New Allocations Policy and System 2025

Key Allocations Policy & System Changes 

Information to customers  

Calderdale Council approved the new CBL policy in 2021, since then work started to build the new system to support this change. Calderdale are to join the B-with-us Partnership which is a well-established Choice Based Lettings scheme in Pennine Lancashire.  

A copy of the new allocations policy is available here https://www.togetherhousing.co.uk/download/b-with-us-allocations-policy/ 

The main changes you need to be aware of:  

Local Connection 
Under the new policy, applicants will need to meet local connection criteria to qualify to join the B-with-us Housing Register. Local Connection criteria includes things like living in the area for a specified amount of time, have relatives in the area, employment in the area, etc. 

Customers with a local to connection to Calderdale will only be able to apply for Calderdale properties, likewise for Pennine Lancashire customers will only be able to apply for properties in Pennine Lancashire.  

There are also several reasons why applicants may be exempt from requiring a local connection, such as being statutorily homeless, escaping domestic abuse, leaving the armed forces, etc. 

Homeowners 
New qualification criteria means applicants who are homeowners will not qualify to join the BWU Housing Register unless they also have a housing need (Band Three or above). 

Under-occupation 
Currently applicants who are under-occupying in a private rented property are awarded a priority to move.  

Under the new policy, only those in social housing will qualify for priority to move. Under occupation in a private rented tenancy will not be classed as a need to move. 

Five Bands 
In line with B-with-us policy and to help those most in need get rehoused faster it is necessary to include a new banding structure – Band 1 (highest priority) to Band Five (no need) - which becomes the equivalent of the current bronze band. 

Banding  

There will now be five bands. Band 1 is the highest need to move, down to band 5 who are those with no housing need. The list of all the different bands can be found below; 

Band 1 (Highest Priority)

·         Statutory Homeless / Homeless prevention

·         Urgent medical or welfare grounds

·         Living in housing that a closure order / prohibition notice has been served

·         Applicants displaced by renewal area or regeneration scheme

·         Current tenant of a registered provider who need to move to allow for major improvement work, disposal, or demolition

·         Children leaving care

·         Management move due to urgent need to move

Band 2

·         Prevention of Homelessness

·         Applicants who are occupying insanitary housing and the local authority has served an Improvement Notice

·         Applicants requiring signification adaptations that cannot be fitted in the existing home

·         Applicants need to move from a particular locality where they would be at risk of harm if they didn’t, including subject of domestic abuse, hate crime, targeted harassment or residing in a refuge/safehouse

Band 3

·         Applicants homeless but not owed a duty

·         Applicants needing to move to a particular locality, where hardship would be caused if they didn’t, including needing to move to commence employment/specialist education, to give or receive support.

·         Applicants who need to move on medical or welfare grounds

·         Applicants who are occupying insanitary or overcrowded housing or otherwise living in unsatisfactory housing conditions, including lacking one of more bedrooms/category one hazard/licensee’s/sharing facilities with non-household members/Applicants living in B-with-us supported accommodation

Band 4

·         Partner Organisation Transfer applicants under-occupying by one or more bedrooms

Band 5

·         All other applicants who do not qualify for any of the criteria above