A PROPOSAL to update the social housing common allocation policy in the Tees Valley, which aims to improve access to housing for the local community including those from the Armed Forces, is being considered by cabinet.
The Tees Valley Lettings Partnership, which is made up of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Middlesbrough Council, Beyond Housing, and North Star Housing, has developed the policy.
It operates via a Choice Based Lettings (CBL) scheme, where applicants can bid on available properties based on where they wish to live. Properties are advertised daily on the Tees Valley Homefinder website and applicants can place bids directly for advertised properties.
The policy places eligible applicants, such as those from HM Armed Forces, as well as care leavers, those at risk of homelessness and children at risk, into a relevant band according to their level of housing need.
The changes to the policy include:
- Local Connection Requirement
In response to increased housing demand and a rise in applications from outside the area, a local connection will now be required for applicants to register and apply for housing through Tees Valley Homefinder. - Anti-Social Behaviour
To address anti-social behaviour, households with individuals who have committed anti-social behaviour will now face a 36-month exclusion from the housing register, an increase from the current 12-month exclusion. - Priority Bidding
A new approach to priority bidding will be introduced for applicants in Band 1, 2, and 3. Those who do not actively use their priority band to bid for suitable properties within a six-month period may be moved to automated bidding to ensure available properties are allocated efficiently. - Support for HM Armed Forces Community
Those leaving the Armed Forces currently benefit from a priority under the existing policy. A proposed change under the revised policy is an increase in the priority banding of former Armed Forces personnel. Those leaving the forces with an urgent housing need will now be awarded Band 1+ priority, while those who have left within the past 5 years but do not have an urgent housing need will be placed in Band 3 for their first tenancy. - Homelessness
Applicants who are homeless or facing homelessness will be categorised into three bands based on the level of need. Those in temporary accommodation and in priority need or owed a main homelessness duty will be awarded Band 1 priority. Band 2 will be for those who are owed a prevention/relief duty but have no priority need, and Band 3 for those where relief duty ended after 56 days and are found to be intentionally homeless. - Care Leavers
- Medical and Child Protection Needs
Band 1 priority will be awarded for applicants with emergency medical needs, where their current property is making the medical issue worse and for those who cannot be discharged from hospital due to unsuitable accommodation. A new category for Child Protection will be included in Band 1 priority, recognising situations where a child’s wellbeing is at significant risk and their accommodation contributes to the risk.
Young people leaving the care of the local authority, at the age of 18 and ready for independent living will receive Band 1 priority.
Cllr Ursula Earl, Cabinet Member for Health and Welfare at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said: “This is an important step in making sure some of the most vulnerable members of our community, including children, care leavers, those who are homeless, and the Armed Forces community, are prioritised so they can access housing.
“It also seeks to strengthen our response to anti-social behaviour, and by prioritising local connection, we will be keeping communities together bringing more stability to people’s lives.”
For further details on the Tees Valley Common Allocation Policy, please visit https://teesvalleyhomefinder.housingjigsaw.co.uk/
Cabinet will consider these changes on 29 April 2025.