20 September 2019 Have your say on social housing in Fareham

Residents are being asked for their views on how applications and allocations for social housing are made in the Fareham Borough

Council staff have drawn up a draft document ‘Optimising Social Housing (Application and allocations policy)’, and people are being asked for their opinions about it.

Fareham Borough Council’s main objective is to understand each customer’s housing problem and help them to solve it.

The main proposals include:

• Replacing a social housing application form with a drop-in information and advice service. Housing Options Officers gain an understanding the customer’s personal circumstances to help them explore all housing options and prevent homelessness before it occurs.
• Replacing the choice based letting scheme with the ‘direct match method’, where accommodation is allocated to the most suitable applicant in the highest priority band working down the housing register.
• Clarifying the criteria for sheltered housing in the Borough.

Residents will be able to go online to give their opinions on the plans at http://www.fareham.gov.uk/have_your_say/consultation/optimisingsocialhousing between Monday 16 September and Friday 25 October.

Executive Member for Housing Cllr Fred Birkett said: “We have a duty to ensure that those with the greatest need are given accommodation in the Fareham Borough and that is why we are looking at the ways we allocate social housing.

“The Council is urging people to have their say on these proposals as it is important we make the right changes for the people of Fareham Borough.”