West Berkshire Council: Have your say on our draft Housing Allocations Policy

The Housing Allocations Policy supports a number of the Council’s priorities, such as ensuring our vulnerable children and adults achieve better outcomes, and sets out how affordable homes rented through housing associations and Registered Providers are allocated to residents in housing need through the Council’s choice-based lettings scheme – Homechoice West Berkshire.

The draft policy looks at how well we are meeting the housing needs across West Berkshire and proposes the introduction of a priority banding system to replace the current system of prioritising applications by awarding points. Other key proposals include changes to the qualification criteria which will determine who can join the housing register.

Councillor Hilary Cole, Executive Member for Housing for West Berkshire Council, said:

“We are inviting residents and stakeholders to have their say on our draft Housing Allocations Policy and in particular our proposal to change from a points based system to a banding system.

“The proposed changes will ensure that social housing, including affordable housing, is allocated to people who have a genuine housing need and that the most vulnerable applicants are given the highest priority. This will make best use of affordable housing in the district while supporting safe and sustainable communities.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to provide their views by completing the consultation survey.”

The public consultation on the proposed policy will begin on Tuesday 17 March 2020 and close at midnight on Sunday 3 May 2020.

To read the policy and have your say on the consultation survey, please visit our website: www.westberks.gov.uk/drafthap2020.