Local lettings plan

Introduction

This Lettings Plan sets out the strategy, tools and targets to guide the letting of 16 affordable rent apartments at Valley Drive, Gravesend, Kent

The properties are managed by Gravesham Borough Council and nominations are via Kent Home Choice (Choice Based Lettings Scheme).

The plan is designed to support sustainable lettings in accordance with the Kent Sustainable Communities Protocol.

The aim is to establish a balanced and sustainable community as well as meet housing need whilst preventing potential management problems on the development. It is essential that the social housing scheme is successful, and the development is an attractive place where people want to live.

Property type and tenure mix

Block B (general needs) affordable rented scheme consists of the following dwellings:

• 6 x 1 Bedroom, 2-person apartments
• 2 x 2 Bedroom, 3-person apartments
• 5 x 2 Bedroom, 4-person apartments
• 2 x 2 Bedroom, 4-person duplex apartments
• 1 x 3 Bedroom, 5-person wheelchair adapted apartment, (ground floor) *

Objectives of the lettings plan

The following sets out the objectives of the Plan are:

• To establish a balanced community, by letting homes to a mix of applicants and household sizes
• To achieve a child density and occupancy level that will encourage sustainability, and allow for the children to be best accommodated

Specific Details for Nominations

• To allow one person or a couple to reside in a 1-bedroom flat.
• To allow a maximum of 3 people to reside in a 2-bedroom 3 person flat which will be advertised for 2 to 3 people
• To allow up to 4 people (a maximum of 2 children) to reside in a 2-bedroom 4 person flat which will be advertised for 2 to 4 people.
• Properties will be prioritised for existing Gravesham Council housing tenants registered for a transfer on the Gravesham Borough Council Housing Register.

We aim to achieve an even spread of ages for children living in the homes wherever possible and allocation will be subject to the ages of the children taking into account our Housing Allocations Scheme.

Nomination process

Most of the affordable rent homes within this development will be advertised via the Kent Home Choice Lettings scheme. However Gravesham Borough Council reserve the right to direct let accommodation to households in the greatest need and/or that require specific adaptions that this development offers.

Adverts will clearly state that a Lettings Plan is in operation and will be available for applicants to view.

Applicants wishing to be considered for homes including existing tenants seeking a transfer must have an identified housing need and be eligible to be included on Gravesham Borough Council’s housing register.

When vacant properties are advertised, applicants should bid in the usual way. At the close of bidding, a shortlist of applicants who have placed bids will be produced. Properties may not be allocated to the highest bidder as the successful applicant would need to meet the criteria stipulated in the Lettings Plan. In the event of two or more applicants sharing the priority band, their registration date order will be used to determine priority.

Priority

We will allocate the homes in line with our Housing Allocation Scheme and the Local Lettings Plan.

Priority will be given to existing GBC tenants who have an eligible need to move which could include on medical or welfare grounds or overcrowding. Should there be insufficient demand from existing GBC tenants then priority will be given to other Home seekers on the Housing Register.

Transfer applications will be subject to a tenancy inspection, rent checks and a satisfactory tenancy reference to ensure compliance with existing tenancy agreement conditions.

Shortlisting

Where applicants have expressed an interest in vacant properties by placing a bid, the Council’s Allocations Team will verify the case and carry out the following checks:

• Applicants and members of the household will not be known perpetrators of serious and/or ongoing nuisance or anti-social behavior at their current home or had any legal action as a result of nuisance or anti-social behavior taken against them including a Notice of Seeking Possession
• Applicants and members of the household will not have a recent criminal conviction which will impact upon the management of the tenancy or the local community
• Applicants will have a clear rent account and not have rent arrears, Council Tax or sundry debt arrears for their current home. If arrears are because of a delay in Housing Benefit such that a Housing Benefit or Universal Credit such that a Housing Benefit or Universal Credit payment is owing equivalent to the whole of the arrears, applicants will need to show this is the case and that they have dealt with their claim appropriately and are paying any estimated contributions (e.g. non-dependent deductions) regularly
• For home seekers, applicants will not have rent arrears owed on their existing private rented home
• For households lodging or staying with friends and family temporarily they should not have been evicted for rent arrears from their last settled home
• Existing social tenants will not have any outstanding or current tenancy notice for any breaches of tenancy and their home should be in a good condition ready for minor works to relet their home. 

Our role

• To validate shortlisted applicants
• Carry out the verification of potential nominees
• Monitor the lettings plan on an annual basis to ensure it remains viable

This Local Lettings Plan was agreed by Director (Housing) 9 November 2022.