Consultation begins on housing allocations
16 October 2012
Local people are being asked for their views on proposed changes to the London Borough of Bexley's housing allocations policy. The existing allocations policy has been in operation since 2005.
Under the current arrangements anyone can register for social housing, including those who live outside the borough. Bexley currently has more than 10,000 households on the waiting list, but on average only 650 homes become available per year. This means the vast majority of people on the list have little or no chance of ever being offered a property.
The Council is proposing to only register those households in priority groups, who have lived in the borough for at least two years, to benefit existing tenants and these with a local connection. It also looking to reward those who have served in the armed forces and those who are working, rather than claiming benefit.
Cllr Chris Taylor, Cabinet Member for Adult Services said: "The current housing list is long and unwieldy and the vast majority of people on it stand no prospect of ever being offered a property by us.
"We need to come up with a solution that makes it cost effective and manageable. So we can focus our efforts on the people who really need us to help them.
"We want to hear the views of people right across the borough - not just those on the housing list or in social housing. This is an important consultation for everyone living in Bexley.
The approach of having a priority register will mean that more than 5,000 applications will not need assessing or registering. It also ensures that the register only includes those who have a realistic chance of being offered accommodation. It is anticipated that this will reduce the cost of the service by £25,000 per year.
To see the proposals and take part in the consultation please use the 'Consultation Finder' link on the right hand side and select Housing Allocation Policy. The consultation will remain open until 31 December.
