Northumberland County Council plans to revamp its housing waiting list, potentially removing 60% of applicants deemed not in need of housing assistance.
Northumberland: The County Council is planning a big change to its housing waiting list. They aim to cut the number of people on the list by up to 60%.
Right now, over 14,000 people are on the housing register. But about 8,461 of them don’t actually need housing. They are already adequately housed.
The council wants to remove these individuals from the list. This would help staff focus on those who really need assistance.
Another idea is to directly offer homes to homeless residents instead of letting them choose. This could help reduce the time people spend in temporary housing.
During a recent meeting, Coun Colin Horncastle said the current system is outdated. It hasn’t been reviewed in over 20 years and needs to reflect today’s needs.
He pointed out that many people on the list are there for reasons like “just in case” or wanting to move. These reasons don’t justify being on the housing register.
Having 14,000 people on the list creates confusion about homelessness in the county. The council wants to make the numbers more accurate.
Before any changes happen, the council will consult with stakeholders. They plan to review four main areas: assessment and banding, homeless applicants, local connection, and financial eligibility.
Currently, applications are sorted into bands based on need. The council wants to remove Band 3, which has 8,461 people. This would leave about 5,786 genuine applicants.
Susan Ogle, head of housing, explained that removing Band 3 would allow staff to focus on more complex cases. They will still consider financial situations for some applicants.
For homeless applicants, the council is concerned that allowing them to choose properties leads to longer stays in temporary housing. They spent £255,000 on temporary accommodation last year.
The new plan would let the council directly offer homes to homeless applicants. This could speed up the process and reduce costs.
Currently, applicants without a local connection to Northumberland are placed in lower bands. The new rules would require applicants to have lived in the area for a certain time to qualify.
There are 1,178 applicants without a local connection. The new criteria could further reduce the housing register to 5,526.
The council also wants to prioritize those with strong local connections in rural areas. This change aims to address the lack of affordable homes in these regions.
Lastly, the council plans to assess financial eligibility more closely. If a household can resolve their own housing needs, they won’t be eligible for the register.
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