My local authority operate using a banding system of 1-6, with 1 being homeless and direct match, 2 being under-occupying, needing two or more bedrooms or an environmental hazard issued. 3 is in need of one or more bedrooms, and 4 is reduced banding if you reject a property, and lower means lack of duty. It can take 10m + to even be accessed, and they count from the effective date and not when you registered!!! Meaning you are waiting much longer than they count.
I’m aware other councils allocate based on a points based system, taking into account different factors and list priority by coloured banding. This means band alone, doesn’t make the final decision. Health, bedroom need, location bias etc are considered.
Annoyingly, my town is contained and the surrounding areas - all other cities, towns etc within several districts across 2/3 counties, can bid between each others housing stock. It means VERY limited supply. With this different system.
I posted a bit ago about being nominated for a 2 bedroom property through housing association, and my MX placed on hold due to the HA’s workload. The MX has now fell through as the HA offered them an internal exchange instead, and they got sick of waiting for them to process it so agreed.
3w ago, the HA advised me that they are rejecting my nomination for the property, because I own a cat. They will not offer it on the condition of re homing, as they say I should not have been nominated with a pet. Full stop. They also said they do not want young children in their apartments as a preference. Apparently they can decide that as a justification. So they’ve essentially taken two potential homes away from me.
In the past 3w, they haven’t notified the council of the rejection so I cannot bid. I’ve therefore, missed out on bidding for suitable properties. I got hold of allocations and asked them to give me a moment to hear me out as I’m now becoming quite frustrated with the lack of action.
The allocations team advised, that there are 8 people in Band 2 (I am band 3) who will take priority over me. They said, I basically will never get offered a single house that comes up because Band 2 will always be ahead of me… so not to worry about being unable to bid as I’d not be considered….. Never did I suggest, and I do not care, if I am offered a house or a flat, I just want somewhere suitable to live as my current home is also in a state of disrepair and they’re dragging their feet on fixing it (pending new kitchen with doors missing due to leaks causing rot/rusting and tiles fallen off wall but won’t provide a date with plans signed off, after 10y they finally replaced pipes that damaged my flooring repeatedly, there is untreated mould and pending asbestos checks). Surprised the MX wanted to even go ahead! But I have managed to push through tons of repairs after years of waiting in the past couple of months and the cheaper rent appealed. All caused by the dodgy pipework!
I was nominated due to there being 25 properties (apartments) released at once, meaning all of band 2 and some of band 3 who met criteria, had been put forward for rehousing. Once rejected, I will be the top of my banding. Confirmed.
The people in the Band 2, applicable for two bedrooms, will most likely be due to people under occupying properties - and it shows as a lot more 3 bed properties have become available since the new 2 beds were completed this year. I understand this frees up housing stock, but they have high demand and low supply of two bedrooms in the area.
It just feels ridiculous to me that I will potentially have to wait YEARS on top of the two I already have, for someone with too many bedrooms to be housed first? Even if I have waited 5 x as long as them or more.
To put this into perspective, with the recent 2 bed houses allocated, some Band 2s had waited under a month. Whereas, the Band 3s had waited over 5y. How does this possibly make any sense at all? Absolute priority, rather than some, feels ridiculous. Band 1s can wait as little as 1 day, and adverts to bid on are usually rare due to stock being direct matched.
All of the above banding must be rehoused first, before anyone below can be considered. Not at all impacted by duration of wait. This means that the only way those deemed ‘non urgent’ priority can be rehomed, is through the release of large development sites of 10+ properties being available at once.
The new sites have weird criteria that restricts young families. ‘One child only’ being a restriction, and ‘preference of children aged 15y +’ - NO PETS.
I do work, I am self employed and work 7 days a week I.e. I am working 9:30-19:30 tomorrow! I am also classed as a key worker due to my education and placements. But my high overheads make me low income.
I get that beggars can’t be choosers. This is a situation I’ve put myself in. Even with me trying to better my position. If my current property wasn’t in such a state, I’d probably feel less frustrated. But am I really just bias in thinking this way of managing housing stock is ‘strange’ and not fit for purpose?