Local Letting Plan - Castle Manor, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak
Site Composition
2 No. three bed houses for rent
2 No. three bed houses for shared ownership
5 No. two bed houses for rent
1 No. two bed house for shared ownership
2 No. one bed flats for rent
2 No. two bed flats for rent.
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.
Objective
Peaks and Plains Housing Trust and High Peak Borough Council are proposing a local lettings policy in order to create and ensure a sustainable, mixed and balanced community and promote sustainable tenancies on this new build development, due end of Feb – March 2018. The local letting policy will apply to the initial lets only. It is recognised that creating a community in a single lettings window presents unique challenges not encountered on re-lets.
2 * 2 bed houses and 2 * 3 bed houses in Chapel-en-le-frith are to be allocated at the same time. A local lettings policy is suggested to give a sustainable balanced tenant population; to mitigate issues relating to anti-social behaviour that have arisen in relation to a similar Peaks and Plains Housing Trust development elsewhere and address an increase in affordability issues. A Peaks and Plains Housing Trust new build development of similar scale has recently became the focus of extensive anti-social behaviour. Concerns and complaints have raised by local residents, tenants and the police.
The affordable housing is part of a larger new build site with the majority of units being privately owned. PPHT has a responsibility to other residents to allocate properties in a way that encourages sustainability and works towards creating a positive environment on the estate.
Peaks and Plains Housing Trust is looking to allocate to a mixture of working applicants in consideration of the increase in affordability issues due to the impact of welfare reform, notably the benefit cap and spare room subsidy on family accommodation.
The policy does not completely exclude any single demographic and allows a range of demographics to be housed meeting housing demand in High Peak. Peaks and Plains Housing Trust feel the proposed local letting policy is justified and meets both the needs of the local authority and housing association to deliver a sustainable community.
Expected Outcomes
1. To develop a balanced tenant population, mixed community and promote sustainable tenancies.
2. To prevent or minimise nuisance & anti-social behaviour within the development, to local residents & the wider community.
3. To allocate to a mixture of working applicants in consideration of the increase in affordability issues
Impact of plan
To be monitored through Introductory Tenancy Procedure by Peaks & Plains Housing Trust who will provide feedback to High Peak Borough Council.
Consultation
This plan was subject to public consultation via this website in February 2018.
Local Authority Nominations
The properties will be advertised through the Council’s Home-Options allocations scheme and nominations will be provided to Peaks & Plains Housing Trust.
The Council has 50% nomination rights to all affordable rented homes at Castle Manor. Nominations will be advertised and shortlisted via Home-Options Choice based lettings system. If lettings cannot be made through Local Authority nominations, lettings can be made through Peaks & Plains Housing Trust lettings systems as per the terms of the s106 agreement.
Life of Local Letting Plan
The local lettings policy will end after initial let and will not be applicable to subsequent relets.
ALLOCATION CRITERIA (initial lets only)
• Peaks & Plains Housing Trust reserve the right to carry out pre-tenancy home visits, risk assessments and credit checks on all applicants.
• A minimum of 50 % of all lets, preference will be given to: applicants who can demonstrate they are in employment or training or an apprenticeship. This will include full or part-time employment or training for the last six months.
Appeals will follow the Home-Options process. This will be undertaken by a senior Home-Options Officer not previously involved in the application.