Housing Allocation
How are applications prioritised?
Once the HomeChoice advert is closed all bids are collated and a shortlist for each property is produced. All applicants are prioritised in date order according to the date you applied to join the Housing Register. The date you joined the register is called your effective date.
Properties are allocated on a date order basis, with the exception of the highest need cases, who will be awarded Priority Status. All properties are advertised through the HomeChoice scheme.
Properties will only be allocated to those applicants who are eligible.
Waiting List, Transfer and Homeless applicants
We separate people on the Housing Register into 3 categories, although they are all part of the same Register:
Waiting List (W/L) - for anyone living in private accommodation i.e. owner occupiers, private tenants, living with friends or relatives or tied accommodation.
Transfer List (TRA) - for anyone currently living in Council or Housing Association accommodation within the Borough of Poole who needs to move.
Homeless Waiting List (HWL) - applicants who the Borough of Poole have accepted a homeless duty to. If you have nowhere to live it may be that you need to make a homeless application.
Housing Register Banding
We have split the Housing Register into three bands.
Green Band – Well placed and likely to be considered in the near future – (i.e: applicants with an award of Priority Status and all applications over 10 years old.)
Amber Band – May be considered for some properties where there is less demand – (Applications between 2 and 10 years old)
Red Band – Unlikely to be considered at this time – (eg: Applications less than 2 years old)
If you are in the Amber or Red band and are looking to move soon our Housing Options Service may be of benefit to you.
To check which band you are in on the Housing Register waiting list or for more information contact the Business Support Team on 01202 633805 or email us.
Housing Refusals
It is part of our policy to:
- suspend an application for 12 months if an applicant unreasonably refuses two offers of suitable general needs accommodation within a 12 month period. No offers of housing will be made during that time.
- suspend an application for 12 months if an applicant unreasonably refuses four offers of suitable sheltered accommodation within a 12 month period. No offers of housing will be made during that time.
- remove a priority card from an applicant if they have not taken up reasonable accomodation within the time limit to the priority card or refuse two suitable offers of accommodation
Homeless applicants will be made only one offer of permanent accommodation. If they wish to refuse that offer, they should contact their housing advisor to discuss this.
Successful applicants will usually be notified within 2 weeks of the closing date by the appropriate landlord. Due to the volume of bids you will not be contacted if you are unsuccessful. We are unable to provide an applicants position on any shortlist. Please refer to the results published.
We ask that applicants respect the privacy of the families living in those properties by not approaching them to request private viewings. Anyone who is found to be approaching occupier of properties advertise through HomeChoice will have their application suspended for 6 months
The Allocations Policy sets out how we allocate properties becoming available. Copies are available from the contact details at the right hand side of this page.
Is there any difference between Housing Association tenancies and Poole Housing Partnership tenancies?
There is very little difference between Poole Housing Partnership and Housing Association tenancies. The landlord of each property appears on the Homechoice adverts.
Rents - Housing Association rents are marginally higher than Poole Housing Partnership rents, but over the next few years the two will come in line with each other. Housing Association rents are far less than typical rents in the private sector.
Tenancy Conditions - The Council offers Secure Tenancies and Housing Associations offer Assured Tenancies. The security of tenure offered by Assured Tenancies is the same as Secure Council Tenancies. The main difference is that Assured tenants do not have the Right to Buy their home.
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