County Durham residents and housing representatives are being invited to have their say on the way in which social housing is allocated.
Durham County Council has launched a consultation asking for views on key issues around housing, as part of a comprehensive review of its housing allocations policy.
A housing allocations scheme is a requirement of all authorities, setting out the council’s eligibility, qualifying and housing need criteria, as well as how the authority assesses applications to join the housing register, to ensure priority is fairly assigned.
In County Durham, a choice-based lettings scheme currently operates to allocate social housing to people on the housing register, as part of the Durham Key Options partnership, which is made up of the council and four key housing providers.
However, the current policy has been in place since 2017 and, with a greater demand for social housing than supply, as well as a nationwide housing crisis, the authority is reviewing its process to ensure properties are allocated fairly and to those in greatest need.
Cllr James Rowlandson, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for resources, investment and assets, said: “The waiting list for social housing in County Durham has increased by around 30 per cent since 2020.
“Waiting times for social housing have also grown significantly, with fewer properties available and more people bidding for less homes.
“Alongside a rising cost of living, higher house prices and increasing rents, we’re faced with a national housing crisis that must be addressed to ensure that everyone has access to appropriate housing and the right support.
“We’d therefore encourage as many people as possible to have their say.
“Whether you are a resident, tenant, on the housing register waiting list, or a representative from a housing association, you can help us to improve the experience of applying for a property and ensure homes are allocated consistently and fairly to those in the greatest need.”
As part of the consultation, the council is seeking views on six key issues.
These include: the criteria to access the housing register, better use of social housing stock, local lettings policies, how best to prioritise people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, the priority given to medical and domestic abuse cases, and monitoring and service standards.
The authority is also seeking feedback on a draft vision, objectives and outcome for the new policy.
People can take part in the consultation by visiting the council’s new consultation and engagement platform, www.letstalkcountydurham.co.uk, by March 12.
Printed copies of the surveys can also be found at the council’s libraries and customer access points.
After March 12, all feedback will be taken into consideration before any changes are made to the allocations policy.
A draft policy will be shared as part of a second phase of consultation later in the year.