The Government’s proposed reforms to overhaul social housing allocations include plans to amend the eligibility criteria for social housing allocations, making mandatory some of the factors that are currently at a local authority’s discretion when applying eligibility criteria. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities’ consultation on the proposed reforms, seeking feedback from stakeholders, including social landlords, is open until 26 March 2024.
Homes for Cathy will be running an online focus group on 12 March 2024, 10-11.30am, to give members the opportunity to voice their views on the Government’s plans – and the potential impact on homelessness – to feed into our response to the consultation.
The discussion will address the following proposals:
1. UK connection test – where a person must demonstrate their connection to the UK before they can be allocated social housing. This can be achieved by (a) being a British citizen, Irish citizen, Commonwealth citizen with a right of abode, or EEA or Swiss citizen with equal treatment rights; or (b) by being a lawful resident in the UK for 10 years.
2. Local connection test – where a person must demonstrate a connection to a local area for at least 2 years before they can be allocated social housing. This will ensure greater consistency across the country and ensure more local people can access social housing in the area they call home, supporting people to put down roots and maintain links to family and community.
3. Income test – setting thresholds for applicants and those on a waiting list to qualify for social housing. This will have no impact on existing tenants, but rather will ensure new tenancies are reserved for those who, at the point of signing for a new social home, would most struggle to afford private accommodation.
4. Anti-social behaviour test – people who have unspent convictions for certain criminal anti-social behaviour, as well as certain civil sanctions, will be disqualified from social housing for a defined period.
5. Terrorism test – terrorist offenders with unspent convictions will not qualify for social housing unless excluding them would increase the risk to public safety.
6. Grounds for eviction (anti-social behaviour and terrorist offences) – implementing a ‘three strikes and you’re out’ policy for repeat offenders of anti-social behaviour, and creating a new ground for eviction for terrorist offences.
7. Fraudulent declaration test – mandating a period of disqualification for those who knowingly or recklessly make false statements when applying for social housing.
8. Applicants on a waiting list – applying the new eligibility and qualification tests not only to new applicants but also to those currently on a social housing waiting list.
If you would like to attend the focus group, please register by clicking on the link below and we will be in touch with joining information.