DCC Local Lettings Policies

Local Lettings Policy 1

PROPERTIES COVERED

6 x 2 bedroom bungalows, Gilesgate

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicants must meet the following criteria in order to be considered for an allocation of these properties:

Be a couple or a minimum of two persons where at least one person is aged over state retirement age (Currently 66 years), or
Be a couple or a minimum of two person where at least one person has a physical disability and assessed need for ground floor or bungalow accommodation, and

Applicants will be subject to a separate financial assessment to look at the following factors:

Affordability - Can the applicant afford the property based upon an assessment of the applicant’s income versus expenditure on the property and living costs? A full financial assessment will be undertaken to determine this.
Has a need for Affordable Housing - Affordable housing, as defined by the National Planning Policy Framework, is housing for sale or rent for those whose needs are not met by the market. If the applicant(s) is able to satisfy their own housing need in the market, they will not be considered eligible for an affordable home ahead of applicants who would be unable to satisfy their housing need in the open market. Those applicants considered to be able to satisfy their own housing need are those where:

The applicant has sufficient savings and equity in their home that if sold is sufficient to secure suitable accommodation in the open market i.e. in excess of £100,000
Have household income in excess of £60,000 per annum.

CRITERIA

Applicants will be prioritised on any shortlist by band (as per the DKO Letting Policy), in order of those who meet the following criteria:

Those with a local connection to the Electoral Wards of Gilesgate and Elvet, and Belmont,

After all applicants with connection to the above have been considered, applicants with a connection to County Durham will then be shortlisted in priority order.

Local connection is defined as:

Live in County Durham now and have done so for at least 12 months prior to the application or have previously lived in County Durham for at least 12 months in the last 3 years, or
Work in County Durham on a permanent full or part time job for a minimum of 16 hours per week for the last 12 months, or
Have a need to live in County Durham to give or receive support where that person giving or receiving support is and has been resident in County Durham for a minimum of 12 months.

EFFECTIVE DATE

January 2022

REVIEW DATE

This will be reviewed in January 2025

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Local Lettings Policy 2

PROPERTIES COVERED

Houses at Hartley Gardens, Gilesgate

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicants must meet the following criteria in order to be considered for allocation of these properties:

Applicants will be subject to a separate financial assessment to look at the following factor:

Affordability - Can the applicant afford the property based upon an assessment of the applicant’s income versus expenditure on the property and living costs? A full financial assessment will be undertaken to determine this.

CRITERIA

50% of the advertised properties to be allocated to those in full time or part time employment at the point of offer.
Applicants will be prioritised on any shortlist by band (as per the DKO Letting Policy), in order of those who meet the following criteria:
- Those with a local connection to the Electoral Wards of Gilesgate and Elvet, and Belmont.

Local connection to the Electoral Ward of Gilesgate and Elvet or Belmont is defined as:

Live in the Electoral Ward of Gilesgate and Elvet or Belmont for at least 12 months in the last 3 years, or
Are employed in the Electoral Ward of Gilesgate and Elvet or Belmont on a permanent full or part time basis, for a minimum of 16 hours per week for the last 12 months, or
Have a need to live in the Electoral Ward of Gilesgate and Elvet or Belmont to give or receive support where that person giving or receiving support is, and has been, a resident in the ward for a minimum of 12 months.

After all applicants with connection to the above have been considered, applicants with a connection to County Durham will then be shortlisted in priority order.

Live in County Durham for at least 12 months in the last 3 years, or
Are employed in County Durham on a permanent full or part time basis, for a minimum of 16 hours per week for the last 12 months, or
Have a need to live in County Durham to give or receive support where that person giving or receiving support is, and has been, a resident in County Durham for a minimum of 12 months.

EFFECTIVE DATE

March 2024

REVIEW DATE

This will be reviewed in March 2027

Local Lettings Policy 3

PROPERTIES COVERED:

33 new properties in Oxford Close, Seaham, County Durham. The scheme comprises of:

6 x two-bedroom bungalows
18 x two-bedroom semi-detached houses
9 x three-bedroom semi-detached houses

CRITERIA

Local Connection

Local connection to the following areas (in order):

The Seaham area electoral division (first tier(; or
An adjoining Parish Boundary - Hawthorn, Dalton-le-Dale, or Seaton with Slingley (second tier); or
County Durham (third tier)

These properties will not be let to applicants with no local connection to County Durham.

Local connection is defined as:

The applicant or a member of the applicant's household who is to be re-housed with them must be:

living in the area now or have left the area within the last 6 months and have lived there for a continuous period of 12 months before their application date or the date they left the area, or
living outside the area now, and support or need support from someone who has lived in the area for at least 2 years, or
in continuous full-time or part-time work (at least 2 full days/15 hours per week) in the area for at least 12 months before their application date.

Priority will be given to applicants with a first-tier local connection who are in the highest eligible housing need band.

For the purposes of this Local Lettings Policy, applicants in Bands 1 to 3 are eligible for local connection priority. Applicants in Band 4 are assessed as adequately housed and are not eligible for local connection priority under this Local Lettings Policy.

Band 1 applicants have the highest priority, including households with severe medical or welfare needs, those fleeing domestic abuse, and homeless households. Applicants in Band 1 with a first-tier local connection will be prioritised ahead of applicants in Band 2, who in turn will be prioritised ahead of applicants in Band 3.

If there are no suitable applicants with a first-tier local connection, consideration will then be given to applicants with a second-tier local connection, followed by those with a third-tier local connection.

If no suitable applicants are found, the property will be allocated based on the Durham Key Options Letting Policy.

Employment

Preference for the initial allocation of 39% of the advertised properties, (comprising 9 two-bedroom houses and 4 three-bedroom houses) will be given to applicants from Bands 1-3 who have both a tier 1 local connection and who are in full-time or part-time employment (working at least 2 full days/15 hours per week) at the time an offer of accommodation is made.

The employment criterion may be waived where no suitable eligible applicants meeting the employment requirement are identified through the initial advertising and nomination process, following consideration of applicants in Bands 1 to 3 of the DKO register who have a local connection.

In these circumstances, priority may be extended to applicants who do not meet the employment requirement, but who do have a local connection and satisfy all other allocation criteria. Applicants will then be prioritised according to banding, and where applicants are in the same band, by the date of their application.

Allocations

Preference on first advert will be given to applicants who require all available bedrooms in the property, with the exception of the 2-bedroom bungalows. This is to ensure the most effective use of housing stock and help meet local housing need.

Households must not exceed the maximum occupancy stated in the property advertisement.

Under-occupation will only be permitted in the unlikely event that no eligible bids are received from applicants requiring all bedrooms.

A full financial assessment of applicants will be undertaken to determine that they can afford the property based on their income and expenditure.

Applicants will not be considered if there are any serious records of ASB in the last two years or if they hold any relevant unspent convictions as set out in the DKO Policy.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 2026

Local Lettings Policy 4

PROPERTIES COVERED

32 new properties in Greenwood Avenue, Burnhope, County Durham. The scheme comprises of:

7 x two-bedroom bungalows
13 x two-bedroom semi-detached houses
8 x three-bedroom semi-detached houses
4 x four-bedroom semi-detached houses

CRITERIA

Local Connection

Local connection to the following areas (in order):

The Burnhope and Lanchester area electoral division (first tier); or
An adjoining Parish Boundary – Greencroft, Stanley, Edmondsley, Sacriston, Witton Gilbert, Esh, Cornsay, Satley, Wolsingham, Muggleswick, Healeyfield (second tier); or
County Durham (third tier)

These properties will not be let to applicants with no local connection to County Durham.

Local connection is defined as:

The applicant or a member of the applicant’s household who is to be re-housed with them must be:

living in the area now or have left the area within the last 6 months and have lived there for a continuous period of 12 months before their application date or the date they left the area, or
living outside the area now, and support or need support from someone who has lived in the area for at least 2 years, or
in continuous full-time or part-time work (at least two full days a week) in the area for at least 12 months before their application date.

Priority will be given to applicants with a first-tier local connection who are in the highest eligible housing need band.

If no suitable applicants are found, the property will be allocated based on the Durham Key Options Letting Policy.

Employment

Preference for 38% (12 of the 32) of the initial allocation of the advertised properties, (comprising 6 two-bedroom houses, 4 three-bedroom houses and 2 four-bedroom houses) will be given to applicants from Bands 1-3 who have both a tier 1 local connection and are in full-time or part-time employment (working at least 2 full days/15 hours per week) at the time an offer of accommodation is made.

In these circumstances, once considering applicants in Bands 1-3 with tier 1 local connection, priority may be extended to applicants who do not meet the employment requirement, but who do have a local connection and satisfy all other allocation criteria. Applicants will then be prioritised according to banding, and where applicants are in the same band, by the date of their application.

Allocations

Households must not exceed the maximum occupancy stated in the property advertisement.

Under-occupation will only be permitted in the unlikely event that no eligible bids are received from applicants requiring all bedrooms.

A full financial assessment of applicants will be undertaken to determine that they can afford the property based on their income and expenditure.

Applicants will not be considered if there are any serious records of ASB in the last two years or if they hold any relevant unspent convictions as set out in the DKO Policy.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 2026

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