The Housing Selection Scheme Consultation Paper - Northern ...

sex will be expected to share up to 16 years (currently 18 years), while persons
of 16 years and above will be determined to require a bedroom of their own
(currently 18 years). This proposed change will mean that while younger children
of different sex will be expected to share a bedroom for longer, until age 10, on
the other hand, it will be more generous for older children who will be assessed
as requiring their own bedroom from age 16.
This change is viewed as essential to re-align the allocations policy with the
Housing Benefit regulations and ensure in so far as reasonably practical that new
allocations make best use of housing stock and do not result in underoccupation.
Consultation Question 1
Do you agree with the recommendation that the Age Criteria for Children sharing
bedrooms should be amended as outlined in line with the proposed amendments
to Housing Benefit Regulations?
(B) Allocations of Difficult-to-Let Properties
Under the current rules of the Housing Selection Scheme, allocations resulting in
under-occupation are on occasion made where there are good housing
management grounds to applicants with smaller households, often single
persons, in areas where housing need has been met or where a particular
property has been identified as difficult to let in order to prevent or minimise
voids.
Our Proposal: It is proposed to retain this flexibility to enable participating
landlords to make allocations in such circumstances. Working age tenants on
housing benefit in these circumstances will be advised before they accept the
offer that they will need to consider how they would meet any potential shortfall in
rent as a result of the potential Housing Benefit restriction.
Consultation Question 2
Do you agree with the proposal to retain flexibility to make allocations to
applicants who do not meet the minimum bedroom requirements for difficult-to-let
areas or properties?
(C) Parents with Access to Children who do not Permanently Reside with
them
The Housing Executive recognises the need for a parent(s) to have an additional
bedroom to facilitate access arrangements to children who do not permanently
reside with them and currently calculates minimum bedroom requirements and
makes allocations on this basis. However, the proposed Housing Benefit size
restriction does not recognise this need and from April 2013 such a bedroom will
Proposals for Changes to the Housing Selection Scheme 9