Proposed changes to housing policy

CHANGES to the Housing Benefit system and the wider Welfare Reforms have been reflected in a proposed update of Carmarthenshire Council’s Access to Social Housing Policy.

The council is seeking the views of members, partners, tenants and the general public to the new draft, which gives more urgency to people who are now paying ‘bedroom tax’ because they live in a house too large for their needs.

Under the new terms, families who are under-occupying by two bedrooms or more and who wish to swap to a home that better suits their needs will be placed in Category A – the top of the housing register – which gives highest priority to those in ‘emergency housing need’.

Those under-occupying by one bedroom will be placed in Category B, ‘high housing need’.

The amended policy also clarifies the bedroom requirements for families under the new Welfare Reforms, as well as accommodation for people aged 50 and over.

Executive Board Member for Housing, Cllr Tegwen Devichand, said: “By making minor amendments to the existing policy we will be able to help prevent financial hardship, a possible increase in rent arrears, and rising homelessness.

“We are also in the process of evaluating how far this policy has met our key objectives, and people’s views will form a large part of this evaluation.”

The council, and its Housing Associations partners, have operated a common allocation policy for the allocation of council homes and other social housing since January 2006.

A new Access to Social Housing Policy was introduced in April 2011 following extensive consultation.

To view the draft policy documents, visit www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk. Send comments or feedback to SCHOptions@carmarthenshire.gov.uk