Gallows Inn Close, Ilkeston
Local Lettings Policy
emh and Erewash Borough Council
March 2022
The site: Gallows Inn Close, Ilkeston
The Gallows Inn Close development is just off Corporation Road, Ilkeston DE7 4BU and is expected to be completed by late Spring 2022.
The 21 homes for Affordable Rent on this development, to which this Local Lettings Policy applies are:
- Twelve 2 bedroomed four person houses
- Nine 3 bedroomed five person houses
A link to the site on Google Maps can be found here: Google Streetview of location of Gallows Inn Close development.
The Properties have been developed for emh. This agreement is therefore between Erewash Borough Council and emh.
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 emh 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
emh 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 HOUSES FOR AFFORDABLE RENT, which means:
- Twelve 2 bedroomed four person houses
- Nine 3 bedroomed 5 person houses
The criteria will be followed until all 21 houses as above have been let, which is anticipated to be Summer 2022.
Preference will be given as follows:
(1) For 50% 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
(2) In addition to the above criteria, for 50% of all lets: Preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate that they are in employment, training, or full-time carers for family member. This will include full- or part-time employment or training/Carers 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.
Applicants may be counted under both categories i.e. as an applicant who is a transferring tenant and an applicant who in employment or training.
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 of the houses for Affordable Rent, after the initial lets in 2022:
Will be carried out in accordance with the Home-Options Policy or any subsequent policy.
Mutual Exchanges
Mutual exchanges will be allowed into and out of the development in accordance with Emh 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
Thie draft Local Lettings Policy was advertised for consultsation on this website from 8 April to 22 April 2022. No responses were received so the draft policy has been adopted as the final policy.
Contact details
Any queries about this Local Lettings Policy can be made to:
Lorraine Baxter, Allocations Team Leader at emh.
Email: lorraine.baxter@emh.co.uk
Telephone: 0300 123 6000