CHOICE BASED LETTINGS (CBL)

1

• CHOICE BASED LETTINGS (CBL)
• Presentation to Support Services Consultation
  Event
• 21st September 2007

2

• Purpose of presentation
• Overview of Choice Based Lettings principles
• Aims and objectives of Glos. Homeseeker
  Partnership
• Progress of partnership to date - framework
• Take on comments and issues to inform further
  development work

3
Questions for discussion

• What do you hope to gain from CBL from your
  client group?
• What can Homeseeker do to minimise any
  disadvantage?
• What can your organisation do to help promote the
  change from points based allocations to CBL?
• What can your organisation do to assist in
  supporting your clients throughout the process?

4

• TRADITIONAL ALLOCATION SYSTEM
• Local allocation policy 6 across county
• People complete application form
• Officers decide eligibility for waiting list in
  accordance with legislation and local policy
• Officers award points to measure housing need
  (Cotswold has CBL)

5

• ISSUES
• Customer dissatisfaction e.g. Lack of
  transparency, Over complex, movement within
  points system, lack of choice
• Officer dissatisfactionnot being to help
  customers, chasing points and properties,
  management issues
• Councillor frustration over not being able to
  explain allocations outcomes
• Support service frustrations 6 different
  policies and processes

6

• The statutory Code of Guidance on the allocation
  of accommodation states the Governments belief
  that
• allocation policies for social housing should
  provide choice wherever possible, while
  continuing to meet housing needthis is the best
  way to ensure sustainable tenancies and to build
  settled and stable communities
• Target
• 100 of local authorities should have a CBL
  system by the end of 2010.

7
What is CBL?
8

• Gloucestershire Homeseeker partnership est
• AIM
• To build communities that are sustainable.
• To enable informed choice of housing options

9

• OBJECTIVES

• To increase choice for applicants.
• To re-brand social housing as a tenure of choice.
• To achieve fairness and transparency in the
  letting of homes.
• To improve levels of customer satisfaction with
  the letting process.
• To improve efficiency in the lettings process and
  reduce turnaround times.
• To make best use of housing stock

10

• OBJECTIVES Continued..

• To ensure that vulnerable people and minorities
  are not disadvantaged in the letting process.
• To enable better partnership working across the
  range of authorities and landlords involved in
  the scheme.
• To work towards cross boundary lettings
• To ensure that people understand their realistic
  housing options and are able to take more
  responsibility for meeting their own needs.

11
Choice Based Lettings in Gloucestershire

• What might the customers experience be like?

12
Obtaining support

• Support for all that need it
• For all aspects of CBL
• Making an application
• Expressing interest (bidding)
• Housing options and advice
• Allocations

13
Registering or applying for CBL

• On-line form
• Complete from home/housing offices/one stop shops
  etc
• As short as possible (with help to complete)
• Information verified translated into a housing
  need band
• Personal registration number given
• Applicant can then bid/express interest in housing

14
Bidding/expressing interest

• Properties advertised in range of ways
• Accessible locations to be determined
• Glos HOMESEEKER Website
• Check for suitable properties
• Bid if eligible (advert will specify)
• Phone/text/bid on line
• Automated bidding for some

15

• Receiving an offer and allocation
• Offer made by the Landlord not HOMESEEKER
• Normally made to applicant top of shortlist
• Closest match to eligibility, band and time
  registered
• Landlord checks details
• Chance to view home

16
Getting feedback

• Published feedback on successful applicants
• Not personally identifiable
• eg Platinum Band registered since 10/04/08
  Silver registered since 29/08/08
• Transparent
• Helps applicants target bidding

17

• Summary
• Glos HOMESEEKER will be web based with support
  for those who need help
• From HOMESEEKER, agencies informal networks

18
Questions for SHF

• What do you hope to gain from CBL from your
  client group?
• Do you have any concerns about moving to CBL?
• What role could you play in supporting the
  implementation and running of CBL?

19
Questions for discussion

• What do you hope to gain from CBL from your
  client group?
• What can Homeseeker do to minimise any
  disadvantage?
• What can your organisation do to help promote the
  change from points based allocations to CBL?
• What can your organisation do to assist in
  supporting your clients throughout the process?