The Homeseekerplus consultation began on Monday 1 February 2021 and will run for eight weeks, ending on the 29 March 2021.
Homeseekerplus is a choice-based lettings (CBL) scheme run by the seven local authorities in partnership with social housing landlords. The seven local authorities are Tewkesbury Borough Council, Gloucester City Council, Cheltenham Borough Council, Stroud District Council, Forest of Dean District Council, Cotswold District Council and West Oxfordshire District Council.
The partnership, originally formed in 2009 and subsequently West Oxfordshire joined in 2016 which was when the last major change to the policy was undertaken. Since then minor tweaks have been made in line with new superseding legalisation such as the homeless reduction act 2017.
Before the council or housing association makes an offer of housing, the allocations policy is used to prioritise applicants’ bids and to decide which applicants housing need most closely matches the property itself.
A decision was taken by the management board to undertake a review of this policy to bring it up to standard to ensure all parts are still relevant and the partnership is conforming to their legal obligations. The management board are particularly keen to ensure all parts of the policy are compliant with the equalities act 2008 and took account to the changing housing market across the partnership.
To take part in the consultation please read the policy here and fill in the survey by following the link: Homeseekerplus policy consultation Survey (surveymonkey.co.uk)
Contact the press office on communications@cheltenham.gov.uk | 0800 408 0000