The Council uses a 'choice based lettings' system to provide a simplified housing allocation service.

This means people now have more opportunities to decide where they want to live and when they want to move to. It will still be based on meeting people's housing needs.

The ‘Finding a Home’ service advertises available vacant homes on the website, in the local newspaper, displayed in Marmion house and a weekly e-bulletin sent to all the support agencies in Tamworth.

 You will be able to express interest in all properties advertised unless there is a special criteria such as age or specially adapted homes.

How the new service was developed

During 2010, councillors approved the final choice based lettings housing allocation policy following consultation and information sharing with all applicants on the housing register, existing tenants and other external agencies.

Properties are advertised in the local newspaper, on the website and in Marmion House.

December 2009.

We wrote out to everyone on the housing register waiting list to advise them of their indicative priority band award. People had the opportunity to ask for this decision to be reviewed together with supporting evidence ahead of the points system being phased out.

This saw 1% of applicants contact us with a change in their personal circumstances and 2% of applicants contacted us with a query. No one asked for a formal review of their banding priority.

October 2009.

A copy of the draft policy was sent out to everyone on the housing register. A questionnaire was included to give our customers the opportunity to tell us their thoughts and opinions. We received 250 surveys and this information was used to refine the way that the service is being set up.

Key findings were;

• 89% agreeing that choice will make it easier for customers to have a choice about where they want to live
• 90% agreed with the housing band
• 76% agreed that the banding would give priority to those most in need
• 87% of respondents believing that the new scheme has been explained in enough detail 92% agreeing that the policy summary was useful.

From Summer 2009 to date

To help us develop policies and practises for the new planned choice based lettings housing allocation scheme we began advertising properties in our Open Allocation scheme through our website.

August 2009

The Tenant Consultative Group agreed a summary booklet of the new policy that outlines the changes.

At the Summer Festival in the Castle Grounds, housing staff were available to talk freely through any concerns people may have had; over 200 people visited our stall.

As part of the development stage a dedicated area in Marmion House reception is in progress where properties will be advertised, portals will be available for people to register their interest on line and staff will be on hand to offer help and guidance.