Social Housing Allocations Policy Consultation - Results

The Social Housing Allocations Policy details how to apply to join the Council’s Housing Register, who is eligible for nomination for social housing, the priority given, and how offers of social housing will be made. 

South Staffordshire Council’s current allocations policy was last updated in 2018. Since this time the legislation and landscape relating to housing and homelessness has changed significantly with the number of applications received continuing to increase and the number of properties available decreasing, both to record levels. Therefore, the policy needs updating to reflect this along with the changes in law, regulation, our policies and good practice.

We have developed a new Social Housing Allocations Policy taking all of the above into account, ensuring that our support is going to those most vulnerable residents with the strongest connection to South Staffordshire.

A full consultation of the proposed changes ran from Monday 6th January to Monday 31st March 2025 where we collected views on the proposed policy. Responses could have been submitted online, or by visiting one of our 8 in person drop-in sessions arranged across the district. 

Following the consultation with residents and elected members, one change was made to the proposed policy. Qualification rule 2, part b, now states a person must be employed in the area for 2 years, rather than the original 1 year. This brings the length of time needed in line with the residency rule in part a.  

The new Social Housing Allocations Policy will become live from 1st July 2025. All live housing applications will be reviewed and those affected by the introduction of the new policy will be notified. 

Results of the public consultation can be viewed below.

Social Housing Allocations Policy Consultation results

Changes related to Local Connection

Q1. Currently, applicants can establish a local connection by being resident in South Staffordshire for 6 out of the last 12 months or 3 out of the last 5 years. The council is proposing applicants must have lived in South Staffordshire continuously for the last 2 years.

Strongly Agree / Agree - 71%        Neither Agree nor Disagree - 11%        Disagree / Strongly Disagree = 18%

 

Q2. Currently, applicants can establish a local connection if they live outside of the area but have worked in South Staffordshire for the last 12 months and to travel to work by public transport would take them in excess of one hour each way (This must be their actual place of work, not where their head office is situated). The council is proposing to add in an additional requirement that they must be working in the area for 16 hours or more per week.

Strongly Agree / Agree - 60%        Neither Agree nor Disagree - 20%        Disagree / Strongly Disagree = 20%

 

Q3, Currently, applicants can establish a local connection if they have a close family member that has lived in South Staffordshire for a minimum of 3 years and with whom the applicant has close links. The council is proposing that a close family member must have lived in South Staffordshire for more than 5 years and can demonstrate a need to give or receive essential care from that close family member.  Close family is normally considered to be a mother, father, brother, sister, or adult son or daughter.

Strongly Agree / Agree - 69%        Neither Agree nor Disagree - 14%        Disagree / Strongly Disagree = 17%

Changes related to Affordability and Resources Restrictions

Q4, Currently, there are no restrictions related to an applicant’s amount of income or capital regarding joining the housing register. The council is proposing that an applicant who has more than £16,000 in capital, or a combined household income of more than £50,000 per annum would be excluded from joining the housing register.

Strongly Agree / Agree - 69%        Neither Agree nor Disagree - 18%        Disagree / Strongly Disagree = 13%

 

Q5, Currently, there are no restrictions related to an applicant’s amount of unresolved (no payment plan in place to clear) rent arrears or other debts regarding joining the housing register. The council is proposing that an applicant who has unresolved rent arrears or other debts would be excluded from joining the housing register.

Strongly Agree / Agree - 71%        Neither Agree nor Disagree - 17%        Disagree / Strongly Disagree = 12%

 

Changes related to other restrictions

Q6, Currently, there are no restrictions related to an applicant’s history of unacceptable behaviour regarding joining the housing register. The council is proposing that an applicant who has an evidenced history of serious, unacceptable or antisocial behaviour would be excluded from joining the housing register.

Strongly Agree / Agree - 92%        Neither Agree nor Disagree - 5%        Disagree / Strongly Disagree = 3%

 

Q7, Currently, applicants who have refused 3 offers of suitable accommodation are removed from the housing list and unable to reapply for 12 months. The council is proposing that applicants who have refused 2 offers of suitable accommodation in the last 12 months will be removed from the housing list and unable to reapply for 12 months.

Strongly Agree / Agree - 68%        Neither Agree nor Disagree - 12%        Disagree / Strongly Disagree = 20%

 

Changes to priority bandings

Q8, Currently, applicants who have been able to evidence an exceptionally urgent need to move on medical grounds are awarded a band 1 priority. The council is proposing to keep this, but to also introduce an additional urgent/high need to move on medical grounds that will award a band 2 priority.

Strongly Agree / Agree - 58%        Neither Agree nor Disagree - 36%        Disagree / Strongly Disagree = 6%

Response representation

Q9, Which of the following groups are you representing in your response?

Current applicant on the housing register - 59%

A resident of South Staffordshire not on the housing register - 30%

A housing association operating in South Staffordshire - 2%

A resident outside of South Staffordshire - 4%

A representative of a Parish Council - 4%

Other - 1%

Housing Allocations Policy July 2025
File type: PDF
File size: 854.61 KB

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