Posted 10.09.14
Social tenants who need to move to a new area for work will no longer be pushed to the back of the housing waiting list under new proposals being drawn up for town halls.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has announced a consultation on how town halls can ensure all existing tenants will have a guaranteed 'Right to Move'.
It means existing council or housing association tenants who land a new job in a different part of the country will not have to sacrifice their home for work.
Currently social tenants who need to relocate to take up a job or training sometimes find it hard to secure a new social tenancy in a different local authority area, as they will often be competing for housing with applicants classed as having a higher need.
Since 2011, councils have had a range of powers and flexibilities to ensure they make the best possible use of their housing stock.
The Department for Communities and Local Government consultation will seek views on the introduction of new rules that would ensure local residency requirements do not prevent social tenants from moving into the area to take up work or training opportunities.
Social tenants relocating for work will be given greater priority, either by creating a new 'reasonable preference' category - used by councils to prioritise people for social housing - or through strengthened statutory guidance to ensure local authorities apply the existing 'hardship' reasonable preference category to include people moving for work or training.
Further proposed new statutory guidance will also ensure that every council in England would have to set aside a small proportion of lets for tenants who need to move because of work or training.
Authorities would be required to provide at least 1% of their existing stock under the Right to Move scheme, although they would be free to offer more. Any town hall that decides to offer less will need to explain to voters why.
On top of this, ministers will later this year launch a new fund to help a number of councils to trial new and innovative ways of helping people looking to move for work in their area.
In particular, the measures could be used for people already in existing social housing, who face a long wait to get the help they need to move.
