Agenda item

(Director of Communities) to consider the attached report.

The Assistant Director Housing Operations, Mr Wilson introduced the annual report on the “HomeOption” Choice Based Letting Scheme.

The Committee noted that the scheme was administered by the external Choice Based Lettings Agency Locata Housing Services (LHS). Under the scheme, all vacant social rented properties were advertised to applicants on the website and weekly ‘Property List’ giving details of location, type, rent, service charge, council tax band and landlord of the available accommodation. Applicants applied for a property by “expressing an interest” in up to a maximum of three properties for which they had an assessed need, either in person, by Internet, telephone, text, or email.  

At the end of the weekly cycle, the Council analysed the “expressions of interests” received and allocates each property following a prioritisation and selection process in accordance with its own Housing Allocations Scheme.

The Council is a member of the Herts and Essex Housing Options Consortium (HEHOC) which jointly operated the Choice Based Lettings Scheme and consisted of the following six authorities:

·    Brentwood Borough Council

·    Chelmsford City Council

·    Broxbourne District Council

·    Epping Forest District Council

·    Uttlesford District Council

·    East Herts District Council

The Committee noted the ‘HomeOption’ Choice Based Lettings Information Bulletin for the period 27 July 2016 to 27 July 2017 that was attached as an appendix to the report.      

Around 88% of all applicants registered on the Housing Register had participated in the scheme during the last year. LHS confirm that, nationally, this was a high participation rate.  Some applicants may not participate for a variety of reasons including:

• Joining the Register to accumulate time on the Register, should they want Council accommodation in the future.     

• Applicants who wish to move to smaller accommodation and may be biding their time until a property becomes available that met all of their aspirations.

As at 27 July 2017 there were 1,377 Home seekers on the Housing Register.  Under the  Scheme, there was a Supplementary Waiting List which enabled applicants over 60 years of age who do not meet with the Residency Criteria, or have a housing need, to bid on properties in sheltered accommodation and to receive an offer (if no home seekers on the Register are interested) as such properties are often difficult-to-let.  As at 27 July 2017, there were 123 applicants on the Supplementary Waiting List.   

The Committee noted that as this was an annual report just for information, it would be a good idea to put it in the Council Bulletin from now on and not have it come to a Committee meeting. Also if this was the case, it should also be circulated separately to the Tenants and Leaseholders Federation for their information.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the Communities Select Committee reviewed and noted the Information Bulletin setting out progress made on Housing Allocations and the 'HomeOption' Choice Based Lettings Scheme for the period 27 July 2016 to 27 July 2017; and

(2)  That from next year this informative annual report be put in the Council Bulletin for members information and not brought to a Select Committee meeting and also be circulated to the Tenants and Leaseholders Panel for their information.