County Durham residents can now give their views on how social housing is allocated.
Durham County Council have drafted a new policy, following consultation with customers and housing representatives, on the way homes are let as part of a comprehensive review of its housing allocations policy.
A housing allocations scheme is a requirement of all authorities, setting out the council’s eligibility, qualifying and housing need criteria, as well as how the authority assesses applications to join the housing register, to ensure priority is fairly assigned.
In County Durham, a choice-based lettings scheme currently operates to allocate social housing to people on the housing register, as part of the Durham Key Options partnership, which is made up of Durham County Council and four key housing providers including believe housing.
However, the current policy has been in place since 2017 and, with a greater demand for social housing than supply, as well as a nationwide housing crisis, the process is being reviewed to ensure properties are allocated fairly and to those in greatest need.
The council is now seeking views on the drafted policy. You can take now part at Let’s Talk County Durham by Wednesday, 15 April.
After the consultation closes, all feedback will be reviewed and changes made where necessary, before the final policy is agreed.
An implementation plan will then be developed alongside Durham Key Options partners, with the aim of applying the policy by early 2027.
To find out more you can visit Durham County Council’s website.
