Housing Allocation Policy

Local Connection

• Under the new policy, applicants will need to meet local connection criteria to qualify to join the B-with-us Housing Register. Local Connection criteria includes things like living in the area for a specified amount of time, have relatives in the area and employment in the area.
• Customers with a local to connection to Calderdale will only be able to apply for Calderdale properties, likewise for Pennine Lancashire customers will only be able to apply for properties in Pennine Lancashire.
• There are also several reasons why applicants may be exempt from requiring a local connection, such as being statutorily homeless, escaping domestic abuse or leaving the armed forces.

Homeowners

• New qualification criteria means applicants who are homeowners will not qualify to join the BWU Housing Register unless they also have a housing need (Band Three or above).

Under-occupation

• Currently applicants who are under-occupying in a private rented property are awarded a priority to move.
• Under the new policy, only those in social housing will qualify for priority to move. Under occupation in a private rented tenancy will not be classed as a need to move.

Five Bands

• In line with B-with-us policy and to help those most in need get rehoused faster it is necessary to include a new banding structure – Band 1 (highest priority) to Band Five (no need) - which becomes the equivalent of the current bronze band. At the time you register on the new system, you will be given a new priority but the date you originally applied to the current Keychoice system will be applied to your new application.

Rent Arrears

• We currently reject applicants with current or former rent arrears that have not been significantly reduced.
• Under the new policy, applicants with housing related debt of below £500 will have their application activated but will need to clear the arrears before they can be offered a property. Anyone applying with housing related debt of £500 or more will have their application closed.

Current tenants

• Keychoice allowed Together Housing tenants to join the Keychoice housing register even though they had no housing need to move. This allowed current tenants to join the register on bronze banding and be able to bid on other social landlord properties, even though the likelihood of success was very low. As demand has increased and to ensure those joining the housing register are in a need to move, current tenants must have a housing need to apply and join the housing register. This is in line with our transferring principles and will apply to all partner organisation tenants

Anyone over the age of 16, unless:

• they are not eligible to join;
• or do not qualify for an allocation of social housing

Certain people from abroad will not be eligible, regardless of their circumstances. This includes some British Citizens who have lived abroad and have recently returned to the UK.

Some applicants will not qualify for an allocation of social housing because of their behaviour. Examples of behaviour that may result in disqualification are:

• Rent arrears in current home (social landlord tenancy only)
• Accommodation charge debts in CMBC temporary accommodation
• Former tenant arrears where no satisfactory repayment arrangement has been made or maintained (social landlord tenancy only)
• Anti-social behaviour by the applicant
• Convictions for using or supplying drugs and other illegal substances
• Convictions for using a home for illegal or immoral purposes
• Allowing the condition of a rented property to deteriorate
• Theft or damage to any property currently or previously owned by a social landlord ( including Calderdale Council temporary accommodation)
• Burglary or theft from dwellings, motor vehicles etc
• Assault
• Intimidation and or harassment to members of the public and or staff of any housing association operating in Calderdale
• Obtaining a tenancy by deception; for example giving false information or failing to notify of a material change in circumstances
• Behaviour that continues to pose a risk to the community

Each application for membership will be considered individually and a disqualification may be lifted if a satisfactory arrangement or undertaking is made and maintained with the relevant landlord.

Those aged 16 or 17 may apply, but if offered a tenancy this is likely to be an 'Equitable Tenancy'. For this, an appropriate person or organisation must act as a 'Trustee'.

• For details, visit: B-with-us.

There are five priority bands from 1 (highest band) to 5.

The table below shows how band is given:

• After you submit your online application, B-with-us will allocate you a provisional priority band.
• Your circumstances must be verified before an offer is made and you may be required to provide further information.
• All priority categories linked to homelessness and some other factors will require a detailed investigation by Calderdale Council Housing Options Service. This investigation may take several weeks and if you believe that you are homeless or at risk of homelessness you are advised to make contact with Housing Advice as soon as possible.