About the consultation
The Council has reviewed its Housing Allocations Policy and is inviting views on the draft updated policy.
The Housing Allocations Policy sets out the criteria and procedures that the Council uses to prioritise applicants for housing owned by the Council and a proportion of homes owned by our housing association partners in the borough. It details how applicants can apply for, and access, social housing and sets out how applicants are prioritised on the Council’s housing register.
Summary of the main proposed changes
- The length of time an applicant must live continuously in the borough of Dartford to have local connection and qualify to join the housing register has been increased from two years to five years. Social housing is a scarce resource, and the Council believes that it is appropriate and proportionate to ensure that sufficient affordable housing is available for those who can demonstrate a reasonable period of residency and close association to the borough. The five-year local connection criteria will only affect new applicants after the policy is approved. There are some exceptions to the local connection criteria which are explained in the policy.
- Local connection may be waived for out of borough applicants where there is an exceptional need to move to Dartford because of medical or welfare needs. Applicants with immediate family members who have lived in the borough for at least five years will be considered where essential care, from or to the applicant, cannot be provided elsewhere. Certain qualifying criteria will apply.
- Clarification has been provided on the Right to Move, where council or housing associationtenants living outside of the borough can apply for housing in Dartford if they need to move to the area for work. The Council will ensure that applicants need to move for work, and, if they were unable to do so, it would cause them hardship. Certain qualifying criteria will apply.
Have your say
To read the draft Housing Allocations Policy, please see the consultation documents section.
If you have any comments on the draft Housing Allocations Policy, we’d like to hear from you. Please see the section on how to give your views to tell us what you think.
If you want to join the housing register or need advice
If you want to apply to join the housing register, please visit the register for social housing page for further information.
If you need advice on your housing register application, please contact the Housing Allocations Team.