Housing Needs Bands. Example Banding System When an applicants housing need is assessed they will be placed in one of five bands. Applicants in Band A will have the highest priority, with applicants in Band E the lowest priority. The bands are designed to give those households in greatest need reasonable preference for housing, whilst maximising use of the Councils housing stock. Applicants will also be given an applicable date which will identify priority within the bands. Initially, the applicable date will be the date of application. Should an applicants circumstances change, and their band changes so may the applicable date. If an applicant goes down a band following a re-assessment/change of circumstances, their applicable date will remain at their date of registration. If an applicants need increases and they go up a band, their applicable date will be the date they enter the band. Band A: Emergency Need Applicants will be placed in Band A in circumstances where the applicant s current property poses a significant risk to life, or health and immediate rehousing is required. Over-riding Medical Need Applicants with an over-riding medical priority awarded by the Local Authority in consultation with a Medical Advisor. The applicants medical condition will be such that it is being severely adversely affected by their current housing situation as to warrant an emergency move. Over-riding Social/Welfare Need Applicants with an over-riding social/welfare priority awarded by the Local Authority. The applicants social/welfare needs will be such that it is being severely adversely affected by their current housing situation as to warrant an emergency move. Imminent Danger Applicants needing to move urgently where there is a serious imminent personal risk if they remain. Item 11 Appendix 2 Page 1
Necessary Decant Applicants who need to be moved out of their property on a permanent basis where: - their home needs major work which cannot reasonably be done while they are living at the property, or - their home is in a block of flats or a group of properties being considered for a change of use, for example to be used for a specific client group, or - their home is in a block of flats or a group of properties due to be modernised or refurbished, and the work cannot reasonably be done while they are living at the property. This category will only apply to applicants who are a tenant of one of the Local Authority partners. If the applicant is awarded Band A priority due to a necessary decant, the priority will only apply for properties advertised by the Local Authority making the award, or properties advertised in the subregional pool. Where the move will be temporary the applicant may not bid for properties in the sub-regional pool. Band B: Urgent Need Applicants placed in Band B are deemed to need re-housing urgently. Applicants in the following situations and circumstances will be placed in this band. Applicants suffering from harassment All cases of harassment will, in the first instance, be dealt with through the Local Authorities Anti-Social Behaviour Policy. Should the harassment reach a level where there is a recommendation from a senior officer of the police that a move is necessary, the applicant will be awarded Band B priority. Homeless households (Main homelessness duty owed) A full homelessness duty is owed where the authority is satisfied that the applicant is eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless, falls within a specified priority need group and has a local connection with the authority applied to. Priority need groups include households with dependant children, or pregnant women, as well as people who are considered vulnerable. These include but are not exclusive to: - 16 and 17 year olds Item 11 Appendix 2 Page 2
- Those leaving care and considered vulnerable - 18-21 year olds previously assisted under Childrens Act 1989 - Vulnerable as a result of serving in the forces - Vulnerable due to fleeing violence or threats of violence - Vulnerable due to old age, mental illness or physical disability - Vulnerable due to a custodial sentence - Being homeless due to an emergency such as flood, fire or other disaster Urgent Medical Need Applicants with an urgent medical priority awarded by the Local Authority in consultation with a Medical Advisor. The applicants medical condition will be such that should the applicant be moved to a more appropriate property the need would be lessened. Urgent Social/Welfare Need Applicants with an urgent social/welfare priority awarded by the Local Authority. The applicants social/welfare needs will be such that should the applicant be moved to a more appropriate property the need would be lessened. Applicant is under-occupying by two or more bedrooms (LA applicants only) To enable the LAPs to make best use of the housing stock, the Council offers accommodation to applicants who are under-occupying their homes, and the home they are under-occupying is in demand. In turn, family sized accommodation is released and offered to an applicant on the list. To be considered as an applicant under-occupying you must be a current tenant of one of the LAP partners. Statutory overcrowded An applicant will be deemed to be statutory overcrowded where this has been determined by the Environmental Health Department. This will be assessed using the following standards: - The space standards contained within Part 10 of the Housing Act 1985, or - The room standards contained in the Housing Act 1985 Where either of the two standards is contravened, then there is statutory overcrowding. Applicants with composite housing needs from Band C This band also recognises applicants with a composite housing need. To qualify to move to Band B an applicant should be assessed as having either high medical need, or lacking two bedrooms (or more) plus at least one other factor from the list under Band C. Item 11 Appendix 2 Page 3
Band C: High Need High Medical Need Applicants with a high medical priority awarded by the Local Authority in consultation with a Medical Advisor. The applicants current accommodation will be deemed as not appropriate for their medical needs. High Social/Welfare Need Applicants with a high social/welfare priority awarded by the Local Authority. The applicants current accommodation will be deemed as not appropriate for their social/welfare needs. Applicant releasing an adapted property An applicant releasing an adapted property, with no other housing need will only be placed in Band B if the following criteria is met: a) The property has what the LAPs define as a major adaptation, and b) There is a current need for a property with that adaptation. Applicant is assessed as lacking two or more bedrooms Applicants should refer to each Local Authorities policies to see how many bedrooms they are entitled to. Retiring or Redundant Council Staff in Tied Accommodation (Service Occupiers) A service occupier is someone occupying tied accommodation as a condition of their employment with one of the LAPs for the better performance of their duties. Service occupiers with at least xx years of continuous service may be rehoused in suitable alternative accommodation (not like for like) where they: - are made redundant - retire at 65 The service occupier will be eligible for re-housing by the LAPs only if: - they meet the eligibility criteria to appear on the housing list including immigration status and unacceptable behaviour criteria - do not own another property elsewhere - do not have income or assets that would enable them to meet their own housing needs in the private sector. Applicant is under-occupying by one bedroom To enable the LAPs to make best use of the housing stock, the Council offers accommodation to applicants who are under-occupying their homes. Item 11 Appendix 2 Page 4
In turn, family sized accommodation is released and offered to an applicant on the list. To be considered as an applicant under-occupying you must be a current tenant of one of the LAP partners, and the property you are underoccupying is in demand by the LA. Applicants with composite housing needs from Band C This band also recognises applicants with a composite housing need. To qualify to move to Band C an applicant should be assessed as having either medium medical need, or lacking one bedrooms (or more) plus at least one other factor from the list under Band D. Band D: Medium Need Medium Medical Need Applicants with a medium level of medical priority awarded by the Local Authority in consultation with a Medical Advisor. Applicant is assessed as lacking one bedroom Applicants should refer to each Local Authorities policies to see how many bedrooms they are entitled to. Applicant with children in insecure accommodation Applicants with dependent children living in insecure accommodation, e.g. with family or friends and no bedroom, and lacking or sharing other facilities. Other homelessness Other homeless applicants who are not owed a duty under Part VII of The Housing Act 1996, as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002 are still entitled to appropriate assistance. Applicants will be placed in Band D of the Housing Register and will also have access to advice about securing alternative housing. Band E: Low Need/Adequately Housed An applicant assessed as being adequately housed will be placed in Band E. This will include applicants with sufficient funds to secure housing in the private sector. Item 11 Appendix 2 Page 5
Applicants with no local connection will also be placed in Band E. Item 11 Appendix 2 Page 6