Housing allocations policy is changing

I have an adult household member over 21 years old. Can they be included in application?

Dependent children under 18 years old can be included as a household member, however, anyone over the age of 18 should make their own application. If an applicant has been accepted as statutory homeless by Ealing Council, then the household will include all members who genuinely live with the applicant, including adult children.

For other exceptions, please see our policy.

I am currently in band D priority, what will happen to my application?

Under the new policy, there will only be three priority bands; A, B and C. Any applicants who have been assessed to be placed on Band D will no longer meet criteria and will be removed once the new policy is implemented. If band D applicants believe that they may have priority under the new policy, we advise that they make a new application once the new policy is implemented.

I am currently in band A, B or C. What will happen once the new policy is implemented?

The re-registration process will be initiated once the policy becomes live. Applicants will be required to complete an online change in circumstances form for reassessment where the same priority will apply under the new policy.

I am an existing council tenant registered for a transfer; how will the new changes affect me?

All existing applicants in Band A, B and C will need to complete an online change in circumstances form for their application to be re-assessed. If following re- assessment, they meet the priority criteria under the new policy, the application will remain on the housing register.

I am a fosterer in an over-crowded household. How will the new changes affect my application?

Under the new policy there will be a fostering and adoption priority band. Please see the new policy for further information.

I am an approved homeless applicant, what will happen to my application?

An approved homeless applicant (where homeless duty has been accepted by Ealing Council) is awarded Band C homeless priority once they have applied to be on the Housing Register. Under the new policy, homeless applicants will be moved to Band B homeless if they have been approved homeless continuously for at least the last 5 years.

If an applicant already currently has Band B homeless priority, the council will look at the accepted homeless date, which may result in a downgrade in banding if the applicant does not meet the new criteria.

Are there going to be any changes to the allocation of social housing?

It will remain the same as in the current policy whereby applicants are given choice of the properties that they wish to live in. To facilitate this, the council will continue to, in the main, allocate property using advertised choice- based lettings approach through the bidding system (Locata).

How many bidding refusals am I allowed?

Under the new policy, transfer applicants and homeseekers can refuse up to three properties offered to them before their application is suspended for a six- month period. A refusal can include non-attendance to a viewing appointment. This also includes any other unreasonable refusals. Homeless applicants cannot make any refusals of suitable offers.

What happens if I refuse a direct offer?

Under the new policy, refusals of a direct offer are actioned in the following ways:

• if the offer is to an applicant who is prioritised in the move on category, the applicant will be advised that their quota status has been removed and they will be placed in the appropriate band or removed from the Housing Register
• if the offer is to a temporary/permanent decant, landlord services will be advised, and possession proceedings will commence
• if the offer is to an under-occupier who has succeeded to the tenancy and where the council can obtain possession by offering alternative accommodation, landlord services will be advised in order for possession proceedings to commence
• if the offer is to a management priority transfer, the applicant will be advised that their priority has been removed and they will be placed in the appropriate band or removed from the Housing Register.
• if an offer is to an applicant to whom a homeless duty has been accepted, the reasons for the refusal will be considered in conjunction with the homeless duty owed, which if the offer of accommodation is deemed suitable, may subsequently lead to a discharge of a homeless duty.

What happens if I am an accepted homeless applicant and currently in rent arrears?

Homeless applicants living in council temporary accommodation will not be verified for any offers if they have more than 6 weeks rent arrears.

Who is my housing officer?

Homeless applicants and Homeseekers do not have an assigned officer to deal with their application once it is accepted. Locata is a self-service database, applicants should manage their own application by logging into their account and updating details when necessary. Transfer applicants have housing officers assigned by their local housing hub.

What do I do if my own or someone in my household's circumstances or medical condition has changed?

Applicants must log into their Locata account to complete the relevant form; either a change of circumstances form or medical form.

What are the changes to bedroom entitlement?

Under the new policy, childless couples can now be suitably housed in a studio/bedsit. Parents with a child under the age of 18 are entitled to 2 bedrooms. For parents with two children of the same sex, there is now no age cap for bedroom sharing.