Decision

To approve the revised HomeseekerPlus Allocations policy, in light with the proposals as set out in the council’s report to Cabinet in March 2026. These revisions will come into effect by January 2027.

This decision follows Cabinet approval on 17th March 2026 to:

• Carry out a public consultation on the proposed changes.
• Delegate to the Head of Strategic Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services, to approve the final policy after consultation, provided no significant additional changes were required.

Reasons for the decision

HomeseekerPlus is the scheme used across Gloucestershire and West Oxfordshire to allocate affordable rented homes. It is run by a partnership of local councils and housing providers.

The policy explains:

• Who can join the housing register.
• How housing applications are assessed.
• How priority is awarded based on housing need.

The policy has been reviewed to ensure it remains fair, consistent and in line with housing legislation and government guidance.

The proposed changes were developed jointly by councils and housing providers within the HomeseekerPlus partnership. A public consultation was carried out between 11 May and 8 June 2026 and was independently managed by Ark Consultancy.

The consultation showed support for a number of proposed changes, as set out in our report to Cabinet on 17th March 2026, including:

• Changes to financial eligibility rules and affordability assessments.
• Reduced priority for applicants who have deliberately made their housing situation worse.
• Requiring applicants to follow reasonable housing advice from professionals.
• Limiting employment-based local connection to the main applicant or joint applicant.
• Giving emergency priority to downsizers only where larger or high-demand homes are released.
• Allowing an additional bedroom where medical or disability needs mean a couple cannot share a room.
• Introducing a set period of reduced priority for applicants who fail to bid appropriately for suitable homes.
• Updating rules relating to pregnancy.

Views were mixed on proposals relating to local connection for Veterans of the Armed Forces and their family members.

Three options were consulted on:

• Option A: Applicants choose which council area receives their local connection (36% support).
• Option B: Local connection automatically applies across all partnership areas (22% support).
• Option C: No change to current arrangements (46% support).

Although Option C received the largest support as a single option, a combined total of 58% of respondents supported some form of change which favoured giving Veterans of the Armed Forces and their family members wider local connection options across the county. Of these two more progressive options, Option A received the most support.

It was therefore concluded that there was overall support for changing the current approach and that the preferred option was Option A, allowing applicants to choose where their local connection is applied.

Alternative options considered

The alternative was not to approve the revised policy.

This option was rejected because the updated policy:

• Reflects recent changes in legislation and guidance.
• Provides greater clarity for applicants.
• Supports consistent decision-making across all partner councils and housing providers.