Social housing provided to non-UK citizens or recent immigrants

Freedom of Information Request Reference 2008/1689

Thank you for your request for information.

This will be processed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act
2000.

Yours sincerely

Lee Harris
Information Management Officer

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Freedom of Information Request Reference 2008/1689
 
I refer to your request for information relating to properties for either
for non-UK citizens, new UK citizens or asylum seekers / political
refugees, received on 12th June 2008.
 
Please see the information in response to your questions provided below :-
 
1. How many properties in the borough were provided by the Council, its
partner housing associations or other agencies, for new tenants in 2007
In 2007/08 there were 1,024 lettings to new tenants i.e. those taking up
their first tenancy and not those transferring from another social housing
tenancy.

2. How many of these were either for non-UK citizens, new UK citizens or
asylum seekers / political refugees;

Part VI of the Housing Act requires that allocations are only made to
those who are eligible for allocation and this broadly means that a person
must have settled immigration status, although there are many different
types of immigration status that can make someone eligible and it is not a
straightforward question of nationality. Details confirming eligibility
are obtained in each case and are held on the applicant file. The Housing
Department’s IT system records whether the applicant is or is not
eligible, but not the specific reason for them being eligible. In
accordance with the provisions defined under section 12 of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 we are unable to supply information on the specific
reason for them being eligible as the process of identifying, locating,
retrieving and, where appropriate, extracting the information from manual
files and databases would significantly exceed the appropriate limit as
defined by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate
Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004.
3. How many of the tenants in 2. above have their rent paid through the
benefits system?

In accordance with the provisions defined under section 12 of the Freedom
of Information Act 2000 we are unable to supply information on the
specific reason for them being eligible as the process of identifying,
locating, retrieving and, where appropriate, extracting the
information from manual files and databases would significantly exceed the
appropriate limit as defined by the Freedom of Information and Data
Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004.

I hope this information meets your needs. If you do not understand the
information provided or wish to discuss anything further, please feel free
to contact me and I, or another member of the team will be able to assist
you.
 
If you are dissatisfied with the information provided or decisions made in
relation to your request you may make representations to the Chief
Executive. Correspondence should be addressed to: -
 
Room 162
Wandsworth Town Hall
Wandsworth High Street
London
SW18 2PU
 
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: -
 
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
 
If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact me.
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Lee Harris
Information Management Officer
[1][Wandsworth Council request email]

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