Local Lettings Policy 2017

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This consultation has now closed.

Overview

The council and the Barnet Group are committed to ensuring that its new homes are meeting the needs of the local community. As part of this commitment we are proposing to introduce a Local Lettings Policy in Barnet to give us flexibility in the way that we allocate new build properties on the council’s in-fill estates in the borough. These estates include the building of new homes on vacant or underused sites within pre-existing council estates.

Currently, all our properties are allocated through the council's Housing Allocations Scheme. The scheme prioritises applicants by using a banding system (where Band 1 is the highest priority band, followed by Bands 2, 3 and 4) based on their housing needs and other factors that may give them additional priority. More information on what is included within each band can be found here.

However, the scheme does not currently allow us to give additional priority to certain groups for certain properties. To help meet our commitment to ensure that our new homes meet the needs of the local community, the council is proposing to amend the Housing Allocations Scheme to include a Local Lettings Policy that will allow for the allocation of a proportion of housing stock through special arrangements.

These special arrangements would mean council tenants, with an assessed housing need, would be prioritised for new build homes on in-fill development sites on their estate. This would promote family and well-being as local residents could continue to maintain links with their established community and retain their support network.

You can read further information on our proposals in the Housing Committee paper on introducing a Local Lettings Policy in Barnet.

Why are we consulting

We want to give everyone – regardless of whether they currently are a council tenant – the opportunity to have their say on the new proposals before a final decision is made. We will take your views, ideas, opinions and feedback on board.

Give us your views

Please take the time to give us your views on our proposals by completing the online questionnaire.

For any further information, or to request a paper questionnaire or another format, please email Faisal.Butt@barnet.gov.uk or telephone 020 8359 6263. Alternatively, you can write to us at Faisal Butt, Commissioning Group, London Borough of Barnet, Building 2, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South, London, N11 1NP.


Overview

The council and the Barnet Group are committed to ensuring that its new homes are meeting the needs of the local community. As part of this commitment we are proposing to introduce a Local Lettings Policy in Barnet to give us flexibility in the way that we allocate new build properties on the council’s in-fill estates in the borough. These estates include the building of new homes on vacant or underused sites within pre-existing council estates.

Currently, all our properties are allocated through the council's Housing Allocations Scheme. The scheme prioritises applicants by using a banding system (where Band 1 is the highest priority band, followed by Bands 2, 3 and 4) based on their housing needs and other factors that may give them additional priority. More information on what is included within each band can be found here.

However, the scheme does not currently allow us to give additional priority to certain groups for certain properties. To help meet our commitment to ensure that our new homes meet the needs of the local community, the council is proposing to amend the Housing Allocations Scheme to include a Local Lettings Policy that will allow for the allocation of a proportion of housing stock through special arrangements.

These special arrangements would mean council tenants, with an assessed housing need, would be prioritised for new build homes on in-fill development sites on their estate. This would promote family and well-being as local residents could continue to maintain links with their established community and retain their support network.

You can read further information on our proposals in the Housing Committee paper on introducing a Local Lettings Policy in Barnet.

Why are we consulting

We want to give everyone – regardless of whether they currently are a council tenant – the opportunity to have their say on the new proposals before a final decision is made. We will take your views, ideas, opinions and feedback on board.

Give us your views

Please take the time to give us your views on our proposals by completing the online questionnaire.

For any further information, or to request a paper questionnaire or another format, please email Faisal.Butt@barnet.gov.uk or telephone 020 8359 6263. Alternatively, you can write to us at Faisal Butt, Commissioning Group, London Borough of Barnet, Building 2, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South, London, N11 1NP.


This consultation has now closed.

  • Local Lettings Policy

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    We asked

    Respondents were asked three questions around the implementation of a Local Lettings Policy (LLP) in Barnet. Firstly, around whether a LLP should give council tenants priority for new homes on in-fill developments on their estate. Secondly, around whether lettings homes through a LLP on in-fill development is a better way to meet local housing need and finally whether a LLP should only be made available to tenants in Band 1 and Band 2. This consultation ran from 16th October to 8th December 2017.

    You said

    A total of 86 responses were received to this survey - 25% from households in the private rented sector, 23% from households rented from the council, 23% owners with a mortgage, 20% owned outright and 5% living in housing association accommodation. 70% agreed that letting homes through a LLP was an effective way to meet housing need. Moreover, they also agreed with priority for council tenants on that estate, suggesting it was both fair and practical to do so. Finally, 67% agreed that a LLP should only be made available to tenants in Bands 1 and 2. Some respondents expressed concern over the exclusion of homes in lower priority bands.

    We did

    The outcome of this consultation supports the introduction of a LLP, as respondents agree that it is an effective way to meet housing need while also supporting limiting the LLP to priority Bands 1 and 2. As a result, the council’s Housing Allocation Scheme was updated to reflect this change.