Frequently Asked Questions About the New Allocations Policy

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

This section contains some frequently asked questions and answers about the new Allocations Policy & Choice-based Lettings. It has been produced to help you understand the changes that will be made to the way homes are allocated by Three Rivers District Council.

Q: WHAT IS CHOICE-BASED LETTINGS (CBL)?

AChoice-based lettings (also known as CBL) is a new way of deciding who is offered a rented home that gives you more say in where you live.

Q:HOW IS CBL DIFFERENT FROM THE CURRENT SYSTEM OF ALLOCATING PROPERTIES?

A:At present properties are allocated to those on the housing register according to need, using a points-based system. You are offered homes you may not necessarily want.

Under CBL, landlords will advertise their properties through the scheme and you can choose which homes you are interested in applying for. The points system will be replaced with 5 bands to reflect the priority we have given your application.

Q: WHAT IS THE HOUSING REGISTER AND WHO CAN APPLY?

A:The Housing Needs Register (HNR) is a list of everyone looking for affordable accommodation in Three Rivers District Council. It is held on computer and managed by the Council.

Q: WHO CAN JOIN THE HOUSING REGISTER?

A:As long as you are over 16 you can join our Register unless:

• The Council has decided that your behaviour (or a member of your household) is unacceptable and serious enough to make you unsuitable as a tenant.

• You are subject to immigration control, or are not habitually resident as described by law.

Q: WHAT IS LOCAL CONNECTION ?

A:Local connection, is where you can show one of the following:

• You currently live in Three Rivers

• You currently work in Three Rivers

• You used to live in Three Rivers

You have a close family member who currently lives in Three Rivers.

If you have a local connection, you will be able to enter Bands A, B, C or D. However, we may make exceptions for other applicants in exceptional circumstances.

If you have a valid local connection but the Council considers that you have enough financial means to resolve your own housing situation you will be placed in Band E.

A more detailed explanation of the local connection rule is included in the full draft housing allocations policy.

Q: HOW DO I JOIN THE HOUSING NEEDS REGISTER?

A:You need to fill out a Housing registration application form. These are available from the Housing Needs Team at Three Rivers District Council and online. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to complete a Medical Assessment form.

We aim to assess all applications within 4 weeks of receiving the form and any other information we need. If your application is accepted we will send you a letter each year, on the anniversary of the date you registered, asking if you want to remain on the Register. If you do not say yes, your application will be cancelled.

Q: WHAT WILL HAPPEN ONCE I AM REGISTERED ON THE HOUSING REGISTER?

A:Shortly after your registration on the scheme, you will receive confirmation in the post. The letter will advise you of your registration number, your registration date (which would normally be the date we received your housing registration form), and the priority band you have been placed in. If you are eligible to apply (bid) for properties under the scheme, it will also tell you the size of property you will be allowed to apply for.

Q: HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO WAIT ON THE REGISTER?

A:It is not possible for us to tell you how long you need to wait to be successful when applying for properties. We have more applicants on our housing list than available properties. If you are in the lower priority bands you may have to wait several years before being able to apply successfully.

Q: WILL I NEED TO LET YOU KNOW OF ANY CHANGES IN MY CIRCUMSTANCES?

A:Once you are accepted onto our Housing Register you must advise us of any change in your circumstances as soon as possible. For example you must let us know of:

• Any change of address
• Pregnancy
• Medical conditions that are made worse because of your current home

Q: DO I NEED TO KEEP IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH YOU?

A:We will contact you on a yearly basis to find out if you wish to renew your application to the housing register. You will need to return the re-registration form to us within 14 days. If we do not hear from you following a final letter being sent we will cancel your application. You will also need to let us know if your circumstances have changed during the last 12 months if you have not told us about this before.

Q: WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU CANCEL MY HOUSING REGISTRATION APPLICATION?

A:If we cancel your Housing Register Application you will need to re-apply to us at a later date. You will not be able to keep your former application date so you may lose the time you have already spent on the housing list.

Q:HOW WILL MY APPLICATION BE PRIORITISED?

A:Your application will be placed into one of five priority bands based on an assessment of your housing need. Applicants in band A will have the highest priority, applicants in Band E the lowest priority.

You will also be given a date which initially will be the date of your application. Should your circumstances change and you are reassessed to a higher priority band you will be given a new date. This will be the date you were awarded the higher priority.

Q:WHAT IS A BANDING SYSTEM?

A:There are 5 priority bands A - E. The different bands reflect broad categories of housing need, from very high to low. You will be placed in a band which reflects your priority and housing need. If you are in the higher band you will have greater priority for housing.

Q: WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRIORITY BANDS?

A:A brief guide to how priority will be assessed is set out below:

Band A

Includes people that the Council has to house as soon as a suitable property is available e.g. people who have an over-riding medical need.

Band B

Includes people that the Council has to house urgently and people by law the Council must give “reasonable preference,” e.g. severely overcrowded applicants are given high priority for a new home.

Band C

Include peoples who have a high need to move e.g. applicants assessed as lacking two or more bedrooms.

Band D

Includes people with a medium need to move e.g. applicants with children in insecure accommodation or applicants facing financial hardship.

Band E

Includes applicants who are assessed as being adequately housed. This will include applicants with sufficient funds to secure appropriate housing. Applicants usually with no Local Connection will also be placed here.

If your priority changes you may move up or down the housing priority need bands following assessment.

Q: HOW WILL PROPERTIES BE ADVERTISED?

A:It is proposed that all properties which become available for letting will be advertised on the website and in the property section of the Watford Observer and or a Choice-based Lettings magazine. Free copies will be made available at Thrive Homes area office, the Council office and Local library.

Direct mailing of homes will go to homeless households, advocates and voluntary groups and defined groups of vulnerable people who we have agreed are unable to access the choice based lettings system. This could be if you are infirmed, disabled, or have learning difficulties. This list is not exhaustive.

Q: WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THERE IS A VACANT PROPERTY?

A:If you are registered and you are eligible to apply for the vacancy, you will be able to apply.

Advertising will either be weekly or fortnightly, and you will need to apply within a set timescale (usually 4 or 5 days including the weekend from the advert appearing).

Q: HOW WILL I BE ABLE TO APPLY?

There are several options: on a website, by telephone, by text message or, if you are vulnerable, staff will assist you in making a bid.

Q: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I HAVE APPLIED?

A:Applications are ranked by us according to priority band. i.e. band A first and then band B, C, D, E; then the date you were place in the band.

The person with the highest priority (as long as you meet eligibility criteria) and the longest waiting time in the priority band will be invited to view the property. We may short list between 1 and 5 applicants to view a property. This will depend on how popular that property is.

Q: I HAVE POINTS DUE TO THE TIME I HAVE SPENT ON THE WAITING LIST – WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THESE?

A:Under the proposed policy, although you won't receive points for spending time on the list, the date you enter your 'band' is very important. When the Council allocates homes it will look at the applicants who have been in their band the longest, so the time you spend waiting will still count.

Q: SOME OF MY POINTS ARE DUE TO MEDICAL CIRCUMSTANCES WILL I STILL NEED TO BE RE-ASSESSED?

A:No. Medical circumstances will be slotted into the banding system. Points are currently awarded in line with medical 'grade'. These grades will simply translate into the new bands (for example, Medical Grade A will go into Band A).

Q: WILL I QUALIFY FOR SHELTERED ACCOMMODATION?

A:You can apply for sheltered housing if you are over 60 years of age. We will assess your support needs and suitability for living in sheltered housing.

Q: WHAT IS HERTS CHOICE HOMES AND WHO IS INVOLVED?

A:Herts Choice Homes is a partnership of five Councils in Hertfordshire with the shared aim of increasing mobility and choice. This means there will be some opportunity for you to move to other areas of Hertfordshire. The five Councils are: Hertsmere Borough Council, St. Albans District Council, Watford Borough Council, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and Three Rivers District Council.

Q: WHEN WILL THE NEW SCHEME BE INTRODUCED?

A:We expect this to be in early Autumn 2008. We will write to you with confirmation of when the new scheme will start, your new band, reference number and application date.

Q: HOW WILL HOMES BE LET UNTIL CHOICE-BASED LETTINGS IS FULLY INTRODUCED IN 2008?

The current allocations system will continue until the new scheme starts. If you are currently registered on the Council’s housing register, which includes transfer applicants of the Council/ Thrive Homes, your application for housing will be unaffected, and you may still receive an offer of accommodation.

Q: WILL YOU CONTACT ME WITH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHANGES BEFORE THE CHANGES ARE DUE IN 2008?

A:Yes, we will write to you informing you of changes and update you with information. There will also be articles, and briefing available for customers on the website at www.threerivers.gov.uk and at the Council and Thrive Homes offices

Q: WHERE CAN I GET A COPY OF THREE RIVERS CHOICE HOMES – DRAFT ALLOCATIONS POLICY?

Copies are available from:

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