Last night (21 January 2025), Cabinet agreed to launch a consultation on a new Housing Allocations Policy which includes changes called for by residents.
Under the proposals, higher priority would be given to young families over those with adult non-dependent children, reflecting the outcome of workshops with applicants to help shape the revised scheme.
Band B would be renamed ‘High Priority’ and split into two with a higher priority for those with dependent children and young people aged 22 and below, as well as those who receive or give significant care.
The council also wants to support residents to move into new, suitable council homes as quickly as possible by introducing auto-bidding for those who are near the top of the housing register but have not bid for a new home directly themselves.
Other recommendations include releasing more family homes by boosting the priority of under-occupiers who decide to move to a smaller property.
Cllr Sarah Williams, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, said:
We are responding to a worsening housing crisis which has led to record homelessness applications and a waiting list for a council home reaching more than 13,000.
While we have one of the biggest housebuilding efforts in London, delivering hundreds of new social homes each year, we must ensure these as well as our existing stock are allocated fairly and to those who need them most.
That’s why we have been engaging with residents over the past year on a number of changes to the allocation rules and are now going to formal consultation.
We believe the recommendations in this report such as giving a high priority to young families is a major step towards a fairer future for housing in Haringey and I would encourage as many people as possible to have their say.
The Cabinet report states there are more than 13,000 households on Haringey’s housing register, but only 300 general needs re-lets available each year.
As part of the consultation, the council is seeking views on several key issues including:
• Maximum income and savings limits for applicants
• The Neighbourhood Moves Scheme
• Reserving a proportion of lets for those in High Priority and/or temporary accommodation
The full list of changes and recommendations can be found in the Cabinet report. Consultation is expected to launch in the Spring and last for six weeks.
