Council considers new rules to tackle housing list

A council has been seeking to change its housing rules so it could tackle a backlog and give shelter to the most vulnerable sooner.

West Northamptonshire Council uses a banding system to prioritise need, but has been facing rising demand that outstripped its property supply.

The Reform UK-led authority said "long waiting times" were being worsened by people being over-reliant on its housing service, rather than seeking their own solutions.

Jane Carr, the director of communities and opportunities, said new policies would bring back a focus on "housing need" rather than "housing want".

Reducing the size of the highest priority band A list, which makes up about 1,100 applicants out of a total 2,230 live applications on the housing register, was one proposed change.

Another was relegating people found to have "deliberately worsened" their housing situation to band D.

A council report stated: "Many applicants on the housing register expect to be rehoused into social/affordable housing.

"[This leads to] frustration over long waiting times, reduced motivation to seek alternatives, and increased complaints."

"The council must therefore manage perceptions that social/affordable housing is the only viable option."

It suggested applicants should be guided towards private renting and low-cost home ownership where appropriate.

The council receives an average of 578 new housing register applicants a month - a rise of 36% since April 2024.

Ms Carr said: "The reality of the world that we live in is we do not have the housing to house everyone that has applied to us, so we have to make sure that we focus on the most vulnerable."

The report stated a six-week consultation would be held on the proposed changes in mid-December.

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