Rutland County Council wants to know what you think about how people on the housing list should be prioritised.
The
council is responsible for managing the housing list which is used to
decide who gets priority when a housing association property (such as
the former council homes now owned and managed by Spire) becomes
available.
Consultation runs until 22 October
and includes public information sessions at Ryhall Library (Thursday 11
October 3.30pm – 6.30pm), Uppingham Library (Friday 12 October 3.00pm –
6.00pm), Greetham Community Centre (Wednesday 17 October 3pm - 6pm) and
Victoria Hall, Oakham (Saturday 20 October
10am – 1pm).
Councillor Roger Begy, Leader of Rutland County Council
commented: “The Housing Allocations Policy is not about where homes
will be built, but rather how the council prioritises who has the
greater need for housing association properties that become available.
Managing the housing waiting list is a challenge as you need to have a
fair system in place that is able to take into account a wide range of
individual circumstances.”
Councillor Begy
added: “I would urge all local residents and community groups to visit
the council website, read the draft policy, and then submit their views
and opinions.”
Consultation
is taking place because the council is updating the Housing Allocations
Policy which sets out the approach the council will take when managing
the housing list.
The new policy includes a number of proposed key changes including:
- The council is proposing to only normally let people join the housing list if they have lived in Rutland for at least six months (or for one year out of the last two years) or have worked in Rutland for a year.
- The Council is proposing that people already in rented affordable housing and who have low needs cannot join the council’s list, but should instead see if they can swap with another tenant or arrange a move through their housing association.
In
addition to asking for views about the housing list, the council is also
consulting on how some of the affordable homes on the former Vale of
Catmose College site will be allocated.
The
current proposal is that priority will be given to those who for at
least 9 of the previous 12 months has lived in the parishes of Oakham,
Barleythorpe, Burley or Langham AND worked in Rutland.
You can view and comment online on any aspect of the Housing Allocations Policy or the Tenancy Strategy by visiting www.rutland.gov.uk/lettings
You
can also view the documents at Customer Services during normal council
opening hours, or in libraries. For more information please email planningpolicy@rutland.gov.uk or call Rutland County Council on 01572 722 577.
