Council to discuss policy on housing applications
Four families approached a council because they were “homeless or threatened with homelessness” every day throughout 2020, a report says.
Telford and Wrekin’s cabinet will hear that the borough faces a shortfall of nearly 700 homes a year, as growth in the social housing stock is “largely static”.
In his report, Investment Strategy and Partnership Officer Chris Winter recommends members authorise an eight-week consultation on the draft Housing Allocations Policy, which, if adopted, will govern how the council advises residents and nominates them to local housing associations.
There are “around 13,650 social housing properties for rent in the borough”, accounting for 18 per cent of all homes, he adds.
Telford and Wrekin does not have housing stock of its own but it is still legally required to have a housing allocation policy because of the role it has in guiding tenants towards housing associations, Mr Winter writes.
“While the council does not operate a housing waiting list or register, it maintains a ‘pool’ of households seeking advice and support and who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless,” he says.
“In 2020 it received over 1,500 formal enquiries from households in this position.
“The council currently makes a number of nominations of households in housing need to providers on an informal basis.
“As part of developing the new allocation policy, the council has been working with local providers to establish a formal joint nominations agreement and to increase the number of successful nominations that are made directly to housing associations.”
Preference
Mr Winter writes: “An allocation policy must give reasonable preference to applicants with certain housing needs including those who are homeless, living in unsatisfactory conditions, owed a duty by any housing authority, need to move on medical or welfare grounds or need to move to a particular locality in the area to avoid hardship.”
The Wrekin Housing Group is the borough’s largest provider, with just under 10,000 homes.
Three others have approximately 1,000 each and smaller and specialised providers control the rest.
“There is a continuing shortfall of more than 660 affordable homes each year in the borough,” Mr Winter writes.
“Despite the delivery of around 300 new affordable homes each year, continuing losses to the sector have meant total provision remains largely static.”
Mr Winter notes that Homes Direct, the home-finding scheme operated by Midlands Heart, will close at the end of this month.
“Aside from properties owned by WHG, the majority of social housing in the borough is currently advertised and allocated through Homes Direct,” he writes, adding that the council and larger housing associations are preparing for this change.
The council, he says, will provide advice online and support residents currently registered with Homes Direct.
Telford and Wrekin’s housing allocation policy was last updated in 2015, and the new draft policy is intended to run until 2026.
The borough’s 10-member cabinet will discuss Mr Winter’s report when it meets remotely this Thursday.
