Review of Leicester City Council's Housing Allocations Policy

Closed 2 Oct 2012

Opened 21 Aug 2012

Contact

Housing Options Service

(0116) 252 7008

housingoptions@leicester.gov.uk

Feedback updated 11 Jun 2013

We asked

The Council is required by law to have a housing allocations scheme which shows the Council’s priorities for allocating homes and procedures they follow in allocating those homes. The introduction of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 made changes to housing benefit which impacted on social tenants (council and housing association tenants) from 1st April 2013. The changes mean tenants of a working age only receive housing benefit according to the number of bedrooms a household needs. The Council proposed that people on the Housing Register will only be allocated the number of bedrooms which would be covered under housing benefit rules. This would reduce the risk of financial hardship to prospective tenants due to shortfalls in housing benefit.

You said

In total we proposed 8 changes to the Housing Allocations Policy, the results of the feedback for all the proposals were as follows (percentage range): Agreed with the proposals 55% - 72% Did not agree with the proposals 12% - 36% Did not agree or disagree with the proposals 6% - 25%

We did

We implemented 7 of the 8 proposals but took the decision to retain the existing policy allowing people who had part week overnight access to children an additional bedroom. The decision was taken following a number of views expressing that it would impact negatively on family life.

Overview

The Council is required by law to have a housing allocations scheme which shows the Council’s priorities for allocating homes and procedures they follow in allocating those homes.

The introduction of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 has made changes to housing benefit which will impact on social tenants (council and housing association tenants) from 1 April 2013. The changes will mean tenants of a working age will only receive housing benefit according to the number of bedrooms a household needs.

The Council is proposing that people on the Housing Register will only be allocated the number of bedrooms which would be covered under housing benefit rules.

Why your views matter

This consultation will help the Council to decide what changes will be made to the Housing Allocations Policy.

We would welcome the views of anyone who lives or works in Leicester and of any organisations or professionals with an interest in this issue.

Areas

  • Abbey
  • Aylestone
  • Beaumont Leys
  • Belgrave
  • Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields
  • Castle
  • Evington
  • Eyres Monsell
  • Fosse
  • Humberstone & Hamilton
  • Knighton
  • Rushey Mead
  • Saffron
  • Spinney Hills
  • Stoneygate
  • Thurncourt
  • Westcotes

Audiences

  • Children and young people
  • Working-age people
  • Older people
  • Carers
  • Full-time and part-time workers
  • Disabled people
  • Older households (65+)
  • Single people
  • Families with children
  • Couples
  • All households
  • Faith groups
  • Sports clubs
  • Youth clubs
  • Carers' network
  • Trade unions
  • Voluntary organisations
  • Community organisations
  • Self-help groups
  • User groups
  • Third sector infrastructure groups
  • All Voluntary and Community Organisations
  • Advocacy organisation
  • Police
  • NHS
  • FE colleges
  • Universities
  • Schools
  • Businesses
  • All Public and Private Organisations
  • Directors
  • Heads of service
  • Managers, team leaders and supervisors
  • Professionals
  • Service users

Interests

  • Housing