How Should We Allocate Council Housing?

March 8, 2016 by Southend Borough Council

How should we allocate Council housing?

Tuesday 8th March 2016

Residents may soon be asked how they think Southend-on-Sea Borough Council should decide who is eligible for a council house.

At its next meeting on Tuesday 15th March, the Council’s Cabinet will consider plans to launch a consultation on its current housing allocation policy.

This proposal emerged from earlier discussions about one of the major criteria - the length of time applicants should have lived in Southend before being eligible to join Council housing register.

At the moment applicants must prove they have lived in the borough for three of the previous five years.

It was suggested in a motion to the full Council meeting, that this should be extended to seven years, in line with Basildon District Council’s policy.

However, Councillors are now proposing reviewing the entire Southend housing allocations policy – not just the rules about residency.

Executive Councillor for Housing Planning and Regulatory Services, Councillor David Norman said: “Before we make any changes to this policy, we must by law consult residents, applicants, tenants and partner agencies.

“With the demand for Council housing far outstripping the number of available properties, we feel it is very important to look at all aspects of how we allocate housing to do our best to make it as far as possible.”

The Cabinet meeting discussing this issue will take place from 2pm in the Jubilee Room at Southend Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend, on Tuesday 15th March.