“Who Will Get a House in Havering? Council Hits Back at Criticism”

Havering Council is defending its new Housing Allocations Scheme amid rising social media criticism, insisting the updated points-based system is designed to get homes to those who need them most. The council says the scheme prioritises long-term local residents, fast-tracks high-need cases like overcrowded families and people with disabilities, and is helping tackle a growing housing crisis that is leaving more residents struggling for a safe and secure home.

Councillor Natasha Summers, Cabinet Lead for Housing Need and Climate Change, Havering Council, told the Havering Daily:

“The Council’s new Housing Allocations Scheme launched last September, to ensure available homes go to those who need them most.

This updated policy introduced a points-based system to ensure that Havering’s social housing is allocated fairly and transparently, with existing qualifying applicants on the register being protected.

Importantly, it also strengthens our commitment to residents by recognising applicants who have lived in Havering for four out of the last six years.

Unfortunately, some misinformation and negative social media comments were circulated online regarding Havering’s new Housing Allocations Scheme and I would like to addressthese comments. 

These comments do not represent the scheme accurately and do not reflect the significant challenges that are being faced by many councils in providing social housing across the UK.

Following these social media comments, I wanted to take the opportunity to share an update on the new scheme and hopefully reassure residents that Havering is doing all it can despite the ongoing difficult circumstances.

The launch has resulted in a large increase in housing applications which means officers now have a higher volume to process.

To accelerate progress, the assessment process has been streamlined, with additional staff deployed, including overtime sessions and cover from other team members. 

This has ensured that decisions are issued more quickly and cases are converted into live applications which has reducedthe backlog, with a particular focus on high-priority applicants as per the needs-based assessment.

High- priority entitlement is provided in instances where there is consideration for overcrowding and disabilities.

Most of these high-priority applications have already been assessed and are currently bidding for properties, with all remaining high-priority cases scheduled for completion by the end of January. 

To help the Council make decisions as quickly as possible when application reach the assessment stage, we ask applicants to ensure they have provided all the required documents. 

By providing documents in advance, it helps the team progress applications without any delay.

How the Council determines need is provided during the application process and guidance on this was shared to the over 3,000 residents who were already on the register prior tothe launch of the new scheme.

While the new scheme has streamlined the application process. It unfortunately does not affect the overall supply of homes, as the number of social housing properties available remains very limited, particularly for larger homes, and homes for people with disabilities.

Accessible homes are allocated to those with mobility or medical issues, but these homes are in short supply due to demand and only a limited number of properties being suitable for accessibility conversions.

Last year, out of only 335 social housing properties that were available to applicants, 104 were 2-bedroom properties, 97 were 3-bedroom properties, and only five were 4-bedroom homes. This highlights the ongoing challenge of meeting demand, especially for families requiring more space.

The reason for the limited number of social housing stock is that like many councils across the country, Havering continues to face a housing crisis.

The rising cost of private rents, combined with a shortage of affordable homes, means more families and individuals are struggling to find somewhere safe and secure to live.

This has resulted in greater demand for housing as moreresidents becoming homeless with no other options available to them.

Homelessness isn’t just about sleeping rough. It can be anyone who does not have a stable or suitable place to live.

This can include families and individuals living in overcrowded or unsafe conditions, those staying temporarily with friends or relatives, those in hostels or emergency shelters and those at immediate risk of losing their home due to eviction or financial hardship.

Solving the UK housing crisis won’t happen overnight, but here in Havering we are committed to delivering more social rented homes, making better use of long-term empty buildings, ensuring our planning system supports affordable housing, protecting tenants from unfair eviction and helping people to sustain their tenancies and rebuild their lives.”

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