NIHE pilots new allocations model

The Department for Social Development has been reviewing how social housing is allocated in Northern Ireland.  Research, published in December, recommended introducing a Choice Based Lettings system to manage the allocation of social housing.  The Housing Executive has recently starting trialling this system in specific locations within Belfast, with plans to extend the pilot to other areas of NI in the coming weeks.

Understanding Choice Based Lettings

Choice Based Lettings (CBL) aims to speed up the allocation of housing.  CBL properties are advertised online. Applicants for housing can view all CBL properties on a specific website and “bid” to register their interest.  It will do away with the requirement for applicants to select areas of choice and instead require applicants to continually search for properties that suit their needs.

In simple terms, CBL works in a similar fashion to multiple offers but puts the onus on applicants to seek out suitable properties, rather than having the landlord target potential tenants.

The Fundamental Review of Allocations research contains a detailed explanation of CBL.

Housing Executive CBL pilot

On 15^th January, the Housing Executive began advertising available properties on the PropertyNews website.  Housing Executive area managers suggested specific areas for the pilot which contain difficult to let properties.

The Housing Executive has written to applicants to tell them about the scheme and to explain how they can register an interest in any of the advertised properties. These properties will only be offered to people who have expressed an interest through the CBL pilot.

What applicants need to know

Applicants for social housing need to be aware of this scheme, particularly if they have been on the list for a long time or have a low level of points and would otherwise find it difficult to get an allocation.

Applicants who are on the list for other areas of choice can still register their interest for one of the properties in the CBL pilot.

People who wish to apply for a CBL property can do so online or by contacting the Housing Executive office mentioned in the property advertisement.  Only people who are currently registered on the waiting list will be able to apply for these properties.  To register interest in the property, clients will need to quote

• their name, address and contact number
• the address of the property they are interested in
• their Housing Application reference number, which is available at the top of letters from the Housing Executive and
• their date of birth or National Insurance Number.

New properties will be added to PropertyNews each week and applicants who are interested in the scheme should check the site between Wednesday and Friday each week.

The move to CBL and its reliance on people’s ability to get online may also cause concern for:

• people who aren’t comfortable using the internet,
• people who don’t have internet access at home,
• rural communities without broadband service,
• people with certain disabilities which can make using website more difficult.

Applicants may be concerned by the disclaimer on PropertyNews’s advertisements that “Fees may apply”.  This is a standard disclaimer applied to all rental advertisements on the website in response to the Committee for Advertising Practice ruling on letting fees.  The Housing Executive will not be charging administration or other fees.

Allocating a CBL property

Each property advertisement should carry a date by which applicants must register their interest.  Once this date has passed, the Housing Executive will look at all submissions of interest and allocate the property using the selection scheme rules.  The property will be allocated to the interested person who needs this size of property and has the highest number of points.

The Housing Executive will only contact the successful applicant and will make a formal offer to this person.

Housing Rights Service views on allocations

In December, we reaffirmed our stance that social housing must exist to protect the most vulnerable. 

We’re delighted to have Ursula McAnulty, one of the authors of the research into allocations in Northern Ireland attend a special meeting of our Housing Advice Practitioners’ Forum on 17^th February.  Ursula will provide an overview of the research and answer questions on this.  After this, our Policy and Communications Manager, Nicola McCrudden, will lead a discussion focused on the current consultation into social housing allocation.

Contact Sharon Geary if you’re a member of Housing Rights Service and you’re interested in attending this event.

Resources for advisers

Professionals who provide advice on social housing, including the selection scheme and current allocations model will get lots out of our upcoming training course Social Housing Options.