Social housing consultation launches

A CONSULTATION has launched to gather views on how the council allocates social housing.
Warrington Borough Council is required to have a housing allocations policy which shows how it prioritises applications for social housing and the procedures it follows in allocating those homes.
The proposals being considered in the consultation include the eligibility to join the housing register, definitions of local connection, exclusion periods for unacceptable behaviour, levels of sufficient financial resources and eligibility for number of bedrooms.
The council no longer owns or manages any social housing in Warrington however it has existing agreements in place with 12 registered providers of social housing to allocate or nominate tenants to their available properties.
The Localism Act 2011 gave local authorities the power to set their own qualifying criteria for people who are allowed to join the housing register.
This allows councils to restrict entry to the register to those who are in the most housing need as well as allowing exclusions for other reasons based on locally set criteria. Councils now also have the power to give additional preference to particular groups of people such as those households who want to work, as well as those who are contributing to their community in other ways, e.g. through voluntary work.
If you would like to share your views on the proposed changes please visit www.warrington.gov.uk/consultations
If you require a paper copy of the form please email [email protected] or telephone 01925 246891.
The consultation will close at midnight on 26 July 2013.