Those who have lived in the borough for more than five years will also be given greater priority in future, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter
Social housing in Enfield and (inset) Ayten Guzel
Enfield Council is set to change the way it allocates social housing in the borough.
The type of families who get prioritised is being reviewed with a stronger focus on those living in temporary accommodation (TA), although the council says the principles of the current scheme implemented in 2020 will remain the same.
Subject to consultation, the changes will mean no more than 50% of all lettings will be direct offers, and these will be made to ‘priority households’.
Priority will be given to families who have lived in TA for more than ten years, which is approximately 120 households, as well as to those who cannot move out of the borough or need to be no more than 60 to 90 minutes away, which is approximately 300 households.
The council also wants to prioritise residents who have lived longer in the borough. In order to be eligible for social housing, the time an applicant needs to have lived in Enfield will be extended from three to five years.
Families in “severely crowded” conditions will be given priority as well as council tenants, in this position, who lack “two or more bedrooms”.
The additional points awarded to applicants who have accepted private tenancy options will end.
Finally, the council wants to “speed up” lettings of later-living accommodation which “takes longer” to let due to the greater property requirements.
A report documenting the changes stated that 7,000 households have applied for social housing but the council only allocates around 450 council and housing association homes each year. There are also more than 3,000 households in TA to whom the council has a “duty to assist”.
A twelve-week consultation on the proposed changes began last month and is due to close on Sunday, 2nd February.
The cabinet member for housing, Ayten Guzel, said the changes aligned with the council’s allocations policy and with national placement policy.
Speaking on the emphasis on supporting families, she said: “Recognising the urgent needs of our community, I would highlight that a third of our housing stock consists of one-bedroom units, with the majority being flats. Wait times for larger properties are very long.
“That is why our priority is to address the need for larger homes, particularly for families and those with specific needs. We are increasing the priority to rehouse council tenants with dependent children who are living in severely overcrowded conditions and who lack two or more rooms. Therefore, we have directed our officers to explore all possible ways to expand our portfolio of larger homes.”
On increasing the required time for living in the borough to five years, Cllr Guzel said this change reflected the council’s commitment to “prioritising settled Enfield residents” and ensured the stability to those who had made the borough their home.
She added: “Additionally, I have instructed council officers to prioritise residents who have been in TA for over ten years for social housing. Those in TA for less than ten years will continue to be prioritised for privately rented accommodation through our national placement policy. This approach ensures that our most vulnerable residents receive the support they need.”
For more information or to take part in the consultation:Visit Housing Allocations Scheme | Enfield Council
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