Council housing shake-up plans in Sandwell
Residents who have lived in Sandwell for less than five years will be denied a council home under plans set to be approved this week.
Council chiefs say a proposed shake-up of housing allocations policy will ensure local authority properties go to people with firm roots in the borough. The revised policy will go before the council's cabinet on Wednesday.
It is expected to be introduced following a year-long review and widespread consultations.
Borough housing chief, Councillor Simon Hackett, said the new scheme would give local people a better chance of getting a council home. "We have been in consultation with residents and partners for a number of months, discussing the way we can introduce a residency test into our allocations policy," he said.
"My reason for introducing the test is because I believe that to be eligible to register for council housing, people need to demonstrate that they have firm roots within Sandwell.
"Not only will applicants have to be resident in Sandwell for five years before they can register, but they will also have to remain resident up to the date of the offer of a council house," he added.
The new policy is expected to come into force on April 17.
It comes as the council is cracking down on housing fraudsters and asking residents to shop neighbours who could be "stealing a home" from families on the waiting list.
Last month the authority launched a pilot to start cracking down on housing cheats. It is aimed at catching those who are sub-letting their council homes to others, preventing genuine families from getting a home. Councillor Hackett has said the council is taking a tough line on fraud and is stepping up its action on people who get involved with tenancy cheating, because it deprives genuine families.
Housing tenancy fraud is perpetrated when social housing is used by someone not entitled to occupy that home – meaning they are effectively stealing a home from a family who are qualified to move into it.
Announcing the crackdown, Councillor Hackett said: "We have always taken a tough line on fraud in Sandwell and we are now stepping up our action on people who get involved with tenancy cheating, because it deprives genuine families waiting for much-needed homes."
