Wrexham Council has unveiled significant changes to its housing allocations policy, marking a shift towards prioritising local residents.
Following an extensive review process, the council is implementing a series of measures designed to address the growing demand for social housing.
The updated policy, which comes into effect in March 2025, reflects a strong emphasis on community connection and local priority. It introduces revised criteria that favour applicants with established ties to Wrexham County Borough.
Councillor David A Bithell, the lead member for Housing, underscored the importance of addressing local housing challenges. “We must ensure that residents of Wrexham who have longstanding connections to their communities are given opportunities to access housing,” he said. “This policy puts local people first while adhering to the legal frameworks that guide allocations.”
A centerpiece of the policy is the refinement of the banding system, which determines housing priority. Applicants who demonstrate a strong local connection, such as long-term residence in the borough, are now more likely to receive housing offers.
However, the council acknowledged the need to balance this local-first approach with legal obligations. Under Welsh housing legislation, authorities must allocate properties based on need, regardless of geographical ties in some cases.
“As Councillor Bithell noted, “We must work within the law, but our aim is always to give local people as much priority as possible.”
“I get lots of emails from everybody across the country to ask ‘why is Mrs. Bloggs being housed in front of me?’ And, you know, local connection does play a big part.
“Members are really keen that local people have housing before people that come from out of the county, however, we have to follow the law.
“We have to follow the legislation. If somebody does come out of county who’s in band one – which is the priority – and hasn’t got a local connection, it all depends on individual needs.
“Clearly local members want local people to get local homes, but we have to follow the law, and that’s why there’s a little bit of emphasis on the wording about local because where we can, if you’ve got a local connection, it does help.
Cllr Bithell added a tip for those on lists, “I think one of the biggest issues that I pick up is that when people apply for housing, and we are doing a little piece of work on this, some people apply and they make their choices really, really narrow. What people should be doing if they want to help meet the demand, they should open their areas a little bit and give two or three choices.
“What people tend to do, and I do get it, you know that their family lives in a particular street, and their family live in a particular area, and they’re trying to be close to their family, and they’ve been said, ‘Well, only number I only want number 43’ – unfortunately, we can’t do that. We have to allocate properties where they’re empty, where the demand is, and if they meet the criteria.
“Sometimes it is really difficult for the public and for elected members sometimes to grasp that, but the officers have to do that work, and they have to make that decision in a proper manner”.
Council Leader Mark Pritchard added, “Cllr Bithell is right, we have to act within the law. What I would say there is more of a debate to be had on this” pointing to an example of a young mother with a local town centre support network who may be offered a house in Chirk or Brymbo.
“I passionately campaign for local connections, because I understand the values of it, that it isn’t just about living in our community it is about having help and support when required and needed for childcare, etc. I think that this is the first piece of the jigsaw that we’ve reviewed our policy, we are going to change it, and I think it will be better for everybody, but we do come back to we have to act within the law regulations”
Another significant change involves the removal of local lettings policies that previously restricted certain properties to specific age groups, such as over-50s. The council recognised that these restrictions often limited the flexibility needed to address housing shortages. By opening these properties to a wider pool of applicants, the council hopes to reduce waiting times for younger families while still maintaining an equitable approach to housing distribution.
While some voiced concerns about potential conflicts arising from mixed-age tenancies, others welcomed the increased inclusivity.
Addressing these concerns, Councillor Bithell emphasised the council’s commitment to robust monitoring and management, including a planned 12-month review to assess the impact of the changes, adding: “I’ve got lots of concerns about it, but we as a council will have to manage that. We do get difficult cases in individual areas where we have a mix of older people and younger people, and sometimes it does cause conflict, and we have to get involved. I’m not going to say that doesn’t happen, because it does, it’s a part of life.”
Cllr Bithell said regardless, the council could not afford to leave properties underutilised, “I do, I share the concerns. I really do, but we’ve also got 3000 people on the waiting list”
During the consultation, many residents expressed support for the policy’s enhanced focus on local priorities. One council officer highlighted the issue of overly narrow preferences among applicants, noting that some limit their choices to specific streets or neighborhoods. “To meet the demand, we encourage applicants to widen their options,” the officer explained. “This flexibility will allow us to allocate housing more efficiently while still considering proximity to family and community networks.”
The council also announced stricter measures to address issues such as applicants deliberately worsening their housing conditions to gain priority status. Such cases will now be relegated to the lowest priority band, ensuring fairness in the allocation process. Additionally, the policy introduces updated guidelines for managing anti-social behaviour and unsuitability for tenancy, reinforcing a commitment to maintaining harmonious communities.
Cllrs Bithell and Pritchard also made a point of explaining the allocations team were now centralised and audited, and that councillors can make ‘representations’ for ward members but are ‘not allowed by law’ to get involved in allocations.
The plans go before the Executive Board on Tuesday for the rubber stamp.
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