Purpose

The Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) created the local authority housing fund (LAHF) which aims to ensure Afghan and Ukraine households who have arrived in the UK via specified resettlement and relocation schemes are provided with safe and suitable long-term accommodation. The Council was granted funds under the LAHF to provide 22 units of accommodation. These are being provided through a combination of repurposing and refurbishment of existing stock and the open market acquisition of suitable properties. The new properties will be delivered in partnership with Aequus, the Council’s wholly owned development company.
Properties will be let and managed by Aequus and the properties will be let on Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) for a minimum duration of 6 months. The rent is capped to the appropriate Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate.
The Councils Homesearch Policy sets out how we allocate Social Housing, as the LAHF properties are not Social Housing, their allocation is not covered under Homesearch. This additional allocation procedure has therefore been created to enable fair allocation of the LAHF housing whilst meeting priorities and demands to house specific households.
The Procedure is open to applicants, enabling them to understand the allocation process. It includes a review procedure for unsuccessful applicants.

Decision

To adopt the Local LAHF Nominations Procedure to allocate housing provided by the fund.

Alternative options considered

Option 1 - Create a Procedure setting out how we allocate properties, made available to applicants. This helps officers decide the most appropriate household to offer accommodation to through a clearly laid out procedure which is open and clear

Option 2 - Not create a procedure or make it public. Would be very difficult to be consistent, fair and open when allocating properties provided under the LAHF scheme. Unsuccessful applicants may not understand why housing had been allocated to others.