Decision details

Councils across England are required by the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 to offer Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) to people who qualify. These grants are mandatory but they are restricted to helping people with disabilities to adapt their homes to make them accessible and more suitable for their needs. The funding for these grants comes from central Government via the Better Care Fund. If a Council wishes to offer financial assistance towards anything other than DFGs they have to adopt and publish a Housing Assistance Policy giving full details of the assistance they will offer to householders in their area for property adaptation, improvement or repair. Thanet District Council adopted such a Policy in 2019 and this policy is now due for review.

Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  That the consultation draft of the Allocations Policy be agreed;

2.  The draft policy be subject to public consultation to be conducted early in 2025;

3.  The results of the consultation will be published on the Council’s website;

4.  Authority be delegated to the Head of Housing and Planning in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing to make minor amendments to the policy;

5.  That the policy be reviewed on an annual basis, or when required.

The council is required to publish an allocations policy. The allocations determines who is eligible to apply for housing, how applications are assessed and prioritised and how affordable and social rented homes in the district will be allocated. The allocations policy provides guidance for housing applicants and other agencies and professionals supporting households in housing need in the district.

As with any matter of policy there are a number of alternative options that could be considered. In part this is why there is to be an extensive consultation about the policy with Stakeholders. The Council will confirm that the eligibility criteria matches expectations and inviting any challenges to that which is proposed. This is particularly pertinent when considering households owed a duty by another local authority. Should the policy have a three-tier, rather than two-tier, approach to those with medical needs? Do consultees agree with the policy regarding those ‘decanted’ from homes and whether they are offered the opportunity to return to their original residence once it has been refurbished? Do consultees agree with the policy’s approach to households who are in overcrowded accommodation?