The county council aims to streamline its housing waiting list, focusing on urgent needs and reducing unnecessary registrations.
Northumberland: The county council is looking to change its housing waiting list. Right now, over 14,000 people are registered. But 8,461 of them don’t actually need housing. They’re already adequately housed.
One idea is to remove those who don’t need housing from the list. This would help staff focus on people who really need assistance. The council wants to make the system more efficient.
Another proposal is to directly offer homes to homeless residents. This could cut down on the time people spend in temporary housing. Last year, the council spent £255,000 on temporary accommodation for the homeless.
During a recent meeting, Cllr Colin Horncastle said the current system is outdated. It’s been in place for over 20 years and needs a review. He pointed out that 60% of people on the list don’t have a housing need.
He mentioned that some people register just in case or because they want to move. This creates confusion about the actual number of homeless individuals in the county.
Before any changes happen, the council will consult with stakeholders. They plan to review how applications are assessed and categorized. Currently, applicants are sorted into bands based on their housing needs.
The council wants to eliminate Band 3, which includes those with no housing need. This could reduce the register to about 5,786 genuine applicants. Susan Ogle, head of housing, emphasized that this would allow staff to focus on more complex cases.
For homeless applicants, the council is concerned that allowing them to choose properties raises unrealistic expectations. They propose to directly offer suitable homes instead, which could speed up the process.
Currently, applicants without a local connection to Northumberland are placed in lower bands. The new rules would require them to have lived in the area for a certain time to qualify.
There are also plans to prioritize those with strong local connections in rural areas. The council recognizes the need for affordable homes in these regions.
Lastly, the council will assess financial eligibility more closely. If a household can resolve its own housing needs, they won’t be eligible to register. New financial thresholds will be established to ensure fairness.
