Housing Allocations Policy Review 2013

Closed 30 Sep 2013

Opened 23 Jul 2013

Contact

Angela Kirkham

(Service Development Officer)

akirkham@eastlothian.gov.uk

01620 827342

Feedback updated 5 Feb 2014

We asked

What council tenants, applicants and stakeholders thought about proposed changes to our Allocations Policy.

You said

That you supported the proposed changes (1,400 people responded to our consultation survey and 60 people attended a consultation event).

We did

We will continue to work towards implementing the proposed changes. We will keep tenants informed on progress via Homefront, the Council's tenant magazine.

Results updated 5 Feb 2014

The consultation with council tenants, applicants and stakeholders regarding the proposed changes to the Allocations Policy closed on the 30th September 2013.

Some of the proposed changes included:

  • Areas of choice - removing the minimum requirement that applicants need to choose two areas in a main town.
  • Reasonable offers - reducing the number of offers we make. For example, 'general needs' applicants would be made two offers rather than three and homeless applicants would be made one offer rather than three.
  • Ground floor properties - offering suitable ground floor properties to those with mobility needs in the first instance.

 

We had over 1,400 responses to our consultation survey and also held a successful joint event with East Lothian Tenants & Residents Panel in the John Gray Centre in Haddington, with over 60 people coming along to hear about proposals for change.

The survey findings and feedback from the public meeting tell us that there is strong support for all of our proposals and we will continue to work towards implementing the changes.

The Council would like to thank everyone who made a contribution during the consultation process, whether they came along to the meeting, replied to the survey or used the freephone to leave a message.

Further information regarding progress and development of the policy will be included in future editions of Homefront, the Council's tenant magazine.

Files:

Overview

Drem housing estateWe have been looking at the way we allocate housing. 

We have a legal duty to make offers of housing to those who are in most housing need but we also want to make sure that our communities are balanced and sustainable.

 

 

Why your views matter

We asked the East Lothian Tenants and Residents Panel (ELTRP) to help us review the allocations policy. Some of the proposals for change include:

  • Areas of choice – removing the minimum requirement that applicants must choose two areas within a main town.
  • Reducing the number of reasonable offers we make to a general needs/transfer applicant from three offers to two and to an applicant with homeless priority from three offers to one.
  • Offering suitable ground floor properties to those with health & mobility needs.

 

We would like to know what you think about these proposed changes. We have arranged a joint consultation event with ELTRP so that we can hear your views and discuss the issues that concern you.

John Gray Centre, Lodge Street, Haddington

on the 17th September 2013 at 6.30 p.m.

Please come along – this is your opportunity to influence the future of housing allocations in East Lothian.

If you cannot come to the public meeting, there are several ways that you can still be involved and have your say regarding the policy:

 

The draft allocations policy is available to download at the bottom of this page. A copy can also be picked up at your local library or housing office.

The consultation is open all summer and will run until the end of September 2013.

Areas

  • All Areas

Audiences

  • Community Councils
  • East Lothian Council Tenants
  • Local Residents
  • Tenants and Residents Associations

Interests

  • Housing provision