Posted 09.03.15
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles announced that social tenants who need to move for work will no longer be pushed to the back of the housing waiting list.
The Government is pressing ahead with new regulations and statutory guidance to ensure town halls adopt a 'Right to Move' guarantee for all existing council or housing association tenants.
It means those tenants who land a new job or an apprenticeship opportunity in a different part of the country will no longer have to sacrifice their home for work.
Currently social tenants who need to relocate to take up a job or apprenticeship 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.
The change follows a public consultation on the 'Right to Move' proposal launched in September 2014. which showed widespread support for the reform.
Notes
Since 2011, councils have had a range of powers and flexibilities to ensure they make the best possible use of their housing stock and that local people are clear how social housing in their area is allocated.
This includes strengthening the rules so councils use their new flexibilities to ensure local homes go to local people - by requiring that only those who have lived in the area for 2 years or more can put their name down on the waiting list.
The Government has made an exception for members of the armed forces to deliver on the commitment to ensure that those who have served their country should not be disadvantaged by the need to move from base to base, and can be helped onto the social housing waiting list wherever they need to live.
This new 'Right to Move' regulations will ensure local connection requirements do not prevent social tenants from moving into the area to take up work or apprenticeship opportunities.
Social tenants relocating for work will be given greater priority under the 'reasonable preference' system used to prioritize people for social housing. Councils will now have to extend the 'hardship' criteria to include those moving for work.
The new statutory guidance will also ensure that every council in England will have to set aside a small proportion of lets for tenants who need to move because of work or training.
Authorities will 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.
