Lib Dems agree more choices for Islington housing

12.00.00am GMT Wed 21st Jan 2004

Islington's Liberal Democrat councillors have agreed radical changes to the way council and housing association housing is allocated to tenants and waiting list applicants. In future, vacant properties will be advertised in the local press and on the internet. Applicants who want to be considered for a property then apply by telephone or on the web. The 3-5 bidders with the highest priority will then be invited to view the property and it is offered one of the applicants willing to accept it. The results of the previous week's adverts will then be summarised in the following week's adverts. The scheme called 'Choice Based Lettings' has been piloted since last year in the Holland Walk and Central Street area housing office areas respectively. 'Choice Based Lettings' should be fully up and running by September and local housing associations are also now being encouraged to join the scheme too to maximise opportunities for Islington residents. The advantages of the Council moving to a choice-based lettings scheme are: ? involving the applicant more in the kind of properties they are looking for. ? it is a more open and transparent process. ? times that properties are left empty are reduced because applicants are less likely to refuse properties they have chosen themselves and there are other applicants in reserve. ? applicants are no longer suspended from the housing list for turning down a property and are no longer only made one offer. The scheme ('Home Connections') will also be operational in 5 other neighbouring London boroughs (Camden, Westminster, Enfield, Barnet and Haringey) increasing the chances of cross borough moves too. It is also intended to extend the choice-based lettings scheme to housing associations in Islington and the partner boroughs to maximise choice for those seeking a home. Community Safety, said: "Choice based lettings will make a huge difference in the way homes are allocated in Islington and other boroughs. "People waiting for housing rightly want to know they're not going to be stuck on the waiting list forever hoping for an offer which was a real risk with the old system. "With this new scheme people can choose what homes they want to go for and they won't be penalised if they turn a property down. It should also mean homes are empty for less time as well as extending choice for people across boroughs and landlords." The Facts ? The choice-based lettings website ('Home Connections' will be available in 5 languages - French, Arabic, Turkish, Somali and Sylheti). The telephone system will be available in 7 languages. ? Waiting list applicants with high medical needs, a disability or priority needs will not lose out under the choice based lettings scheme.