Bath Street, Ilkeston
Local Lettings Policy
Futures Housing Group and Erewash Borough Council
From Local Lettings Policy Adopted August 2020
The site - Bath Street, Ilkeston
Bath Street - The affordable housing on this development consists of 26 homes for Affordable Rent.
3 x 1 Bedroom First Floor Flats – 1 Person
2 x 1 Bedroom 2nd Floor Flats – 1 Person
6 x 2 Bedroom House – 4 Person
5 x 2 Bedroom House - 3 Person
2 x 1 Bedroom House – 2 Person
4 x 1 Bedroom First Floor Apartments – 2 Person
4 x 1 Bedroom Ground Floor Apartments – 2 Person (Suitable for applicants with mobility problems)
Total 26 Affordable Rented properties. The homes are expected to be completed Autumn 2024.
A link to the site on Google Maps can be found here: Google Maps link to the Bath Street/Pelham Avenu site.
Reason for the Local Lettings Policy and Background
Erewash Borough Council, through its strategic housing role, has a responsibility to help Erewash residents have good quality homes and housing services which meet their needs, and help create sustainable, mixed and balanced communities. At the same time, we need to ensure that those in urgent housing need are housed as soon as possible.
The Home-Options Policy (which is agreed by the Home-Options partners, including Futures Housing Group and Erewash Borough Council) highlights that local lettings policies have an important role in widening housing choices for local people and helping to provide sustainable communities. The national and regional housing agendas encourage mixed tenures that cater for a range of households with varying needs and aspirations.
We want to ensure that this development caters for a variety of residents as opposed to concentrations of households with particular support needs.
Legal Framework
This approach complies with the government’s guidance issued through the Allocation of accommodation: guidance for local housing authorities in England (DCLG, June 2012). This guidance allows councils and housing providers to use local lettings policies to achieve a wide range of policy objectives.
The Local Lettings Policy Criteria
Futures Housing Group and Erewash Borough Council are proposing a local lettings policy which reflects key features in order to ensure a sustainable, mixed and balanced community on this development.
THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE APPLIES TO ALL PROPERTIES FOR AFFORDABLE RENT:
The criteria will be followed for initial lets until all 26 homes as above have been let. Under this Policy the following groups of applicants will be given additional preference through the Home-Options bidding process:
A) 33% of all lets. Preference will be given to applicants who are transferring from larger housing association properties in the Home-Options partnership, particularly those whose housing benefits have been reduced due to under-occupation.
B) The remainder of the lets will be awarded in accordance with the normal lettings procedures under the Home-Options Policy.
C) If we are unable to achieve lettings under the criteria A) above. Based on the bids received, lets will be awarded in accordance with the normal lettings procedures under the Home-Options Policy.
In addition to the above criteria for 45% of all lets:
D) Preference will be given to: applicants who can demonstrate that they are in employment or training. This will include full- or part-time employment or training for the last six months. Only employed (or in training) applicants that are also in housing need (bands A-C) will be awarded this degree of additional preference.
E) If we are unable to fully achieve lettings under the above criteria, based on the bids received, then lettings will be made under the normal allocations procedures under the Home-Options Policy.
Re-lets after Summer 2022
Will be carried out in accordance with the Home-Options Policy or any subsequent policy.
For the Affordable Rent Ground floor flats suitable for people with mobility problems
4 x 1 bedroomed 2 person ground floor flats suitable for people, who have mobility/medical problems and would benefit from this type of property, for which preference will be given to people aged over 45 in the first instance.
These include:
- Own separate entrance door – level access
- Walk-in shower
- Outdoor space to charge electric wheelchairs and scooters
- Parking
- Small outdoor area
(Note: Whilst the properties are right in Ilkeston Town Centre, please note that Bath Street shopping area is on a steep slope.)
The criteria will be followed for initial lets and subsequent lets.
Under this Policy the following groups of applicants will be given additional preference through the Home-Options bidding process:-
- People currently registered on Home-Options who are over aged 45 and who have demonstrated a need for this type of accommodation. This will include applicants awarded Band A – urgent medical priority
If we are unable to fully achieve lettings under the above criteria, based on the bids received, then lettings will be made under the normal allocations procedures under the Home-Options Policy. This will include applicants awarded Band A – urgent medical priority.
If we are unable to fully achieve lettings under the above criteria, based on the bids received, then lettings will be made under the normal allocations procedures under the Home-Options Policy.
Fair access to housing
We wish to ensure the number of lettings to households from Black and Minority Ethnic Community on this development reflects the composition of the Ilkeston community (as indicated in census or other indicator of housing needs). If this is not reflected during the allocation process, then the housing association will work with the Council to determine reasons why and to consider slight changes in the marketing and lettings criteria to ensure this is reflected where possible in future.
Mutual Exchanges
Mutual exchanges will be allowed into and out of the development in accordance with Futures Housing Group and other landlords’ normal processes. Lettings through mutual exchanges may therefore be outside of this local lettings policy. For more details see the Mutual Exchange page on the Home-Options website.
Public Consultation
The Draft Local Lettings Policy was subject to public consultation via this website during the period 29 July 2020 to 12 August 2020.
One response was received, but no comments were made. The draft policy was therefore adopted as the final policy.
Contact details
Any queries about this Local Lettings Policy can be made to:
Futures Housing Group
Futures House
Argosy Road
Castle Donnington
Derbyshire DE74 2SA
Telephone: 0300 456 2531
Email: home.choices@futureshg.co.uk