Agenda Reports Pack (Public) 15/10/2012, 19.00 - Meetings ...

Building a Housing Ladder of Opportunity – Housing Allocation Scheme5.2 An unsuccessful applicant(s) to the Housing Register will be informed in writingof any decision regarding their eligibility and/or qualifying status. The notificationwill give clear grounds for the decision which will be firmly based on the relevantfacts of the case. The applicant(s) will be informed of their right to request areview of the decision.5.3 Applicants who are unhappy with a decision made under this policy should in thefirst instance contact the housing officer who has dealt with their case andexplain why they think that the decision is not reasonable. The applicant will benotified whether the decision still stands and the reasons for this usually within 48hours5.4 If an applicant wishes to take the matter further, they can make a request for aformal review of the decision within 21 days. In these cases the applicant will beinvited to make a written submission stating the reasons for their request for areview and the Council will seek any further information it requires, includingadvice from medical and other specialist advisors. Formal reviews will beconducted by a team leader or manager within the Council’s Housing Servicewith no previous involvement in the case who will notify the applicant of theoutcome of the review including the reasons for their decision within 56 workingdays.5.5 Where an applicant wishes to appeal the suitability of an offer of accommodationunder 5.3 of this policy, the property will be held available whilst the appeal isconsidered where this is not likely to lead to an unreasonable delay in letting theproperty.5.6 Where an applicant requests a formal review concerning the suitability ofaccommodation under sections 5.4 of this policy, the property will not normally beheld available whilst the appeal is considered. This formal review will beconsidered by the Review & Complaints Officer.Right of Review – Homeless Applicants5.7 A homeless applicant has the right to a S202 (of the 1996 Housing Act) review ofthe suitability of an offer of accommodation. In addition they have a s204 (of the2002 Act) right of appeal to the County Court. Whilst seeking a review andappeal, the applicant may still move into the property in question, withoutprejudicing the outcome of a review and appeal case, if either is sought.6. GENERAL RULES AND CONDITIONSDecisions26Page 409