The Housing Selection Scheme Consultation Paper - Northern ...

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Allocations to Transfers - Rule 72 Rule 72 of the Scheme contains a general principle when making allocations to transfer applicants that a ratio of one transfer allocation for every two Waiting List allocations should be employed. Underlying this rule, within guidance, is a policy of awarding ‘Management Transfer status’ to certain categories of tenants to allow Designated Officers the flexibility to make best use of their housing stock by allowing Officers the discretion to transfer tenants, under certain circumstances, without reference to their points level. Our Proposal: It is proposed that the Housing Selection Scheme should relax the transfer: applicant allocations ratio and introduce a new Management Transfer category which will prioritise transferring tenants who are underoccupying and wish to downsize, thereby freeing up the resulting vacancy to applicants on the Waiting List in housing need. Consultation Question 7 Do you agree with the proposal that the Housing Selection Scheme should relax the current transfer: applicant allocations ratio and include an additional priority Management Transfer category to address the needs of tenants who are under occupying and are seeking to move to a smaller more affordable home? Access to the Transfer List/Consent to a Mutual Exchange The Housing Executive seeks to ensure that its policy on transfers does not pose any barriers to those tenants affected by the size restriction wishing to downsize. Therefore it is recognised that the current policy of refusing access to the transfer list to tenants who have held that tenancy for less than two years and to those tenants who are in rent arrears of four or more weeks should be amended. Our Proposal: It is proposed on the basis of good housing management that this access criterion is waived for tenants who have incurred arrears as a direct consequence of the shortfall in Housing Benefit due to size restriction. Similarly, the Housing Executive may wish to consent to a request for a suitable Mutual Exchange (Assignment by Way of Exchange) for those tenants who are in arrears as a direct result of the shortfall in Housing Benefit due to the size restriction. Consultation Question 8 Do you agree with the proposal that the criteria for access to the transfer list and the discretion to withhold consent to a request for a Mutual Exchange should be amended in circumstances where the tenant is under occupying and impacted by the size restriction and seeks to move to smaller accommodation? Proposals for Changes to the Housing Selection Scheme 14
Mobility and Mutual Exchange Schemes Rules 80 to 83 of the Housing Selection Scheme are rules which relate to National Mobility Schemes which no longer exist and therefore should be removed. The government recently launched a new HomeSwap Direct initiative, a national mobility web based scheme which facilitate tenant exchange across the UK. Subject to any legal constraints, The Housing Executive and registered housing associations are keen to offer tenants various mobility options and are currently exploring the options to participate in this initiative. Consultation Question 9 Do you agree with the proposal to enable tenant exchange across the UK? Creation of Joint Tenancies The Housing Selection Scheme currently contains rules (78-79) which specify the circumstances in which a participating landlord may consent to the creation of a joint tenancy. Generally, the specified circumstances require that the current tenant and the proposed joint tenant (other than a spouse or civil partner) have been residing in the current tenant’s household for a period of at least one year. The Housing Executive recognises that it may be beneficial to relax these rules to allow sole tenants to have a joint tenancy with another person, thereby improving their ability to address issues of under-occupation and pay any shortfall in rent arising from a reduction in Housing Benefit. Our Proposal: It is proposed to amend the relevant rules to remove the 12 month residence requirement for a proposed joint tenant when considering an application for a change in tenancy from a sole tenancy to a joint tenancy. Consultation Question 10 Do you agree with the proposal to remove the existing 12 month residence requirement for the creation of joint tenancies? Impact on Local Lettings Plans Under Rule 84 of the Housing Selection Scheme the Housing Executive and Housing Associations have, through the authority of the Board and Department, developed local lettings plans to deliver balanced and sustainable communities, to increase demand and tackle issues such as anti-social behaviour. Applying these local lettings policies often mean that people are allocated homes which have more bedrooms than they are deemed to need under the size criteria and those homes may no longer be affordable once the size criteria is introduced. The Housing Executive and Housing Associations recognise that it will be necessary to review this approach in the light of the size criteria to establish if their use means that working age people on housing benefit are offered homes which are larger than the size criteria. It will be necessary to consider if we Proposals for Changes to the Housing Selection Scheme 15
Page 1 and 2: Consultation on Changes to the Hous
Page 3 and 4: Background The Housing Selection Sc
Page 5 and 6: Making best use of social housing s
Page 7 and 8: Key Proposals Ensuring New Tenants
Page 9 and 10: sex will be expected to share up to
Page 11 and 12: Overcrowding Rules The Housing Sele
Page 13: Many tenants will choose not to mov
Page 17 and 18: Equality Section 75 of the Northern
Page 19 and 20: Summary of Consultation Questions C
Page 21 and 22: How to Respond We would welcome you

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