85 - 101 Sankey Street
Warrington
WA1 1SR

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Dear Catterson, Helen,

Thank you for your swift reply.

Please may you answer a couple of questions,

1/ Are you indicating that there is no expedited route back to social housing, and one must simply rejoin at the end of the waiting list?

2/ Would it be correct to expect that a homeless couple with a child, where one of the couple was a previous long term tenant, aged over 55, would be given a higher priority?

3/ Would it be correct to expect GGHT would always have "emergency housing" available, for when this homeless situation arises.
For example, a ready available 2 bedroom property, for immediate occupation, or would the social landlord install such a family into hotel room or the like?

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Graham George

Catterson, Helen, Warrington Borough Council

Dear Mr George,

I am unable to provide an immediate response to your further questions at this time. I will refer your questions to GGHT and provide a full response once I have received their reply.

Your sincerely

Helen Catterson
Housing Policy & Programme Officer
Warrington Borough Council

Telephone: (01925) 246891
Email: [email address]

housingplus
The Gateway
85 - 101 Sankey Street
Warrington
WA1 1SR

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Dear Helen Catterson,

Thank your for taking time to my questions.

By all means, I can wait for your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Graham George

Dear Helen Catterson.

Do you have information for me regarding my question for re-housing.
Assuming the tenant was living in council property in Warrington for about 17 years.

Yours sincerely,

Graham George

Catterson, Helen, Warrington Borough Council

Dear Mr George,

Thank you for your email. I have replied to each of your questions below.

 1/ Are you indicating that there is no expedited route back to social
housing, and one must simply rejoin at the end of the waiting list?

Every applicant is assessed on their current housing situation and housing
need as defined under the allocations policy.

We operate a Choice Based Letting scheme - Applicants are banded according
to their housing need and unless excluded from bidding (which can be for a
number of reasons) applicants bid for the advertised properties. Issues
such as health and social needs are taken into account when awarding bands
but generally the length of time in a previous social tenancy does not
grant additional priority.

2/ Would it be correct to expect that a homeless couple with a child,
where one of the couple was a previous long term tenant, aged over 55,
would be given a higher priority? Any applicant who believe they are
homeless will need to present to Housingplus and will be considered under
the homeless legislation. Under WBC allocations policy any previous social
tenancy period is not deemed relevant unless the tenant had behaved in an
unacceptable manner eg left rent arrears or was a perpetrator of
unacceptable behaviour.

Applicants with dependant children under age 18 would receive greater
priority within their Band for 2 or 3 bed properties before single
applicants. As stated above length of previous tenancy would not generally
give greater priority unless there are additional social or health needs.
Some properties are only available to people aged over 60 or over 30. 

3/ Would it be correct to expect GGHT would always have "emergency
housing" available, for when this homeless situation arises. For example,
a ready available 2 bedroom property, for immediate occupation, or would
the social landlord install such a family into hotel room or the like?

GGHT occasionally have a small number of properties that are available for
immediate let - mostly 1 bedroom flats which can be offered to applicants.
Anyone who is homeless or likely to become homeless should attend
HousingPlus whioch is a council service - if they are accepted as
statutorily homeless and in priority need they would be awarded Band A and
temporary accommodation where this is needed,which may be in B&B or
private rented accommodation depending on the applicant's family
circumstances. If not found to be statutorily homeless or in priority need
they are still offered advice and support to obtain appropriate
accommodation.

Yours sincerely

Helen Catterson
Housing Policy & Programme Officer
Warrington Borough Council

Telephone: (01925) 246891
Email: [email address]

housingplus
The Gateway
85 - 101 Sankey Street
Warrington
WA1 1SR

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Dear Catterson, Helen,

Thank you for a most excellent reply.

I am gratefull you and GGHT took the time and effort to write a comprehensive reply, and not just a simple few lines.

For this I thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Graham George

Wyna, Craig, Warrington Borough Council

Mr Graham George

 

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References

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1. http://www.warrington.gov.uk/info/200359...