Consultation 

Halton Borough Council is currently consulting on a new Housing Allocations Policy in relation to the development of Sub Regional Choice Based Lettings. 
Introduction

The Government has asked all Councils to introduce Choice Based Lettings schemes as the preferred way of allocating social rented housing, with a preference for partnership arrangements to be developed between a number of Council areas where this is practical.

The Councils of Halton, Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton and Wirral have been working for the last year with more than 20 Housing Associations to develop such a scheme – to be called PROPERTY POOL PLUS - and we now wish to consult those who may be affected by the proposed changes.

Varying forms of Choice Based Lettings schemes have been operating in Liverpool, Wirral and Sefton for a number of years, but it will be totally new for Halton and Knowsley residents.

Essentially Choice Based Lettings is a way of allocating housing that allows the customer to exercise more choice. Instead of applying on a housing register, waiting your turn, and then being offered something which the Landlord thinks is suitable, available properties are advertised weekly and customers ‘bid’ for the ones which interest them. For clarity bidding is simply a way of expressing your interest, and there is no money involved in placing a bid.

There is still a means of prioritising customers to ensure those in greatest need are helped first, but the whole process is simpler, more transparent, and provides the customer with a lot more information on which to assess their re-housing prospects.

The Council and Housing Association partners intend to adopt a common application form, a common housing register, a common allocations policy and a shared computer system. It is envisaged that this approach will offer a simplified, more accessible service for customers as well as creating efficiencies for partner organisations.

The Consultation Process

Consultation with all the people who might be affected by, or who have an interest in, these proposals will be taking place over a twelve week period in Halton this will be from the 23rd August until the 12th November 2010.  

Please click into the link below to Halton Borough Council’s website:
www.halton.gov.uk/myhousingchoices

 
If you would like more information or help Halton Housing Trust staff and their partners will be available to talk to you on the Halton Advice Bus which will be available on the following days:

23rd August 2010 at Morrison’s Car Park, Widnes
13th September 2010 Grange Estate, Runcorn
15th September 2010Trident Car Park, Halton Lee, Runcorn
11th October 2010 - Morrisons Car Park, Widnes
18th October 2010 - Montgomery Road, Widnes

Between 10am and 4pm

Alternatively you can call Halton Housing Trust’s Lettings Team on the free phone action line on 0800 3423028.

After the consultation all feedback will be collated and analysed, and the results used to influence how the scheme and lettings policy finally look. The findings will be reported to Local Authority and partners’ Boards when they are asked to adopt the new scheme and lettings policy.