Housing Allocations Policy Review, Phase 1 - considering the key issues

Together with our partners, we’ve identified some key issues that we must consider as part of the policy review. In this first phase of the consultation, we want to know what you think about these issues. These include: 

1. Who qualifies for the housing register? This includes people’s connection to County Durham, having a genuine housing need, standards of behaviour and their financial position. 
2. Better use of our social housing stock. This includes addressing shortages in available three and four bedroomed homes. 
3. Local Lettings Policies which can overrule the main countywide Allocations Policy. 
4. How best to prioritise people who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless. 
5. The priority given to medical and domestic abuse cases. 
6. Our monitoring and service standards. 

We’ve also developed a draft vision, objectives and outcome which we want to achieve in developing the new policy. Again, we’d like your feedback on these. 

All the information you need to answer questions is contained in the survey. However if you want further information, you can read a more detailed document about the key issues in the additional information below.

If you are currently on the housing register, we have also produced some FAQs also included in the additional information attached below.

If you want a copy of the current Housing Allocations Policy, please email: choicebasedlettings@durham.gov.uk

What will happen with your feedback

We will review and analyse the data received from the first phase of consultation. All feedback will be taken into consideration before making any changes to the allocations policy. A draft allocations policy will be shared as part of a second phase of consultation later in 2025. 

Additional information