The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has announced that it has launched a new consultation to begin overhauling the way that social housing is allocated.
Aiming to make the system fairer, the overhaul will look to ban those that are abusing the social housing system, or repeatedly make their neighbours lives ‘hell’ by implementing a policy of ‘three strikes and you’re out.’ New measures will also be introduced to prioritise those households that have close connections to their local areas.
Through the consultation, the views of the public, social housing tenants, and local councils will be considered to ensure that the changes are introduced sooner rather than later.
Lee Rowley, Housing Minister, commented:
“Today we are proposing further steps to make the allocation of social housing fairer for people. If you abuse the system, making peoples’ lives a misery or actively work against our British values, you are making a choice – such choices will have consequences and our proposals seek to stop such people getting a social home.
“The message is clear: play by the rules, pay in and we will support you. If you choose not to, this country is not going to be a soft touch.
“The public want to know decent and hardworking people that have contributed to this country will be prioritised for new social tenancies. People already living in social homes want to know that anyone moving near them will be respectful of their neighbours with their communities protected from those who persistently break the law.
“That is why it is right that the finite resource of social housing is allocated fairly and local law-abiding citizens in need have more access to a home in their own communities.”
Should the reforms be introduced, people seeking social housing will face tests to establish their eligibility that will require them to prove a ten-year connection to the UK, as well as a connection to their area of at least two years. Those on higher incomes also face the potential of not qualifying for social housing, however those already in the system will not be affected.
The Local Government Association has responded to the announcement of the consultation, with Housing Spokesperson Cllr Darren Rodwell saying:
“The vast majority of social housing lettings go to UK nationals and many councils already have policies relating to anti-social behaviour, criminal behaviour, rent arrears and income thresholds in their allocation policies. The LGA has raised concerns that restricting eligibility criteria for social housing and extending qualification periods could result in a rise in homelessness.
“With almost 1.3 million households on council housing waiting lists and record numbers in temporary accommodation, this is symptomatic of our wider housing shortage. We are calling on the Government to use the Budget to grant councils the flexibilities needed to resume their historic role as a major builder of affordable homes.
“This can be done by implementing our six-point plan for social housing, including further reform of Right to Buy by allowing councils to permanently retain 100 per cent of receipts.”
A six-point plan has been suggested by the Local Government Association, with this supporting councils as they look to resume their ‘historic role’ as affordable home builders. The six measures in this plan are:
- Rolling out five-year local housing deals across all areas of the country that want them by 2025.
- Establishing a new national council housebuilding delivery taskforce with government support.
- Using the Public Works Loans Board that was introduced in the Spring Budget to allow continued access to preferential borrowing rates.
- Continuing to reform Right to Buy, allowing councils to keep all of the receipts of sales alongside giving them the flexibility to combine these with other government grants.
- Reviewing and increasing Affordable Home Programme grants levels where necessary to combat the rising costs of building new homes.
- Committing to a minimum 10-year rent deal for councils to provide certainty for the future.
The consultation that the government has announced is looking to building on work that has already been done to improve the quality and quantity of social housing across the country. This includes the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023, and the £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme.
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