Allocation Policy Changes 2022
From Tuesday 3 May 2022 we are making some changes to the allocation policy for Amber Valley, Derbyshire Dales, Erewash, High Peak and Staffordshire Moorlands.
Summary of changes
Who can join Home-Options:
- rules have been changed to allow some armed forces applicants, care leavers and people threatened with homelessness to register
- if you are moving to the Home-Options area to giver or receive support, the person you are moving closer to only needs to have lived here for six months (previously five years)
Who is awarded a local connection:
- care leavers owed a leaving care duty by Derbyshire County Council (Amber Valley, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales, Erewash and High Peak) or Staffordshire County Council (Staffordshire Moorlands)
- armed forces applicants
- applicants who have been placed in refuge accommodation in the Home-Options area
Who has priority for housing:
- a new band B+ is being introduced to address the needs of some homeless applicants
- band B multiple needs will be discontinued (applicants affected will be notified directly about how the changes will affect them)
- a new higher medical priority in band B will bridge the gap between band A urgent medical priority and band C medium medical needs
What applicants can bid for:
- households with a woman who is more than 24 weeks pregnant can bid for family houses
- properties which have an additional downstairs room that may be used as an extra bedroom will be advertised separately
Household composition:
- households with children/dependents up to the age of 21 may bid on family homes
- applicants who require an extra room for a carer will need to demonstrate that their carer(s) needs to stay for four or more nights per week
Multiple refusals
We have a small number of applicants who repeatedly turn down offers of suitable accommodation. This causes additional work for staff, delays in letting homes and means those genuinely interested in moving can have their moves delayed.
Because of this, we are introducing a new policy where applicants who refuse five reasonable offers in any 12 month period will have their application reviewed. If we are satisfied that the refusals were unreasonable, then the application may be removed for a period of 12 months.
This is just a summary of the changes. Please see the Home-Options Policy for details or contact your local Home-Options team for further assistance.
Link: Contact details for the local Home-Options teams.