Knightsyard Court, Long Eaton
Local Lettings Policy
Metropolitan and Erewash Borough Council
June 2017
The site
Knightsyard Court, Long Eaton
1. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria to enable lettings to be made that are appropriate and sensitive to the nature of this particular scheme whilst continuing to meet housing need. Due to the design of this development and the apartment layout there has been significant distress caused to residents by young children living in apartments.
2. Scheme Details
Total Number of dwellings: 14
Total number of Shared ownership properties: 10 X 2 bedroom apartments
Total number of general needs properties: 4 X 2 bedroom apartments.
3. Aims and Objectives of the Metropolitan Allocations Policy
Metropolitan provides affordable homes for those in need. We aim to:
- meet housing need
- let properties fairly
- let properties quickly
- ensure that the tenancies and schemes are sustainable
- be accountable to those who apply for housing
- give priority to those in housing need
- promote mobility
4. How Metropolitan allocates its rented properties
Metropolitan subscribes to the Home-Options Choice-Based Lettings and all properties are advertised on the Home-Options website.
5. Size and Type of Accommodation Offered
The size of property we offer depends on the size and type of household and the availability of accommodation. We attempt to offer accommodation that we feel most closely meets the known needs of the household.
The minimum standards are shown below:
- couple/single parent - double bedroom
- single adult - single room
- anyone with a confirmed medical need for their own bedroom.
As Knightsyard Court is an apartment scheme with no opens garden space for children to play it is suggested that the accommodation is not suitable for families with children under 16 living permanently as part of the household.
6. Local Lettings Plan
Elements include:
- conducting a pre-tenancy assessment and scrutiny of applicants/nominees
- using starter tenancies
- agreeing nomination arrangements
- tenant mix and child restrictions.
6.1 Scrutiny of Applicants
all applicants and nominees are required to participate in a pre tenancy assessment and asked to provide:
- household composition and circumstances including medical or health situation
- housing and employment history for the past 5 years
- details of any legal action taken in respect of rent arrears and/or anti-social behaviour
- any unspent convictions
- income details
- support or medical needs.
The purpose of the assessment is to verify details of their application and ensure new tenants are able to sustain their tenancy.
Generally, we will reject applications (or turn down a nomination) where:
- • the household does not “fit” the property they have been nominated for i.e. property too large/small for their needs
- • there are support needs that cannot be met and, as a result, we judge the tenancy is likely to fail
- • there is a proven history of serious ASB/racial or other harassment/ criminal behaviour, and we assess that they continue to pose a risk to others
- • there is a history of breaching tenancy conditions (such as significant rent arrears) and we judge this behaviour is likely to be repeated.
Every individual case will be given due consideration which will seek to balance his/her degree of housing need with our obligation to others and to manage the scheme successfully. We are confident that rejections will be minimal and fully justified. For information, all such decisions are documented and approved by the Available Homes Manager, with an appeal mechanism in place.
6.2 Tenant Mix and restrictions on Children
To maintain the scheme on a positive footing we propose that priority be given to residents in full-time employment or if those who cannot work and are claiming disability benefits or state retirement pension.
Due to the scheme consisting of only apartments with no open space or gardens it is proposed that priority be given to single people or childless couples without dependent children living with them as a permanent member of the household. When children do form part of the household they must be over the age of 16. This is subject to confirmation that housing benefit will not be restricted if the property includes one bedroom in excess of the household needs as we have no wish to impose undue financial hardship on our residents.
7. Review Arrangements
Our normal practice is to review Lettings Plans and nomination arrangements with Local Authorities (and other agencies) and agree any adjustments needed to deal with or prevent housing management problems. On mixed tenure and mixed use schemes we will formally review the arrangements two years after the first lettings under a new lettings plan and reserve the right to make amends in order to safeguard the sustainability of the scheme.
8. Consulatation
This local lettings policy was subject to public consultation via this website in July 2017 but no comments were received. The policy was therefore adopted in its original form.