The Hyelm Group. Selection & Allocation Policy

Transcription

1 The Hyelm Grup Selectin & Allcatin Plicy 1.0 Intrductin 1.1 The Hyelm Grup ( The Grup ) cmprises Hyelm and The Ames Huse Trust. Bth are husing charities. They were funded in 1926 and 1890, respectively, and nw wrk tgether in prviding high standards f affrdable, rented accmmdatin and services in the capital fr up t 125 yung peple and thse frm pririty grups wh are in emplyment but wh cannt affrd t rent r buy in the private sectr. 1.2 In respnse t a cnsiderable and ever-increasing demand, The Grup have nw embarked n an exciting new strategy t develp and prvide further husing and services fr an additinal 250 yung peple in great Lndn lcatins by The Grup aims t make a real difference t the lives f thse whm it huses by prviding psitive, stable, safe, supprtive envirnments and strng cmmunities in which lasting friendships can develp in an therwise vibrant but challenging, and smetimes impersnal, capital city. 1.4 The Grup is a Registered Prvider f Scial Husing fr General Needs. It des nt prvide Supprted Husing in the traditinal sense f its meaning within the Scial Husing sectr. 2.0 Husing Schemes 2.1 Hyelm Old Street Hyelm Old Street is lcated in the Hxtn area f Lndn and prvides accmmdatin, services and facilities fr up t 125 yung peple and pririty grups in husing need in Lndn. 74 places within the scheme are reserved fr pririty grups and cmprise fully furnished en-suite ne bedrm flats and tw bedrm cluster apartments. Pririty grups are the grups f peple t whm pririty must be given fr grant funded intermediate rent husing. They are defined by the gvernment and by the lcal authrity (LB Hackney) in which the scheme perates. Further details n pririty grups can be fund by visiting The remaining 51 places are reserved fr yung peple n lw t mderate incmes wh are cming t r in Lndn lking t embark n r in the early stages f their careers and cmprise fully furnished en-suite three, fur and six bedrm cluster apartments. 3.0 Related Dcuments

2 3.1 This plicy shuld be read in cnjunctin with The Grup s plicies n: Equality & Diversity Disability Access Guide fr Residents 4.0 Equality Impact Assessment 4.1 The Grup is cmmitted t challenging discriminatin and prmting equality f pprtunity in every area f its wrk, including the selectin f residents and the allcatin f spaces within its prperties. 4.2 This plicy is written frm an equal pprtunities perspective. Equality f pprtunity is cnsidered at every stage f the selectin and allcatin prcess. 4.3 All staff invlved in the selectin and allcatin prcess must be aware f and pay attentin t equalities issues and in particular nt discriminate, within The Grup s defined selectin criteria, n the basis f age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage r civil partnership, pregnancy r maternity, race, clur, natinality, ethnic r natinal rigin, religin r belief, sex, sexual rientatin ( the Prtected Characteristics ) r any ther reasn which culd cause a persn t be treated with injustice. 4.4 T avid any discriminatry practices The Grup ensures that tw members f the Allcatins Panel (sectin 11) are invlved in making all key decisins when selecting and allcating accmmdatin. Where there is nt a cnsensus f view the matter will be referred t a member f the Executive Management Team fr cnsideratin. 4.5 Training will be given t all staff wh are invlved in managing the plicy and additinal training will be given when a need arises. 5.0 Availability f Husing 5.1 It is recgnised that husing within the sectr and lcatins in which The Grup perates is generally in limited supply. 5.2 Applicatins fr accmmdatin greatly exceed the number f places available at any ne time and, accrdingly, nt everyne wh applies can be hused. 5.3 Available places are allcated t thse applicants wh meet the eligibility criteria and are in greatest need. Pririty is assessed by using a band and pints system. 5.4 An applicant wh meets The Grup s eligibility criteria will be placed within a pririty band and either ffered a place, subject t need and availability, r given a place n a waiting list. It remains the respnsibility f the applicant t ntify The Grup f any changes in their circumstances. 5.5 As an individual s circumstances will change ver time applicants placed n the waiting list will have their accmmdatin needs re-assessed n a regular basis. 5.6 The Grup may clse certain waiting lists, frm time t time, where it is felt that anyne n the waiting list wuld nt be ffered a place within a reasnable

3 timeframe. 6.0 Eligibility 6.1 In brad terms a persn wuld be eligible fr The Grups accmmdatin if they are in the early stages f their career within Lndn and their persnal circumstances prevents them frm being able t affrd a depsit and/r rental/mrtgage payments n a prperty but within a reasnable timeframe be in a psitin t d s. 6.2 The eligibility criteria fr accmmdatin at each f The Grup s schemes are: Hyelm Old Street (Nn-pririty grup accmmdatin): Between 18 and 35 years f age. Cming t r in Lndn. On lw t mderate incmes. In need f affrdable, rented husing. In the early years f their careers. In need f n t minimal levels f supprt but wh culd benefit frm and cntribute t living in psitive, safe, stable, supprtive envirnments and strng cmmunities. Hyelm Old Street (Intermediate Rented Places): Eligibility fr The Grup s intermediate rented places is defined by the gvernment and the lcal authrity (LB Hackney) in which the scheme perates and may change frm time t time. Currently, t be eligible an applicant must: Have a husehld incme n greater than 71,000 per year. Want t live in Lndn. Save the discunt between the rent paid and the market rental value twards a depsit t buy a prperty later. Cmmit t entering int hme wnership thrugh lw cst hme wnership prducts within five years f entering his r her tenancy. In additin, applicants fr the grant funded places at Hyelm Old Street will nt be eligible fr accmmdatin if they: Can affrd t buy/rent a prperty suitable fr their needs withut assistance. Own a hme (in the UK r abrad) that they d nt plan n selling. Are a current hmewner unable t btain supprt fr their applicatin frm their Lcal Authrity. Are a current hmewner unable t demnstrate that they have a husing need. Are a cuncil r husing assciatin tenant in rent arrears. Once they can prvide a rent statement shwing their arrears have been paid and that they have nt been in arrears fr 12 mnths they may be eligible. Are unable t affrd the prperty withut using husing benefits. 7.0 Chice-Based Letting

4 7.1 The idea f chice-based letting is t give a persn mre chice abut the area and type f prperty in which they will live. 7.2 Applicants are prvided with infrmatin abut the types f accmmdatin and husing agreements available frm The Grup. They are able t apply t be cnsidered fr husing at ne r mre f The Grup s schemes, subject t them meeting the eligibility criteria. 7.3 Where an ffer f accmmdatin r a waiting list place is turned dwn by an applicant they will be asked t give their reasns and these will be nted accrdingly. 8.0 Selectin & Allcatin 8.1 In rder fr The Grup t cnsider a persn fr husing they will be required t cmplete and submit an applicatin frm. 8.2 An applicatin may be rejected at any stage f the applicatin and selectin prcess where the applicant: Des nt meet the eligibility criteria fr the scheme(s) fr which they applied. Has made a false statement, r requested a third party t prvide a false statement n their behalf. Has a significant change in circumstances and they fail t ntify The Grup. Within the previus 12 mnths, has caused anti-scial behaviur. Has rent arrears with their current landlrd. Has failed t prvide dcumentary evidence, as reasnably requested, t prve their eligibility. Is unable t prvide evidence f their eligibility t rent husing within the United Kingdm. Has a requirement fr Supprted Husing in the traditinal sense f its meaning within the Scial Husing sectr. 8.3 The Grup may cnsider husing individuals wh d nt fully meet the eligibility criteria, but wh have unusual and exceptinal circumstances, n a case by case basis. 8.4 The Grup aims thrugh this plicy t maintain a balanced cmmunity. T help achieve this in certain circumstances a persn nt in greatest need may be hused. 8.5 Althugh it is felt that all The Grup s accmmdatin is best suited t the needs f yunger peple, applicatins, where the eligibility criteria allws, will be cnsidered equally frm ther age grups. 8.6 Hyelm Old Street (Intermediate Rented Places) Applicants wishing t be cnsidered fr a place within The Grup s grant funded intermediate rent ne bedrm flats and tw bedrm cluster apartments must meet the eligibility criteria t be cnsidered fr grant funded intermediate rented husing. Further details can be fund n The Grup uses a banding scheme t determine pririty between applicants.

5 Applicatins will be rganised int bands and priritised within these bands by allcating pints based n husing need. The greater the number f pints the greater the husing need. Where tw r mre eligible applicants are within the same band and have the same number f pints, pririty will be determined by the date f the applicatin. The persn wh has remained n the waiting list the lngest will be given pririty. The pririty bands fr The Grup s grant funded intermediate rented accmmdatin are set ut belw: Pririty Band A (Highest Pririty) Husing assciatin and cuncil tenant wh must: rent a cuncil r husing assciatin prperty (this des nt include tenants wh are currently renting thrugh Intermediate Rent, Rent t HmeBuy r Rent t Buy schemes). be named n the lease / rental agreement fr that prperty. Pririty is given t thse wishing t mve n int shared r lw cst hme wnership. It is unlikely, therefre, due t the nature f The Grup s accmmdatin, that applicatins will be received frm this grup f peple. Armed frces persnnel wh are based in either Lndn r the East r Suth East f England and fall int ne f the fllwing categries: Regular service persnnel (including Military Prvst Guards Service in the Army, Navy, Air Frce). Clinical staff (excluding dctrs and dentists). MD plice fficers Unifrmed staff in the Defence Fire Service Ex-regular service persnnel (wh have served in the Armed Frces fr a minimum f six years and can prduce a Discharge certificate, r similar dcument). Applicatins must be within 12 mnths f discharge The surviving partners f regular service persnnel wh have died in service may be eligible t be priritised where they apply within 12 mnths f the date f being bereaved Full Time Reserve Service (full cmmitment) Pririty Band B Scial tenants (LB Hackney lcal pririty) wh currently live in LB Hackney and are: In inadequate r vercrwded husing. Scially mbile. Emplyed and earning under 50,000 per annum. Over 18 years f age. Pririty Band C Scial tenants (LB Hackney lcal pririty) wh currently live utside LB Hackney and are: In inadequate r vercrwded husing. Scially mbile. Emplyed and earning under 50,000 per annum. Over 18 years f age.

6 Pririty Band D Key wrkers (LB Hackney lcal pririty) wrking within LB Hackney Pririty Band E Key wrkers (LB Hackney lcal pririty) nt wrking within LB Hackney Pririty Band F (Lwest Pririty) All ther applicants, in emplyment, wh can demnstrate a need fr affrdable husing. A summary f The Grup s pint scring matrix fr grant funded intermediate rented accmmdatin is, as fllws: Incme (frm all surces) Less than the Lndn Living Wage (LLW) LLW 25,000 25,000-30,000 30,000-50,000 Mre than 50,000 0 pints 35 pints 30 pints 10 pints 0 pints Savings and Investments N savings r investments Up t 4,000 4,000-10,000 10,000-20,000 Mre than 20, pints 20 pints 10 pints 5 pints 0 pints 8.7 All Other Applicants The Grup uses a banding scheme t determine pririty between applicants. Applicatins will be rganised int bands and priritised within these bands by allcating pints based n husing need. The greater the number f pints the greater the husing need. Where tw r mre eligible applicants are within the same band and have the same number f pints, pririty will be determined by the date f the applicatin. The persn wh has remained n the waiting list the lngest will be given pririty. The pririty bands fr The Grup s nn grant funded places at the Hyelm Old Street scheme are set ut belw: Pririty Band A (Highest Pririty) Applicants wh fall int ne f the fllwing categries: Current accmmdatin is unsuitable fr ne r mre f the fllwing reasns: Living in an vercrwded husehld. Daily cmmute, t attend wrk r study, takes mre than 1½ hurs in each directin. T apply, cmmute must be, n average, at least 4 days per week and the prvisin f The Grup s husing wuld decrease the time taken t cmmute. Has a negative effect n applicants health and/r safety.

7 Unable t take up an ffer f wrk r study within Lndn withut securing suitable affrdable husing. Unable t affrd t live in the private rented market. Unable t affrd the depsit fr renting in the private rented sectr. Pririty Band B (Lwest Pririty) Applicants wh plan, within a maximum perid f 5 years, t purchase r rent husing f a mre permanent nature within the scial r private sectr. A summary f The Grup s pint scring matrix is, as fllws: Incme (frm all surces) Less than the Lndn Living Wage (LLW) LLW 25,000 25,000-30,000 30,000-40,000 Mre than 40,000 0 pints 35 pints 30 pints 10 pints 0 pints Savings and Investments N savings r investments Up t 4,000 4,000-10,000 10,000-20,000 Mre than 20, pints 20 pints 10 pints 5 pints 0 pints 9.0 Strategic Partners 9.1 The Grup wrks clsely with a number f strategic partner rganisatins whse wrk helps further supprt The Grup s missin f helping imprve the lives f yung peple, with n t minimal supprt needs, wh are in the early stages f their careers and wh are in need f affrdable accmmdatin. 9.2 A number f places within The Grup s schemes will be allcated t thse wh meet ur eligibility criteria frm the strategic partners with which The Grup wrks. These places will be allcated utside f the allcatin scheme set ut under sectin 8 abve. 9.3 If strategic partner rganisatins are unable t refer an applicant within a reasnable time scale f an apartment becming available, usually within 2 weeks, the space will be ffered t a resident n The Grup s waiting list. 9.4 The strategic partner rganisatins and the number f allcated spaces will be decided by The Grup frm time t time with a view t prviding a balanced cmmunity within its schemes. 9.5 A list f strategic partner rganisatins can be made available n request Existing Residents 10.1 The accmmdatin ffered by The Grup is nt intended t be f a permanent

8 nature T be hused in ne f The Grup s schemes residents are required t demnstrate their cmmitment t mving n t purchase r rent husing f a mre permanent nature The Grup wrks with a number f strategic partners and ffers a range f supprt tls t help residents understand the varius types f mre permanent mve n accmmdatin available t them and which type wuld be mst suitable fr their individual needs Residents hused within ne f The Grup s schemes will initially be ffered a stay f 24 mnths, subject t the resident nt breaching the tenancy agreement cmplying with The Grup s varius plicy dcuments T allw The Grup t fully utilise its husing t help the greatest number f peple, wh meet its eligibility criteria, and are in greatest need f affrdable husing, after the initial 24 mnth perid residents will be re-assessed every 6 mnths prir t being cnsidered fr any husing extensin Any resident wishing t be awarded a husing extensins, after their initial term, must cmplete a Husing Extensin Request Frm and agree t meet with the management team n a regular basis t supprt their mve-n After the initial term, extensins will be awarded fr up t a maximum f 6 mnths at a time and a resident will need t re-apply fr further extensins prir t the end f each extensin perid If a resident fails t engage with the management team and/r unreasnably fails t engage with any supprt ffered they will nt be awarded any further extensins Residents may nly be eligible t be cnsidered fr a 6 mnth extensin t their tenancy if the fllwing apply: They still meet the eligibility criteria fr the scheme at which they live. They are able t demnstrate a cntinued cmmitment t mving n t purchase r rent husing f a mre permanent nature. They are able t demnstrate that they are making reasnable prgress and arrangements in relatin t their mve n. In regards t the intermediate rental apartments this is achieved by saving the discunt n their rental payments twards either buying a prperty r renting within the private sectr later. They have nt lived at ne f The Grup s schemes fr mre than 5 years. They are nt in rent arrears. They have n histry f anti-scial behaviur during the previus 12 mnths. They have nt been served with ntice fr breach f the tenancy agreement during the previus 12 mnths The Grup estimates that residents will be in need f its accmmdatin fr, n average, 2 years. It will, hwever, prvide husing fr up t a maximum f 5 years, in certain circumstances The Grup understands that the needs and wishes f existing residents ften change. Residents may wish t transfer t anther f The Grup s rms and/r schemes The administratin f a transfer takes up a cnsiderable amunt f resurces and

9 has a financial implicatin fr The Grup. As a result and as the accmmdatin ffered at The Grup s schemes is temprary in nature mst requests fr transfers will nt be accepted Hwever all requests fr transfers will be cnsidered n a case by case basis and reasnable requests accepted Fr a transfer request t be cnsidered, a resident must meet the same criteria as thse that are applied t tenancy agreement extensins, except in cases f arrears, where a transfer request will nly be cnsidered if it is fr cheaper accmmdatin Where a transfer wuld help The Grup deal with cases f anti-scial behaviur, harassment r ther relevant husing management matters it will be given pririty and the eligibility criteria wuld nt necessarily need t apply Allcatins Panel 11.1 The allcatins panel makes the decisin abut whether t accept r decline applicants. It will meet at least n a weekly basis, r mre ften, as required It will cnsist f at least tw Husing Managers, supprted by the Scheme Manager. A member f the Executive Management Team will jin the panel if there is nt a cnsensus f view n a case If a member f the panel knws an applicant persnally this must be declared and the member must nt be part f the allcatins prcess Decisins made by the allcatins panel will be recrded, tgether with their reasns Checks and False Statements 12.1 Any false statement will disqualify an applicant. If a tenancy agreement is granted and it is subsequently prved that a false statement was made t btain it, The Grup reserves the right t take actin t terminate the agreement When an ffer f accmmdatin is made, the applicant will be ntified that such an ffer may be made subject t The Grup receiving prf in relatin t the infrmatin prvided t supprt their applicatin Majr Wrks 13.1 The Grup may need t ffer accmmdatin t existing residents where their current accmmdatin is n lnger available due t The Grup s strategic develpment r majr repairs prgramme. Spaces may be allcated t these residents utside f the allcatins plicy set ut under sectin 8 abve Appeals Prcedure

10 14.1 All residents and prspective residents have the right t request that their case fr the allcatin f accmmdatin be recnsidered if they believe that The Grup has nt acted in accrdance with this r any ther relevant plicy The Grup will deal with all appeals swiftly, in a fair and reasnable manner, and will treat each case n its merits Accmmdatin will nt be held pen whilst an appeal is being dealt with If the resident, r prspective resident, is nt satisfied with the utcme f the appeal, they may make a cmplaint by using The Grup s cmplaints plicy, which is available n request Cmmitment t Review 15.1 The Grup is cmmitted t cntinuusly imprving its practice in the direct wrk that it des with its residents and prspective residents. It is a learning rganisatin and where it identifies that its plicies r prcedures culd be imprved, it will change them The Grup understands that the needs f the client grups which it sets ut t huse will change ver time as will the husing pririties defined by the gvernment and lcal authrities in which it perates The Grup values and respnds t feedback frm its residents, partner agencies and all ther stakehlders, particularly in relatin t gd practice. This Plicy and any supprting dcuments will be fully reviewed annually r sner where any changing legislatin has an impact The next review is due in March 2019.