Norwich Home Options Allocation Scheme

2.1  How to apply

2.1.1  To apply for a social housing property in Norwich an applicant must be registered with Home Options.

2.1.2  Applications to Home Options can be made in person at City Hall or over the telephone on 0344 980 3333. All applications will involve a discussion of an applicant’s housing need with an adviser.

2.1.3  Home Options is a scheme which is based on verification. All applicants will be required to provide evidence of their household circumstances including income, savings and housing history.

2.2  Who can apply?

2.2.1  Residents of the UK who are over 18 years old can apply to Home Options however this does not guarantee an application will be taken or that the applicant will be re-housed under the scheme.

2.2.2  By law, there are defined groups of applicants who cannot be re-housed through the scheme. There are also exceptions or restrictions to an application which may apply.

2.2.3  Under the Housing Act 1996, local authorities must consider whether applicants are eligible for housing assistance. The council will apply the relevant legislation that is in place at the time of application.

2.3  The applicant’s household

2.3.1  The council will decide in each case as to whether the people included in the application by the applicant will be considered as a part of the household for purposes of assessing housing need.

2.3.2  Any person wishing to be included as part of an applicant’s household must satisfy the council that they are a permanent member of the applicant’s household and show that it is reasonable to expect them to reside with the applicant on a continuing basis.

2.3.3  The council will generally not consider the following as members of an applicant’s household:

• Anyone who falls within legislation prohibiting them from having recourse to public funds or is an asylum seeker
• Non-dependent children who have not lived within the household continually throughout their adult lives
• Other adult relatives
• Any family member not resident in the UK at the time of the application
• Friends and acquaintances
• Lodgers
• Live in help
• Students living away from home with their own rent liability

2.3.4  Only dependent children that form a permanent part of the household can be considered. Only if an applicant is evidenced to have their child stay with them for four or more nights a week can they be classed as part of the applicant’s household when making an assessment. Temporary arrangements or contact arrangements cannot be considered and household size will be determined upon evidence that any living arrangements are permanent, and the applicant can demonstrate to the council’s satisfaction that they have full-time, permanent responsibility for the child. Where a formal residence agreement is not in place, the council will consider:

• Who the children usually live with 
• Who has financial responsibility for the children
• The length of time any arrangement has been in place
• Where the children go to school
• Any other relevant information

2.3.5  In cases where an applicant wishes to include their children in their Home Options application, this will not be considered where those children have accommodation available to them elsewhere, for example with another parent

2.3.6  Household members can only appear on one Home Options application.

2.3.7  Households that have been accepted to adopt or foster a child will be assessed as if they have assumed parental responsibility upon written confirmation from Norfolk County Council being provided.

2.3.8  Where an applicant feels that an additional bedroom is needed for a carer, this can only be considered where we have evidence of the need for permanent night-time care from a non-family member who requires their own bedroom to sleep in on a continuing basis. ‘Waking care’ will not be taken into consideration

2.3.9  Where the family unit or parents are not currently residing together, the assessment will be based on the part of the household that occupies accommodation that provides them with the most suitable housing providing there is a reasonable expectation that they could reside together.

2.3.10  Where an applicant has been assessed in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 as being unable to hold or to manage a tenancy, they may be suspended from the register until a suitable advocate is appointed to act on their behalf.

2.3.11  For an applicant to become a tenant and enter into a tenancy agreement, they must have the mental capacity to understand the contract. If an applicant does not have the capacity to understand the contract, an application should be made to the Court of Protection by an advocate for the tenancy agreement to be signed on their behalf.

2.3.12  Unborn children will not be considered as part of the assessment. A child cannot be added to an application until the applicant has provided a copy of the birth certificate.

2.3.13    For people in prison, applications can be made within 8 weeks of release if the client meets qualification and local connection criteria. In such instances the client does not need to apply for housing in person and applications will be accepted from a third party on behalf of a person in custody, for example by a Prison Resettlement Officer as part of a Resettlement Plan where third-party consent has been given.

2.3.14  Only household members that meet the qualification criteria set out in this policy will be included in an application.

2.4  Eligibility

2.4.1  The council may only allocate accommodation to people who are defined as ‘qualifying persons’. Subject to: the requirement not to allocate to persons from abroad who are ineligible; the exception for members of the Armed and Reserve Forces; and the exception for social tenants who need to move for work related areas, the council may decide the classes of people who are, or are not, qualifying persons. These requirements and exceptions are set out below.

2.4.2  Persons from abroad

i) A person or persons will be ineligible if they are a person from abroad who is ineligible for an allocation of housing accommodation by virtue of being subject to immigration control within the meaning of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 unless of a class of person prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.

ii) Eligibility for housing assistance can be affected if there is a change in the immigration status of the applicant(s), and therefore eligibility for an allocation of housing will be kept under review. The applicant is responsible for informing the council of any change in their immigration status.

iii) The Home Options team will determine the eligibility of an applicant, based on immigration status, by applying the legislation that is in place at the time of the application and the point of allocation.

iv) Applicants whose households include a person from abroad who is ineligible will not be afforded priority if they are only homeless or in housing need as a consequence of the presence of the ineligible person.

v) The council will not allow a joint application where one of the applicants is a person from abroad who is ineligible.

2.4.3 EEA nationals and their family members will continue to be treated as ‘persons not subject to immigration control’ where they:

i) have acquired limited leave to enter and remain in the UK (also known as pre-settled status) by virtue of the EU Settlement Scheme.
ii) were frontier working in the UK prior to 31December 2020; or
iii) were lawfully living in the UK by 31 December 2020 but have still to apply to or acquire status under the EU Settlement Scheme before the deadline of 30 June 2021 and are covered by the Citizens’ Rights (EU Exit) regulations 2020 (Grace period SI).

2.5  Qualification for housing in Norwich

2.5.1  The Localism Act 2011 allows councils to make local decisions about who qualifies for social housing in their area in order to ensure that local objectives and the needs of local residents are met.

2.5.2  The decision that an applicant does not qualify for an allocation may occur at the time of joining the housing register, at any time during the life of the application, at the time the applicant is allocated a property, or when the applicant has bid and has been short-listed for a property. The Home Options team will make the decision.

2.5.3  To ensure that the council’s housing policies benefit local people, applicants must currently live in Norwich and have been continuously resident for at least the last 6 months. If applicants cannot provide satisfactory evidence that they meet these criteria, an application will not be taken. For household members to join an application, the same criteria apply.

2.5.4  Exceptional circumstances will be considered. In such cases, the decision as to whether an applicant qualifies will be determined by a Housing Options team leader or manager, or by the council’s assessment panel. Examples are:

• Somebody who needs to live in Norwich as they have a significant need to be near specific medical or family care which is unavailable elsewhere.
• Applicants over 60 who have a specific need for sheltered housing in Norwich to be near medical care or family support unavailable elsewhere.
• The applicant needs to move to Norwich where failure to meet that need would cause extreme hardship to themselves or others
• Households accepted as homeless under the Housing Act 1996 where the council has accepted a fully duty to rehouse
• Care-leavers with an overarching family connection to Norwich who, due to their care needs have been placed out of area by Norfolk County Council Children’s Services.
• Applicants that can demonstrate a lifelong residential connection to Norwich which has been broken for only a short time.

These are examples and this list is not exhaustive.

2.5.5  Residents in prison, bail hostel, hospital or approved premises, or those households placed in temporary, residential, or supported accommodation in Norwich by another local authority will not gain a local connection and time spent in such premises will not count toward local connection.

2.5.6  Applicants whose only residential connection to Norwich is through further education or student accommodation will not be considered as having gained local connection. Student accommodation is that provided by an educational establishment or where a student exemption certificate has been provided for council tax purposes.

2.6  Exception to the criteria: tenants moving for work related purposes

2.6.1  The residential qualification does not apply to tenants of social housing needing to move for work-related reasons where failure to meet that need would cause hardship, who can evidence that they meet the criteria set out in the 2015 Regulations (SI 2015/967).

2.7  Exception to the criteria: Armed and Reserve Forces

2.7.1  The council is committed to ensuring that Service personnel and their families have access to appropriate accommodation when they leave the armed forces. Under the terms of the Armed Forces Covenant, to which the council is signatory, the local connection criteria will not apply to the following:

• Those who are currently serving in the regular forces or who were serving in the regular forces at any time in the five years preceding their Home Options application.
• Bereaved spouses or civil partners of those serving in the armed and reserve forces where (i) the bereaved spouse or civil partner has recently ceased or will cease to be entitled to reside in Ministry of Defence accommodation following the death of their spouse or civil partner and (ii) the death was wholly or partly attributable to their service.
• Existing or former members of the reserve forces who are suffering from a serious injury, illness or disability which is wholly or partly attributable to their service.
• Divorced or separated spouses or civil partners of Service personnel who are required to move out of accommodation provided by the Ministry of Defence.

Under these terms, the council can ensure that current and former service personnel in urgent housing need are awarded preference in line with the priority need bands.

2.8  Those who will not qualify: need considerations

Home Options policy aims to manage expectations realistically and to focus resources on those in most need of them. Therefore, having considered the provisions made in the Localism Act 2011, the following applicants will not qualify: 

• Applicants who are tenants of scheme landlords who have made a ‘right to buy’ application on their property.
• Applicants who are tenants of scheme landlords and are in the process of carrying out a mutual exchange or have completed a mutual exchange in the previous 12 months.
• Applicants who have been housed through the scheme will not be able to reapply for Home Options for a 12-month period from the commencement of their new tenancy. This restriction does not apply where the household circumstances have changed and the property is no longer suitable or where there are extenuating circumstances.
• Applicants who have been housed through the council’s private sector leasing scheme (Let NCC) or through a loan from the council’s homeless prevention fund will have their Home Options application cancelled and will not be able to reapply for a 12-month period from the commencement of their new tenancy. This restriction does not apply where the household circumstances have changed and the property is no longer suitable or where there are extenuating circumstances.
• Clients who have been sponsored to enter the country in the last five years based on an undertaking given by a sponsor that accommodation was available (and where that sponsor is still alive)
• Applicants who own or have an interest in a property as a freeholder, leaseholder, a part-owner through shared ownership, including part commercial/residential property, in the UK or abroad will not qualify unless there are extenuating circumstances, as determined by a review panel. Examples of extenuating circumstances could be someone who requires sheltered housing in Norwich or someone who has been accepted as statutorily homeless.

2.9  Those who will not qualify: behaviour considerations

The council, scheme landlords and Norwich residents have a right to expect certain standards of behaviour. The council has the power to determine whether, in its opinion, applicants or members of their household have been guilty of unacceptable behaviour serious enough to determine that they should be disqualified from the Home Options scheme.

Some examples of the type of behaviour that could mean that an applicant does not qualify for the Home Options scheme are:

• Serious rent arrears which, in the council’s view, would entitle the landlord to a possession order.
• Causing deliberate damage to a property. 
• Causing antisocial behaviour such as nuisance to neighbours, discriminatory behaviour or harassment, abuse, violence, or intimidation to the community or to council staff.
• Conviction for using or allowing a property to be used for illegal or immoral purposes
• Committing domestic abuse.
• Conviction for violent crime or the supply, use or possession of drugs.
• Conviction of a criminal offence in the property or in the locality of the property
• Eviction from hostel or temporary accommodation
• Being convicted of, issued with, or accepted a sanction for Benefit or Council Tax fraud within the last five years.
• Making a false statement in order to obtain accommodation
• Failing to provide relevant information that has been reasonably requested to verify an application for housing

These are examples and this list is not exhaustive.

The examples relate to both current and former tenancies and apply no matter who the landlord is, when they happened or what form of tenancy was held. Paragraphs 5.0.4 & 5.0.5, together with Appendix B, deal with the way in which applicants may demonstrate that they have addressed past behaviour in order to requalify.

Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, with each case judged on its own merits.

2.10  Public protection arrangements

Applicants subject to multi-agency public protection arrangements can only access the register with the consent of the Housing Options manager. Each case will be considered on its own merits in determining whether an application will be accepted.

2.11  Assessment of applications

2.11.1  Legal background

2.11.2  All applicants who are eligible and who qualify for Home Options will be placed in the appropriate banding based on an assessment of their housing needs. This is to ensure that the council allocates homes to those in the greatest assessed need and to ensure that its legal obligations are met.

2.11.3  The council is required by law to give reasonable preference in the scheme to people with high levels of assessed housing need:

i) People who need to move on welfare or medical grounds (including grounds relating to a disability), 
ii) People who need to move to a particular locality of the city to avoid hardship to themselves or others,
iii) People living in unsanitary, unsatisfactory, or overcrowded housing, and
iv) People who are homeless within the meaning of the Housing Act 1996, and people who are owed a particular statutory duty by any local housing authority under section 190(2), 193(2) or 195(2) (or under section 65(2) or 68(2) of the Housing Act 1985 or who are occupying accommodation secured by any such authority under section 192(3).
v) Former and serving members of the armed or reserve forces who have an urgent housing need or need to move because of a serious injury, medical condition or disability sustained as a result of their service
vi) Bereaved spouses and civil partners of members of the armed forces leaving services family accommodation following the death of their spouse or partner.

2.11.4  Applicants outside the reasonable preference categories can also be given additional consideration to meet local priorities.

2.11.5  Applications are processed by the council’s Home Options team, in accordance with this policy.

2.11.6  The housing need bands

Each application will be assessed to determine the level of housing need of the household and placed into one of five bands:

• Emergency band: Emergency priority
• Gold band: High priority
• Silver band: Medium priority
• Bronze band: Urgent/High/Medium priority but with reduced preference
• Standard band: No priority

Banding will only be awarded where the applicant’s circumstances have been verified.

2.11.7  An applicant’s circumstances and therefore their level of housing need and banding is subject to change. As such, an applicant’s Home Options banding is kept under continuous review.

Every applicant is responsible for ensuring that they provide correct and up to date information

The criteria for being placed in each band are as follows:

Emergency band

2.11.8  This band is intended to meet the needs of applicants in extreme circumstances and will only be issued in certain situations where an applicant needs urgent re-housing to ensure their well-being or safety.

An applicant in Emergency band is expected to place two bids per week with the guidance of their housing adviser and accept the first suitable available property which they successfully bid for. As examples, circumstances where emergency status may be awarded include:

• An applicant has an extremely urgent medical need, as determined by a Housing Options team leader or manager or the council’s assessment panel.
• Those applicants requiring urgent hospital discharge where their current accommodation is totally unsuitable for their needs
• Those applicants required to leave their homes as a result of an emergency prohibition order served in relation to the premises under the Housing Act 2004 or as the result of action taken by the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service
• Other extreme circumstances as determined by the Housing Options manager or assessment panel.

Gold band

2.11.9  Homelessness and homeless prevention

Applicants to whom the council has accepted a prevention of homelessness or relief of homelessness duty, who are assessed by their housing adviser as likely to be in priority need. Applicants will have completed and kept to a personalised housing plan made with a housing adviser, will place two bids per week with the guidance of their adviser and will be entitled to one suitable offer of accommodation. Refusal of the offer or failure to engage with advice will mean the council’s duty is ended and gold banding will be removed.

2.11.10  Severe medical need

Critical medical needs directly relating to the applicant’s accommodation or need for accommodation as determined by a Housing Options team leader or manager, or by the council’s assessment panel.

Medical priority is only awarded where an applicant needs urgent re-housing due to a strongly evidenced, serious and enduring medical condition or disability, which is severely and permanently affected by their current accommodation.

Examples of severe medical need determining the award of gold band:

• The applicant is housebound through mobility issues and moving to alternative accommodation would alleviate this.
• The applicant’s life is at risk
• The applicant is unable to move around their current accommodation, and cannot access kitchen or bathing facilities
• A member the household is severely disabled and needs substantial adaptations to help meet their needs but these cannot be carried out in their current accommodation
• The applicant has a terminal illness and alternative accommodation would allow for suitable care to be provided
• The applicant has a severe and enduring medical condition which is significantly exacerbated by poor housing conditions and the accommodation cannot be repaired and no other remedies are available.
• Armed Forces members and veterans suffering from mental or physical ill health as a result of their service.
• These are examples and this list is not exhaustive

2.11.11  Welfare

Where the applicant or member of their household is being grievously and adversely affected by their current accommodation and there is an urgent need to move for welfare reasons.

This may include situations such as:

• Infirmity due to old age
• The need to give or receive care
• A vulnerable applicant is being exploited within their accommodation putting them at risk
• To help avoid a residential placement where an applicant, with the necessary support mechanisms in place, is capable and best suited to independent living.
• The applicant is participant is a witness protection programme
• This list is not exhaustive and other exceptional circumstances will be considered.

Assessment will be subject to a thorough investigation of all the circumstances by the council’s assessment panel and the degree of priority awarded will depend on the circumstances of the case.

2.11.12  Housing Conditions

Applicants have no access to a kitchen and/or bathroom.

Or

A prohibition order or demolition order has been served in relation to the applicant’s dwelling by the council’s private sector housing team. This indicates that the property contains one or more category 1 hazards that probably cannot be remedied.

Or

An improvement notice has been served in relation to the applicant’s dwelling by the private sector housing team and

• The remedies that are needed to reduce the hazard will require the property to be vacated for a significant period
• The cost of the remedies is beyond the means of the applicant (where applicable)
• The remedies will make the property unsuitable for occupation by the applicant

In such cases the award of priority banding is dependent upon individual circumstances, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis by a Housing Options team leader or manager.

2.11.13  Overcrowding

Applicants lack two or more bedrooms.

2.11.14  Under-occupation/council interest

Tenants of council or scheme landlord accommodation are under occupying by two or more bedrooms and prepared to move to significantly smaller accommodation or are occupying a substantially adapted property that they no longer require that the housing options manager assesses would be in high demand from applicants in need of those adaptations.

2.11.15  Decommissioning

Where a cabinet decision has been made to decommission a council property, gold band will be awarded to any tenant having to move home as a result.

2.11.16  Violence/Harassment

Where there is significant evidence of serious harassment or violence toward a household, where a change of accommodation within Norwich could be reasonably expected to alleviate the problem and there is no other remedy. In such instances banding will be awarded by a housing advisor working with the client to prevent their homelessness or as the result of a of a submission to the assessment panel.

2.11.17  Care leavers

Where an applicant is leaving local authority residential care and is assessed as needing to move on (as determined by a Housing Options team leader or manager following the required evidence and risk assessment being submitted from Children’s Services), where the applicant has completed a tenancy awareness course, support plan outcomes have been met and there is a suitable support package in place so that the council is satisfied that the applicant is able to successfully manage their own tenancy. Referrals can be accepted from four weeks before the applicant leaves care. Applicants will have completed and kept to a personalised housing plan made with a housing adviser, will place two bids per week with the guidance of their adviser and will be entitled to one suitable offer of accommodation. Refusal of the offer will mean that gold banding will be removed.

2.11.18  Let NCC

Where the applicant meets the criteria set out under the LetNCC tenant incentive scheme, Appendix C.

2.11.19  Multiple Needs

Applicants with a combination of medium needs.

Silver band

2.11.20 Homelessness and homeless prevention

Applicants to whom the council has accepted a prevention of homelessness or relief of homelessness duty and those who are ‘rough sleeping’ or ‘sofa surfing’, who are assessed by the council’s housing advice team as not likely to be in priority need. Applicants will have completed and kept to a personalised housing plan made with a housing adviser, will place two bids per week with the guidance of their adviser and will be entitled to one suitable offer of accommodation. Refusal of the offer or failure to engage with advice will mean the council’s duty is ended and silver banding will be removed.

2.11.21  Medical

Significant medical needs directly relating to the applicant’s accommodation or need for accommodation as determined by a Housing Options team leader, manager or by the council’s assessment panel. For example:

• Applicants with an evidenced, enduring, and significant medical or disability problem which seriously affects their ability to manage in their current accommodation, where a move would resolve the issue and no other remedy is available.

2.11.22  Welfare

Where the applicant or member of their household is being seriously and adversely affected by their current accommodation, the issue cannot be remedied and there is a significant need to move for welfare reasons.

Assessment will be subject to a thorough investigation of all the circumstances and the degree of priority awarded by the council’s assessment panel will depend on the circumstances of the case.

2.11.23  Housing Conditions

A hazard awareness notice has been served by the council’s private sector housing team. In relation to a category 1 or 2 hazard at the applicant’s dwelling and:

• The remedies that are needed to reduce the hazard will require the property to be vacated for a significant period; or
• The cost of the remedies is beyond the means of the applicant (where applicable); or
• The remedies will make the property unsuitable for occupation by the applicant

A suspended improvement notice or prohibition order exists but a foreseeable change in the applicant’s circumstances will cause it to become active and result in a high priority situation.

In such cases the award of priority banding is dependent upon individual circumstances, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

2.11.24  Overcrowding

Applicants lack one bedroom.

2.11.25  Under-occupation

Applicants in council or scheme landlord accommodation, who are under occupying by 1 bedroom and are willing to move to smaller accommodation.

2.11.26  Children in flats or maisonettes

Applicants with a child or children aged ten or under and living in a flat or maisonette that does not have a garden.

Where a household includes a child or children aged six or under and the applicant lives in a property on the third floor or above where there is no lift access, an extra unit of priority will be added. Please note that any combination of issues related to children in flats would not normally exceed gold band.

This category will not be awarded for those children who were born when the current accommodation was accepted.

2.11.27  Let NCC

Where the applicant meets the criteria set out under the LetNCC tenant incentive scheme - Appendix C.

Bronze band (reduced preference)

2.11.28  Priority but no two-year residential connection

Applicants who have lived in Norwich beyond the six-month qualification period but do not have a two-year residential connection to Norwich and who have a verified need which would otherwise result in emergency, gold or silver band, will be placed in the bronze band. See also section 2.12.5

2.11.29  Reduced preference

Applicants with one of the assessed needs as detailed in emergency, gold, or silver band but who have been assessed for reduced preference as set out in section 2.12. In such cases, any criteria applied to the original banding will apply equally once reduced preference has been applied.

Standard band

All other applicants to the scheme will be placed in the standard band:

2.11.30  Adequately housed

Applicants who live in a property that is adequate to meet their needs in terms of property type, size, and facilities.

2.11.31  Supported Housing/Hostels

Applicants in supported housing/hostels and undergoing a resettlement programme and either not yet ready to move on or not engaging fully with the programme (based on the required evidence from an accredited supporting agency)

Or

Applicants in supported housing/hostels who do not participate in the hostel move on agreement.

2.11.32  Deliberate worsening of circumstances and becoming homeless intentionally

Applicants who are assessed by the council as having created or worsened their housing circumstances through their own actions or omissions, including those found to be intentionally homeless under homelessness legislation. This includes applicants who would otherwise be in a priority band.

Examples:

• An applicant giving up accommodation that was suitable or more suitable for them than the accommodation they have moved into and which it was reasonable to continue to occupy.
• An applicant creating overcrowding by allowing family and/or friends to move into their home, which has worsened their housing situation.
• An applicant moving into a property that was unsuitable for their needs from the outset.
• An applicant being unable to continue to occupy accommodation due to their deliberate action or omission.
• Homeowners who have transferred or gifted their property to another person
• Applicants who have dispersed or deprived themselves of assets or capital which could have reasonably been used to secure housing.

These are examples and this list is not exhaustive.

2.12  Methods of assessment

2.12.1  Reduced preference

2.12.2    Section 166A(5) of the Housing Act (1996) as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002 allows allocation schemes to give reduced preference where the behaviour of an applicant (or member of their household) affects their suitability to be a tenant.

In such circumstances, where tenancy conditions have been breached, an assessment will be made as to whether the applicant’s behaviour merits their not qualifying for Home Options or whether an application can be taken and reduced preference applied.

2.12.3    An applicant will be given reduced preference if the council is satisfied they:

• Are a current or former tenant of any landlord with rent arrears but these are not at a level where possession action would normally be taken or there are other debts owed to the landlord or council
• Are a current or former tenant of any landlord who has failed to maintain a rented property in a proper and reasonable condition or has otherwise breached their tenancy conditions.

2.12.4. In exceptional circumstances, applicants will be given additional preference despite meeting one of the criteria outlined above. Examples of where this may be appropriate are:

• Where a scheme landlord seeks discretion as current rent arrears are caused by welfare reform due to under-occupation and the applicant is seeking to downsize, is keeping to a repayment arrangement and is working with the landlord to address arrears. 
• Where a person is fleeing violence and has rent arrears.

2.12.5  Assessment of residential connection

An applicant with no 2-year residential connection but who due to their needs would otherwise be in emergency status, gold or silver band will have their priority downgraded by the council to bronze band unless one of the following exceptions apply:

• Care-leavers with an overarching connection to Norwich who, due to their care needs, have been placed out of area by Children’s Services.
• Households accepted by the Housing Options manager under the National Witness Protection Scheme
• Members of HM regular armed forces or who were serving in the regular forces at any time in the five years preceding their Home Options application, bereaved spouses or civil partners of those serving in HM regular armed forces or existing or former members of the reserve forces who are suffering from a serious injury, illness or disability which is wholly or partly attributable to their service. See also section 2.7.1.

2.12.5 Significant financial resources

Applicants that have sufficient income or savings which it would be reasonable for them to use to meet their housing need whose circumstances determine that they would otherwise be in emergency, gold or silver band will have their priority downgraded to bronze band.

Assessment of overcrowding

2.12.6. The council will use the following guidelines to assess the level of overcrowding.

• Couples, married couples and civil partners are expected to share a bedroom.
• A room intended as a bedroom but used for another purpose will still be classified as a bedroom.
• Where a child has a home elsewhere but chooses to live with another adult, this will not be counted when assessing overcrowding.
• A single person or couple can occupy one bedroom.
• Two children of the same gender are expected to share a bedroom up to the age of 16. When the oldest child is 16 years old, the family is classed as lacking one bedroom.
• Two children of different gender are expected to share a bedroom until the oldest child is 10 years old, at which time the family is classed as lacking one bedroom.
• Where adults aged 16 or over are sharing a room, but not living as a couple, they will be classed as lacking one bedroom. 
• An infant under 6 months can share a bedroom with their parents.

Assessment of multiple/cumulative need

2.12.7  Where a household’s circumstances meet more than one assessed housing need, this will be considered by the council when prioritising the applicant. When a household has two or more housing needs within any one band, they will be moved one band higher to take into account the multiple needs. Any assessment of cumulative need will not normally exceed gold band.

Assessment of medical needs

2.12.8  Priority will be awarded based on information supplied by the applicant

2.12.9  The role of the assessment panel is to assess the degree of medical need relating to an applicant’s current accommodation and whether this merits additional priority to move to a more suitable property.

2.12.10  A Housing Options team leader, manager and/or assessment panel will assess each case on its merits to determine whether medical priority should be awarded.

2.12.11  Where an applicant’s ill health is not directly related to their present housing, then medical priority will not be awarded.

2.12.12  Where the medical panel has assessed that an applicant has a specific medical need for an adapted property, their Home Options application will be given an accessibility rating, which gives additional preference over applicants not in need of adaptations when bidding for adapted properties.

2.12.13  Where adaptations to the applicant’s home have been completed in the last 5 years in order to address a household medical need, no Home Options medical assessment will be considered unless there has been a significant change of circumstances.

2.12.14  Each household is restricted to submitting one Home Options medical assessment per annum unless there has been a significant change in circumstances such as a new diagnosis or significant deterioration in condition.

Assessment of welfare needs

2.12.15  This will be carried out by a Housing Options team leader or manager or an assessment panel.

2.12.16  Each case will be assessed on its merits to determine whether welfare priority should be awarded. The Home Options team leader or assessment panel will look at whether the situation is targeted, serious and enduring, whether it is directly affected by the applicant’s present housing and whether it would improve if the applicant were re-housed.

Assessment of under-occupation

2.12.17  Priority for under-occupation will not be awarded where the applicant chose to move into a property which they would under-occupy and their circumstances have not changed.

Assessment of housing conditions

2.12.18  This will be carried out by the council’s private sector housing team. Assessment will be carried out in line with the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System and priority awarded as set out in the bands above.

Assessment of homelessness

2.12.19  This will be carried out by the council’s advice and homelessness service in line with the Housing Act 1996 as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2018. Priority will be awarded as set out in the bands above.

Supported Housing/Hostels

2.12.20  Applicants in supported living or hostels participating in the hostel move-on scheme will be allocated properties in accordance with that scheme. See Appendix D.

Assessments for applicants who are members of staff or elected members of the council

2.12.21  Applications from elected members or members of their family will be dealt with by the Housing Options manager. The award of a priority band and/or an allocation to elected members or to members of their family will need to be authorised by the Chief Executive Officer.

2.12.22  Applications from staff members will be dealt with by the Housing Options manager. The award of a priority banding and /or an allocation to staff members will need to be authorised by the council’s Director with responsibility for housing.

2.13  Determination of application date

2.13.1  All applications will be awarded an ‘effective date’ by the council. This is usually the date on which the Home Options application was made. The date will determine who is successful in being offered a property where two or more people from the same band bid on the same property.

2.14  Change in circumstances

2.14.1  If an applicant’s circumstances change it is their responsibility to inform the council so that their application can be reassessed. Examples of a change of circumstances could include the serious deterioration in a medical condition, threat of homelessness or an increase in household size due to the birth of a child. Following the reassessment, if the applicant moves into a higher band their effective date will be the date that the council was notified of, or provided with evidence of, their change of circumstances. Alternatively, if an applicant moves into a lower band then the effective date will revert to the original date they applied for Home Options.

2.14.2  If a proof of pregnancy is provided (MATB1) the unborn child will be classed as a child for the purposes of property size eligibility only and there will be no change to banding.

2.14.3  It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that their contact details are kept up to date.

2.15  Revision of applications

2.15.1    Every Home Options applicant is sent a revision form on the anniversary of their application to ensure that their circumstances are kept up to date. They are required to update, sign and return the form to confirm they wish to remain on the housing register. The Home Options application will automatically be cancelled if the form is not returned.

2.16  Property size qualification

Each applicant will be assessed by the council, to determine what size of property they qualify for. It is expected that participating landlords will seek to maximise occupation of available properties. A general guide showing property size qualification for different household sizes is set out in Appendix E, however, each participating landlord may choose to take account of local issues in determining what household size is eligible to bid for a property. This will be made clear at point of advertisement. Any potential affordability or housing benefit issues arising from this will be discussed with the applicant prior to their accepting the tenancy.

2.17  Notification of applications

2.17.1  Once a Home Options application has been assessed the applicant will receive notification from the council confirming the band in which they have been placed.

2.18  Cancellation of applications

2.18.1    Applications will be cancelled by the council for the following reasons:

• The applicant requests cancellation 
• The applicant's circumstances change and they are no longer eligible
• The applicant's circumstances change and they no longer qualify
• The applicant fails to return a revision form
• The applicant is found to have made a false or deliberately misleading statement in connection with their application
• The applicant moves outside the Norwich boundary.
• The applicant has refused offers or failed to attend viewings on five occasions, where no other restrictions apply.

2.19  Refusals or failure to attend viewings

2.19.1  Where no other restrictions apply to the award of banding and an applicant has bid for five properties, which they have refused or where they have failed to attend the viewing without good cause, then their circumstances and banding will be reviewed. If these refusals are considered by a Housing Options team leader or manager to be unreasonable or without grounds, then the Home Options application will be cancelled and no new application will be accepted for a minimum twelve-month period.

2.20  Misrepresentation or withholding of information

2.20.1  It is a criminal offence for anyone to try and obtain accommodation from the council by knowingly giving a false statement or withholding information.

2.20.2  If we suspect that an applicant has given false information or withheld information, we will investigate. The Home Options application will be suspended while the investigation is carried out.

2.20.3  Failure by an applicant, or someone acting at their instigation, to inform the council of changes to their application, contrivance of circumstances or the deliberate withholding, or misrepresentation of information relevant to their housing circumstances, will mean that the applicant will not qualify for Home Options and their application will be cancelled for an indefinite period and can be reviewed only after a minimum twelve-month period. Any such action may also result in criminal prosecution. If found guilty the applicant could be liable to a fine and/or imprisonment.

2.20.4  The scheme landlord may seek possession of a tenancy that was granted as a result of a false statement and may also attempt to recover any costs incurred.