COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

HEADED ITEM NO. 13

Housing Policies

REPORT:

The Housing schemes as operated by the Council over the years have been undergoing changes in the recent past. We have implemented RAS leasing and currently have approximately 1300 such properties in the County.  We have also promoted the new Leasing initiative when it became obvious that new build was not an option.  Following discussions with the DOEHLG we have implemented a pilot Choice Based Letting scheme in conjunction with a new method of sourcing leased properties entitled Applicant Sourced Homes.

The Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2009 is now the primary legislation under which housing support is provided.  Sec 22 of the act stated that it would be necessary to make an Allocations Scheme by the 13^th June

The Scheme will be to

·        Determine the priority to be given in allocation of dwellings to persons assessed as being qualified for Social Housing Support.

·        Include provision for transfers and persons purchasing under Incremental Purchase Scheme

·        Is a Reserved Function

·        A Draft of the Scheme to Minister in the first instance

The Council at its meeting in April established an interparty group to examine the new scheme.  The group met on the 23^rd of April and discussed a draft of the scheme.  The draft consisted of the minimum required by the DOEHLG to the existing scheme of letting priorities to comply with the requirements of the Act.

The amendments made consisted of the following

·        References to Housing Act 1988 to be replaced by references to Section 22 of 2009 Act

·        To reflect terms of 2009 Act and directions of the Minister under it

·        To make specific provision for dwellings reserved for particular purposes including allocations to particular classes of persons, those transferring from other forms of social housing support and for particular forms of tenure

·        Defined to include the provision of accommodation in RAS properties

·        Special transfer path for RAS tenants to other forms of social housing support

Required by Regulation in the new Scheme but already operated by this council are

·        Choice Based Letting

·        Time on List approach

·        Refusal of 2 offers resulting in a suspension of the application.

The Department has advised that it was not necessary to make changes beyond these minimum requirements at this time

The purpose of the new Allocations Schemes is to create a a more uniform approach to the content and operation of allocations schemes nationally  To this end there is a Review of Housing Policy ongoing Nationally and it is intended that there will be a National Allocations Scheme in the future. 

 The draft Allocation Scheme was presented to the Housing SPC at its last meeting on 12^th May 2011 and will once again be brought to the Interparty Group before being sent to the Minister and brought to the Council at it meeting on the 13^th of June.

New Regulations have also been made by the Minister which changes the basis of the Assessment of Needs.  These are now carried out under Section 20 Housing Act 2009 and it will be the gateway for the provision of Social Housing Support from now on.  There will only be 2 assessments in future.  One at the time of application and again when a decision is made to provide allocation of a tenancy to a household

The main changes to the Assessment are

·        Housing is not an entitlement

·        Applicant must be eligible to apply to the LA. (resident, income, no property)

·        Have a need for Social Housing Support (overcrowding, unfit, disability, medical, RS, prison)

·        Housing List will be the gateway to Social Housing Support

 New elements in the Assessment consist of

·        Applicant may apply to one authority only

·        Assessment should be dealt with in 12 weeks (max 26 weeks)

·        Housing authority of application carries out assessment

·        Applicant may identify up to 3 areas of choice.  One must be in the housing authority of application

·        Areas of choice are not a priority ranking but from time chosen

·        May not change location for 1 year

·        Eligibility is assessed first.  If applicant is ineligible then there is no assessment

·        Income limits will apply

There is a new prescribed application form which is in use from the 1^st May.  We are strictly enforcing this new assessment with all new applicants.