The way people are allocated social housing in Knowsley is set to change after new proposals were approved.
The changes - which include reducing the number of needs bands, setting a cap on how much savings people can have before they are no longer eligible for social housing and more sanctions for people who refuse properties offered to them are part of new measures approved by Knowsley Council.
The proposals came about after a review was conducted into the social housing allocation policy adopted across Merseyside councils under the Property Pool Plus scheme last year.
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The changes were approved tonight by Knowsley Council’s cabinet after being presented by cabinet member for regeneration and economic development Cllr Tony Brennan. Cllr Brennan said there had been only minor changes to the Property Pool Plus scheme since 2012 and the new changes had been identified from a review that was started in 2019 and completed in 2021.
He said the decision to change the number of needs bands had come about as a result of requests by councillors and service users for banding to be “simplified.” Other changes include increasing the length of time required to satisfy local connection criteria, with people now needing to ordinarily reside in an area for two years before the local connection is established.
Sanctions for ‘unreasonable refusals’ have also been increased, which may lead to some people having their banding reduced for a period of time after failing to bid or accept properties on offer.
Cllr Brennan said the changes will also give increased priority to some groups, including care leavers and survivors of domestic abuse.
He added that while the changes mean the allocations policy has been updated to comply with current regulations and guidance, the measures will not reduce waiting times for people in need of housing.
Cllr Brennan said the council was in the process of organising a “separate round table” with social housing providers in the area “to discuss how we might work together to deliver new social housing stock and better manage existing stock.”
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