Fairer access to social housing: a consultation proposal

The National Housing Federation (NHF) has set out how it believes the system for allocating social homes could be reformed – in a consultation paper being launched today.

It wants to ensure that “housing is available to people in different circumstances in a way that supports individuals to realise their potential and at the same time delivers communities that are socially and economically viable.”

The NHF believes that the current allocation system for social housing was “designed with noble intentions, but is judged to be unfair by many people looking for social housing.

“It prioritises households defined as being in the greatest need, but effectively excludes those whose needs may be equally high, but are simply not recognised.”

The Federation says the system also fails to support mobility for existing social housing tenants and creates concentrations of people who are very vulnerable when they move into social housing.

It said that the underlying problem is the shortage of affordable housing as building has failed to keep pace with demand and waiting lists have soared in the past decade from 1.04 million households in 1999 to 1.75 million households in 2009.

The consultation paper – ‘Fairer access to social housing’ – looks at opening up opportunities for access to other tenures, such as low cost home ownership and intermediate renting. At the same time it sets out the case for a fairer system for those ‘queuing’ for social rented housing,” a system that does not see people having to paint themselves into the worst possible position in order to move up the queue and get a chance of social housing.”

The Federation proposes reforms that recognise that local authorities and housing associations need greater flexibility to respond to the housing markets they operate in, their strategic priorities and the needs of their existing tenants who want to move, as well as those of new applicants.

Its vision is one where social landlords can take a view of what needs to happen in each local place, built on a dialogue and understanding of the needs of their local communities.

The NHF wants to open up discussion around how social housing should be allocated. The paper sets out some consultation questions, but the Federation would welcome comment on any aspect of its analysis, the issues it has identified and the solutions it is proposing.

Responses must be sent to jonl@housing.org.uk or by post to: Jon Longden, National Housing Federation, Lion Court, 25 Procter St, London WC1V 6NY by 30 September.