Guideline repayment arrangements and timelines
Where an applicant does not qualify through rent arrears alone and is seeking a review of the decision, the guideline repayment arrangements and timeframes expected to be maintained in order for the applicant to demonstrate that they are suitable to be a tenant are set out as follows:
- Applicants with a cumulative debt outstanding of £500 - £700 are likely to be ineligible unless they have a repayment plan in place and adhered to for a minimum of six months, or the rent account is cleared, whichever is sooner. If the debts relate to a former tenancy it is expected that the applicant can evidence a minimum six months settled accommodation with an up to date rent account and no tenancy issues.
- Applicants with a cumulative debt outstanding of over £1000 are likely to be ineligible unless they have a repayment plan in place and adhered to for a minimum of twelve months or the rent account is cleared, whichever is sooner. If the debts relate to a former tenancy it is expected that the applicant can evidence a minimum twelve months settled accommodation with up to date rent account and no tenancy issues.
Where the council assesses that, in the cases above, that an applicant becomes eligible for Home Options, a reduced preference will apply for so long as the debt exists.
Where an applicant does not qualify through their behaviour and is seeking a review of the decision, they are expected to be able to evidence that they have successfully addressed the issue which caused them not to qualify through successfully maintaining an independent tenancy, without on-site support, for an appropriate period of time and there have been no recurrences of that behaviour or any other which would affect their ability to manage a tenancy.
In such instances the appropriate period of time will relate to the severity of the issue and will be confirmed to the applicant at the point they are advised that they do not qualify.
Exceptional circumstances will be taken into account and the applicant’s individual circumstances will be fully considered and the case treated on its own merits.
