Social housing allocations have been a growing point of contention, with organisations such as Crisis, the London Assembly Housing Committee and the G15 all calling for urgent review and renewal of the system.
Crisis’ report, Moving the Deckchairs?: Social housing allocations in England was a scathing review of the allocations system in the UK, and found that the most vulnerable people were often the ones who faced the most barriers to actually securing a social home. Within the report choice-based lettings and a lack of synergy between councils and housing associations were particular points of criticism, and Crisis compared England’s allocation system with that of Scotland and Wales unfavorably.
Barriers at every turn: Social housing allocation in London, published by the London Assembly Housing Committee described London’s housing allocation system “opaque, confusing and unfair”, identifying significant data gaps relating to allocations and pointing to the counter-productive nature of financial eligibility criteria.
These calls have been answered following this week’s Kings Speech, as the Housing minister Matthew Pennycook has announced a review of the allocations process in a letter to Council leaders. Pennycook has told councillors the review will “support better use of existing stock and ensure homes go to those most in need”, and look at “strengthening council nomination arrangements and reviewing statutory guidance to better reflect local needs and support vulnerable households”.
READ MORE: Nearly £10,000 raised for local hospice
Allocations have long been a pressure point for both the housing sector and on the political stage, a debate that is often tied in with immigration. Reform UK have repeatedly come under fire for pushing the narrative that migrants have favourable treatment when it comes to social housing allocations, a claim that has been debunked and pushed back against by the sector. The result is an issue that can be flipped on it’s head depending on ideology; some voices believe the allocations system is too harsh, others too generous. The debate is only one of such topics in which narratives from opposing sides are becoming more and more detached.
Pennycook also expanded on some of the key goals of the Social Housing Renewal Bill that was announced during the Speech, which included further support for survivors of domestic abuse, and the slashing of unnecessary bureaucracy:
“It streamlines the outdated consents process, so that councils do not have to seek approval from the secretary of state when they want to take certain actions to manage their social housing stock.
“And it repeals a number of unimplemented provisions from the Housing and Planning Act 2016, including the requirement for local authorities to sell high-value social homes, grant flexible (fixed-term) tenancies and charge higher-income tenants higher rents.”
Mr Pennycook added: “At present, landlords and courts only have limited means to remove a perpetrator from a tenancy while allowing the victim-survivor to remain securely in their home.
“This can leave victims facing additional hardship, instability and an increased risk of homelessness.
“The bill will give landlords and the courts new and strengthened grounds to address domestic abuse and, in joint tenancy cases, remove a perpetrator from the tenancy where there has been domestic abuse, allowing victims to remain in their home or move to suitable alternative accommodation where this is available.”
As the growing housing crisis continues to force more and more families into temporary accommodation, allocations is not an area that can be allowed to grow rigid. The findings of the review and subsequent adjustments will be pivotal in the fight to stabilise the UK housing system.
