Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
9 September 2008
06:505793#1
DDC Release *****
NEW SCHEME FOR LETTING COUNCIL HOMES
Dover District Council is changing how it lets its homes and has joined with other District Authorities in Kent to create a choice based lettings scheme called Kent Homechoice.
Kent Homechoice is a new way of letting social housing, which will work with the Council's existing Housing Need Register. The changes will not affect people's position on the register. What will change is how people tell the Council they are interested in any vacant home that becomes available. The new scheme will start in November.
Vacant homes will be advertised in a newssheet, which will be available to all registered applicants, who can then apply (bid) for vacancies that they are eligible for. These homes will also be advertised on a new website at
www.kenthomechoice.org.uk. Each home will be offered to the applicant who is highest on the Housing Need Register, provided, of course, that the home is suitable for their needs. People will be able to bid via the website, by telephone, by text message or by posting a coupon.
Cllr Mrs Sue Nicholas, Dover District Council Cabinet Member for Strategic Housing, Local Authority Housing Landlord Policy, and Tenant Affairs, said: "This is an important change to the way we let homes, which will help people have more say in where they want to be housed, and we are very pleased to be working with partner Authorities on this scheme."
DDC is holding awareness sessions at the Council offices in Whitfield on Wednesday 1 October to explain the scheme. To book a place, call 01304 872262 or email
cblbookings@dover.gov.uk or for more information call DDC on (01304) 872265.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
9 September 2008
07:355799#2
The only fault with the system is what about the illiterate and dyslexic and those without access or knowledge of how to use the internet.Will they then miss out on these opportunities.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
9 September 2008
08:015800#3
Good point Marek, Although I will say this in defence of DDC on this proposal.
Back in the Midlands this scheme has been in place for quite sometime, and have to say it appears to be more affective.
They don't advertise the properties in a news sheet as Sue says though, they advertise in the housing section of local newspapers.
There is usually a whole section devoted just to the scheme, showing pictures of the properties, the basic qualifying criteria, and what to do next.
This has proved a far better way to allocate housing. The applicants then are interviewed before the property is allocated.
It is a method that "IS" working very well in other areas of the UK.
Hope my little bit of input helps
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
9 September 2008
08:265802#4
That sounds a cracking way to extend Sue's system.The only downside would be the advertising costs.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
9 September 2008
20:275847#5
As always, I fear for the vulnerable and disadvantaged, some of whom will be unable to participate in this game. There are many people out there without the will or the competence to take hold of their opportunities and who need support to do so, and sadly that support is often lacking.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
9 September 2008
21:115854#6
best not to worry too much bern, our susan will have the wishes of the council tenants at heart.
the people that live at st monica's in the folkestone road swear by her.
i think that is what they said.
Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
9 September 2008
21:145857#7
I to wonder about this scheme, it could mean some people fall out of the loop for whatever reason
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
9 September 2008
22:385858#8
MY reservations would be those out of work, those not on the internet, those working full time,those too busy with raising children, the elderly and those who do not have a solid grasp of how the system works all missing out to those who spend their lives manipulating the system (or getting good advice from low cost lawyers on how to). Did I miss anyone?
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
9 September 2008
22:475859#9
how about the elderly, brow beaten residents of st monicas?
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
10 September 2008
09:175872#10
Awareness sessions will be held at DDC offices before the scheme commences on November 17th .Canterbury and Thanet already operate this system and Swale and Ashford will join the scheme in November .Vulnerable people will still be able to access council staff for help as they do now .They will be helped in filling out selection forms .This is a much fairer system as currently people can be offered homes where they may not wish to live and after three refusals they have to wait for another twelve months .The Tenants groups are having training sessions as are members .This scheme has not just popped out of the blue been talked about for several years .
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
10 September 2008
09:575875#11
To clarify even further its a requirment by government and has to be in place by 2010.The ederly will most certainly be looked after.We have Housing staff well trained to deal with vulnerable people and they will not be overlooked .
10 September 2008
21:445917#12
Vulnerable people actually don't access anything at all....they are vulnerable, duh! Awareness sessions don't mean much to you if you have no TV, radio, light, heat, home, family, or life. I can hardly believe that you really, seriously think awareness sessions held at DDC offices are adequate for isolated, vulnerable people!!! Please let me know which planet you are from so that I can give it a miss when I travel.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
10 September 2008
21:595923#13
And how many people that are working full time or busy bringing up children or are too infirm to travel will make it to an awareness session that would be in office hours (officer hours are sacred after all).
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
10 September 2008
22:015924#14
i think that the idea is, that when the vulnerable are in the seat of the mighty,they will know their place and not answer back.
a very old trick, perpetuated by the wig and gown stuff in our crown courts.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
10 September 2008
22:385926#15
I really find it most challenging at times to communicate responses to some questions asked.
DDC housing services hold a register of all people who require accomodation This will not change .When properties become vacant they will be advertised in a brouchure prospective tenants will make a bid for these .If a person on our register is vulnerable they will be contacted and assisted in making a bid .There is no way a vulnerable person will not be helped .I think you are all missing the relevant point .Currently DDC make offers of accomodation to prospective tenants if they refuse three offers automatically they have to wait a year before beeng looked at again.This way they can make as many bids as they wish.These awareness sessions will be held at times to suit most people .You should know your local councillor who can guide you through the proceedures .There are soi many agencies around who can offer assistance .Age Concern,CAB,Care Navigators Health visitors ,Social workers .
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
10 September 2008
22:435927#16
Looking at the responses again in particular Chris .How do these people access our offices now for rent payments or general enquires.Our tenants have to communicate to us during office hours .The people who will be using this new method Choiced Based Lettings are the same as now .Currently if they have been waiting for a property they will phone or visit during office hours to see where they are on the waiting list .
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
10 September 2008
23:395928#17
I thought you had stopped cash counter payments, thus shutting out a lot of pensioners and those on benefits, while encouraging everyone else to go Direct Debit. Payments are now made in local post offices. And what are people supposed to bid that is different from the old points system?
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
11 September 2008
07:065930#18
Office hours are and always have been an inconvenience for many people. Similarly to GPs who only operate during office hours, we have to take time off to attend. Poor customer service clearly. We are not msising the point at all - first of all the council has to define and identify vulnerable people, then engage with them, then assist with a new and, if I know local authorities, unnecessarily complex game that gives the illusion of improved access. The council already fails many vulnerable people as a matter of course, so I am not confident that this process will be anything other than a new way to deny people stuff.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
11 September 2008
07:235934#19
To be fair to DDC for a moment I think this new initiative may be a step forward. More people may be helped at the end of the day than otherwise might have been...and thats a good thing. There is never a one fix solution to all problems but just maybe its an edge closer to a better ideal.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
11 September 2008
08:375945#20
Thanks Paul at least you have seen the benefit of the new system.To answer another point we no longer handle cash at our offices but unless its a scotch mist I see at Whitfield there are always a number of people waiting to present enquiries.In deed some of these are people want to join our waiting list .Yes Bern there is still a point system but people will be able to choose where they want to live ..Rather like in the private sector you see a house like it and make a bid .In the private sector you can view as many houses as you like and up till now our people on the waiting list can only view three.
