Agenda item

Cabinet RESOLVED to;

 2.1 Approve the proposed changes to the Housing Allocation Scheme 2025 set out in Section 5 and attached in Appendix 1 and authorise Officers to carry out a formal consultation with residents and key partners on the proposed changes.

2.2 Authorise the Corporate Director of Housing to consider the responses and outcome of the consultation on the proposed changes.

2.3 Agree that if there are no significant objections to the proposals following the consultation, authorise the Corporate Director of Housing to make a final decision on the proposals, make any minor amendments, and publish the revised Housing Allocation Scheme 2025.

2.4 Agree that if there are significant objections to the proposals following the consultation, a report on the responses and outcome of the consultation will be brought back to Cabinet for decision.

2.5 Note that feedback has been received from the Resident Scrutiny Panel on the proposed Housing Allocations Scheme which will be considered as part of the consultation process.

The Executive Mayor introduced the report advising the revised scheme proposed several changes to the 2019 version to ensure that Council housing was fairly allocated to those in greatest need. The revised version included significant updates such as extending the residency criteria and offering high priority for care experienced young adults. It also proposed the introduction of annual lettings plan to better respond to local housing pressures. It was advised that the scheme would now be reviewed annually to ensure it aligned with developing trends and more effectively addressed housing needs.

Deputy Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member for Homes Councillor Lynne Hale advised of the council's requirement under the Housing Act 1996 to have a housing allocation scheme or policy which set out how relative priority would be determined between applicants and the process to be followed in the allocation of social housing.

The purpose of the allocation scheme policy was to ensure that those who were both applying and qualified for rehousing were treated fairly and equitably when decisions were made. It also set out how a priority was awarded for different types of housing need.

Croydon's council housing register currently had over 8000 applicants with an average of 800 council and housing association properties becoming available each year.

The recommendations in the report aimed to make the Council's housing register more accurately reflective the level of housing need in the borough, ensuring that those with the greatest need continue to be prioritised.

The amended version of the allocation scheme was also shorter and aimed to be more accessible for residents.

Key changes were set out in full in Section 5. of the report and the draft scheme was available in the appendices. The key changes set out included:

• Six years residency requirements, with those in reasonable preference groups excluded to ensure that those in severe need were not negatively impacted
• Young adults supported by children's services to be awarded Priority Band 2 as a minimum.
• Those in employment or training, or where the joint Housing and Children's Services panel considered the application should be prioritised to be awarded Priority Band 1.
• Higher rehousing priority for care experienced young adults.
• Change in age criteria for sheltered housing.

• Changes to reciprocal arrangements.
• Inclusion of a statement to make clear that those who are guilty of domestic abuse or coercive control would be treated as not meeting the qualifying criteria.

• Introduction of an annual lettings plan.
• Clarity around changes in applicant circumstances.
• A change to a more realistic application response time.
• The reinstatement of the annual review of the Housing Register.

It was advised that a 12-week consultation would be undertaken on the amended scheme and the scope of the consultation was set out in Section 7. of the report.

Corporate Director of Housing, Susmita Sen advised the consultation would be full and thorough including Croydon's communities, voluntary sector, private sector landlords, housing associations, public health and client group.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Maria Gatland welcomed the review noting the commitment it showed to Croydon care leavers and the council's responsibility as a corporate parent.

Shadow Cabinet Member for Homes, Councillor Chrishni Reshekaron supported the update of the housing allocation scheme to ensure that all council housing was prioritised fairly and on the basis of greatest need. They raised concerns regarding the change in residency requirement from three years to six years and asked what proportion of new entrants to the housing register currently met the six year residency requirement.

Shadow Cabinet Member for Homes, Councillor Chrishni Reshekaron also queried the impact of the band change for care experience young adults on waiting times, noting this would provide for a yearly increase of approximately 454 care experienced young adults moving from band 3 to band 2. 

Regarding the change to a six year residency requirement the Executive Mayor explained a key issue was other boroughs placing their residents into temporary accommodation in Croydon as set out in Table 5 within the report. Lambeth and Lewisham were the largest placers into Croydon and currently after 3 years these residents became responsibility of Croydon as the host borough. The change was expected to have a dramatic impact on the availability of housing for Croydon residents.

Regarding the band change for care experienced young people, the council recognised its responsibility as corporate parents and whilst there would be a knock on effect, this change showed appropriate care and respect for care leavers.

Deputy Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member for Homes Councillor Lynne Hale advised the change to a six year residency requirement was a significant change for Croydon and a review was planned after two years.

Director of Housing, Homelessness Prevention & Accommodation, Beatrice Cingtho-Taylor advised one of the mitigations within the proposal was that the six year requirement would not be implemented retrospectively. Regarding care experienced young people, there were joint Housing and Children's Social care panels which reviewed care leavers housing needs and there were other options such as supported housing available.

In response to questions the Executive Mayor advised Croydon had challenged the placement of families into Croydon from other boroughs through London Councils. Croydon was a net receiver of placements and there was an ongoing conversation around the agreements which were meant to be in place across London.

Cabinet RESOLVED to;

 2.1 Approve the proposed changes to the Housing Allocation Scheme 2025 set out in Section 5 and attached in Appendix 1 and authorise Officers to carry out a formal consultation with residents and key partners on the proposed changes.

2.2 Authorise the Corporate Director of Housing to consider the responses and outcome of the consultation on the proposed changes.

2.3 Agree that if there are no significant objections to the proposals following the consultation, authorise the Corporate Director of Housing to make a final decision on the proposals, make any minor amendments, and publish the revised Housing Allocation Scheme 2025.

2.4 Agree that if there are significant objections to the proposals following the consultation, a report on the responses and outcome of the consultation will be brought back to Cabinet for decision.

2.5 Note that feedback has been received from the Resident Scrutiny Panel on the proposed Housing Allocations Scheme which will be considered as part of the consultation process.