Housing allocations policy - Additional classes of persons who qualify to join the scheme

The Council is committed to ensuring that where possible the best possible use is made of the existing social housing stock in Walsall. Accordingly, to encourage and enable households to move to more appropriate accommodation some households who would not otherwise qualify for Reasonable Preference will qualify to join the scheme. In addition, and in recognition of the Councils commitment to facilitate access to social housing for both current members and veterans of the UK Armed Forces, all members and former members will qualify to join the scheme irrespective of any housing need.

Households under-occupying their property

It is known that a significant number of social housing properties in the borough, in particular houses, are under-occupied. Where possible the Council will support incentives designed to enable those affected to move to accommodation that is better suited to their needs. To support this objective this policy provides ‘under-occupying’ households with varying degrees of priority to make ‘downsize’ moves in the following circumstances: 

• a) housing association tenants in Walsall currently under-occupying a property by at least two bedrooms and who wish to transfer to a property to which they are eligible with fewer bedrooms will qualify for Band A. 
• b) housing association tenants in Walsall currently under-occupying a house and who wish to transfer to a property to which they are eligible with fewer bedrooms will qualify for Band A. 
• c) housing association tenants in Walsall currently resident in a flat or maisonette under-occupying by one bedroom, and who wish to transfer to a property to which they are eligible with fewer bedrooms will qualify for Band C.

Households occupying Sanctuary Scheme properties 

Households moving to more suitable accommodation from intermediate or advanced level sanctuary scheme properties will qualify for Band B.

Households occupying adapted properties where the adaptations are no longer in use 

Households who are living in a adapted housing association property in Walsall where the adaptations are no longer in use will qualify for Band A where the adaptations are in good working order and where there is a demonstrable need for the property and adaptations are in situ. For the purposes of this policy the definition of an Adapted Property is set out in Appendix Two

Members and former members of the UK Armed Forces 

All Members of the UK Armed Forces (whether Regular or Reserve) and UK Armed Forces veterans with no recognised housing need will qualify to join Band C. For the purposes of this section: 

• The Reserve Forces consist of the Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Marines Reserve; the Army Reserve (formerly known as the Territorial Army) and the Royal Air Force Reserves (formerly Royal Auxiliary Air Force). 
• The Ministry of Defence (MOD) defines a veteran as: “anyone who has served for at least one day in His Majesty's Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve), or Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations”. The term ‘Armed Forces’ is defined by section 374 of the Armed Forces Act 2006.