Council housing priorities changed (From Gazette)

Council housing priorities changed

9:59am Thursday 6th September 2012 in News By Will Lodge

THE waiting list for a council house in Colchester will be re-ordered when new changes come into force.

Currently homeless applicants do not have to accept an offer of private-rented accommodation, but under the new policy the council can sy it has done its job if they find them a suitable home.

Senior councillors approved the new policy at a Colchester Council cabinet meeting last night.

Other changes include:

•  Additional priority for former and serving service personnel, and bereaved spouses or civil partners of servicemen
•  People moved by the council will have to wait one year before applying to move again, except in extreme circumstances
•  Children are expected to share with the opposite sex until aged 10, and of the same sex regardless of age gap, in line with housing benefit rules

The changes will come into force when all councils in the Gateway to Homechoice scheme - including Braintree, Maldon and Ipswich - approve them. This is expected by November 1.

Letters will be sent to all existing tenants affected by the change over the next month.

Read more in tomorrow's Gazette.