North East Derbyshire District Council is carrying out consultation on proposed changes to the Council’s Allocations Policy. Rykneld Homes is supporting North East Derbyshire District Council (NEDDC) to carry out the consultation.
The consultation runs from 14th July to 21 August 2020. If you would like to respond to the proposals, make any comments or suggestions, then please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 01246 217670.
A summary of the proposed changes is provided below - for more details and to view the draft policy, please visit the Rykneld Homes website www.rykneldhomes.org.uk
The main changes under consideration are:
- Armed Forces - Ex Partners/Spouses
We propose to give ex-partners/spouses of armed forces personnel the same priority we give their former partners where they must move out of a Ministry of Defence property due to a relationship breakdown.
- Moves that release an under occupied property
Priority band 1 was originally given when the Governments under-occupation charge was introduced. This was to help people move to a smaller property if they could no longer afford the rent.
Six years on, this is no longer an issue facing customers. We therefore propose to reprioritise this circumstance to band 2.
- Applicants with equity, savings and/or assets (equity levels do not apply to existing Council tenants)
Currently, applicants in the private sector with £30,000 or more equity/savings/assets are not able to register for housing unless they have special circumstances, for example: a medical need for specialist accommodation.
Applicants with equity/savings between £16,000 and £30,000 are eligible for band 4 priority.
It is proposed to replace these two thresholds with a fairer financial assessment.
The proposal is to:
- Carry out a financial assessment of the applicant’s income/savings/equity against the average market house price that meets their needs.
- Assessments will take into consideration:
- housing need
- specialist housing requirements
- mortgage/financial restrictions - such as ability to get a mortgage
- Assess if the private rented sector is an affordable and accessible housing option
Based on this assessment:
- If applicants can afford to buy a property, they will not be eligible to go on the housing register.
- If applicants can afford to rent in the private rented sector their application will be restricted to priority band 4.
- If applicants cannot afford to buy or private rent, a priority band will be allocated in accordance with the Allocations Policy.