Councils given greater freedom over social housing allocation

Councils are to be given more flexibility over their public housing allocation policies the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has announced.

Housing Minister John Healey released new statutory guidance on 4th December giving councils more freedom to allocate their homes according to the specific needs of their local area.

According to the DCLG, councils will be able to use this extra flexibility to prioritise families with local connections, those seeking local employment and to tackle overcrowding and under-occupation in their communities.

Councils will be expected to work closely with their local communities to reform allocation policies and inform local people about who is getting housing. There will be a greater expectation on councils to ensure allocation policies are better understood by local communities and have greater local legitimacy.

"While priority will still be given to those in greatest housing need, they will now also be able to allocate according to needs specific to their local area,” Mr Healey said. “I expect councils to take greater responsibility in consulting with their communities, and explaining their allocation policies, to combat the myths and misunderstandings that often develop around council housing."

A copy of the new guidance - Fair and flexible: Statutory guidance on social housing allocations for local authorities in England – is available at http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingmanagementcare/housingallocation/