How your application is assessed
Wolverhampton Council determines priority for allocation of housing by means of a housing register based on a points system. This register contains both applicants and secure tenants wishing to transfer. For the purposes of this document all those requesting re-housing are referred to as applicants.
THE UNIFIED POINTS SCHEME
• It should be noted that there are some cases which are considered outside of the Unified Points Scheme. These are:
• Priority homeless cases.
• Cases subject to a compulsory purchase order.
• Cases given priority by the Housing Appeals Panel
• Service tenants of Wolverhampton Borough Council
After acceptance onto the housing register your application is then assessed.
Points are awarded in a number of ways
After acceptance onto the housing register your application is then assessed.
Points are awarded in a number of ways.
WAITING TIME POINTS
One point is awarded for each of the first five years on the register and then one point for each completed three subsequent year.
SHARED FACILITIES
Ten points are awarded to single applicants who have to share basic facilities i.e. one or all of bathroom, kitchen and toilet.
For couples, families and pensioners the award is 14 points.
BEDROOM DEFICIENCY
10 points are awarded for each bedroom you are short of up to a maximum of 50 points (5 bedrooms short).
(Note that children of the same sex can share a bedroom up to the age of 13, different sexes up to the age of 8)
SEVERE OVERCROWDING
In the case of Council Tenants or Housing Association Tenants wishing to transfer, 26 points will be awarded where
1. Three or more people have to share a bedroom.
2. Two people of the opposite sex, one of which is over 8 years of age, have to share a bedroom.
CHILDREN IN FLATS
Council Tenants and Housing Association Tenants receive an award for living in a flat or maisonette depending on the type of property.
1. Tenants whose property opens onto an open shared walkway (deck access) will receive 24 points
2. Tenants in multi storey blocks will receive 20 points
3. Tenants in low-rise flats (non-deck access) will receive 16 points.
In addition to the above, Council Tenants ONLY receive an award of points based on the amount of time spent living in a flat with children. This award is 6 points after three years, 12 points after four years and rising to a maximum of 18 points after five years.
LACK OF FACILITIES
20 points awarded if you live in a property that does not have one or more of the following
1. fixed bath or shower
2. inside W.C
3. a hot water supply
LOSS OF HOME
32 points will be awarded to someone considered to be homeless, or potentially homeless, unintentionally, but who does not fall into the priority categories as laid down by the Housing Act 1996. This decision will be made by the Homeless Services Unit. The points may also be awarded in other exceptional circumstances but each case will be looked at individually.
MEDICAL NEEDS
Where your present property type is having an adverse effect on a medical condition AND where moving to a different property type would make that condition easier to manage, your case can be submitted for consideration by the Department's medical assessors. 12, 24 or 40 points may be awarded according to the severity of the problem.
SOCIAL NEED POINTS
As with medical needs points, 12, 24 or 40 social need points may be awarded according to the severity of the problem.
The reasons for the awards can fall under a number of broad headings
1. to receive or give support
2. to move away from an area
3. neighbour disputes / racial harassment
4. matrimonial breakdown
5. children's categories
6. community care
In every case supporting evidence will be required from bodies such as the Health Authority, Police, solicitors etc
HOUSE RELEASE POINTS
Any tenant of Wolverhampton Council moving from a house to a flat, maisonette or low demand bungalow or pre-fab will be awarded 24 points. In addition the Council may offer an incentive package which covers the cost of the removal van (if using the Councils' approved remover) plus a cash payment of £150.
ASSESSING THE APPLICATION
Following a full interview and the obtaining of any supporting information, a points total will be arrived at and you will be placed on the housing register.
Where applications attract the same number of points then they are prioritised against each other by the time spent on the register ; the longest time on the list receiving the highest priority.
When a property becomes available for allocating, a list is printed giving the property type, lettings area, number of bedrooms and any other relevant factors such as the floor level if a flat, any age restriction etc.
The allocation will be made to the highest pointed applicant that is eligible for the property and whose requirements exactly match the property criteria.
PRIORITIES ON THE HOUSING REGISTER
Wolverhampton's housing register is open to all residents of the Borough but a number of policies made by the Housing Committee mean that some applicants will have a lesser priority. In brief these are;
• Applicants that have not lived in the City for a continuous period of one month prior to the application.
• Council tenants that have not been in their present property for a least 12 months.
• Council tenants and Housing Associations tenants or former tenants of theirs who owe
1. more than two weeks rent on their existing tenancy
2. more than £60 in ex-tenant arrears or any other debt to the Housing Department with the exception of housing benefit overpayments.
• Owner-occupiers under pensionable age who have more than £48,000 equity in their present property.
• Housing applicants can be excluded from the waiting list for reasons that would make them unsuitable to be a tenant of the Council. All applicants excluded for this reason which can include anti-social behaviour, a history of rent arrears etc. shall receive detailed written notification informing them of the decision to exclude. Applicants have the right of appeal against the decision to exclude but must do so in writing within 28 days. The exclusion shall remain in force indefinitely until such time as the applicant makes a further approach to the housing department. At this time the applicant will be required to demonstrate his/ her improvement in behaviour.
District offices can give advice on these categories and what they may mean for individual applicants.
Please contact your local housing office if you want to appeal against a decision regarding housing or for general information please use our online e-form (secure).