Cannock council house rules shake-up is on way
A major overhaul of council house rules that bosses hope will cut waiting lists could be brought in as early as spring, it emerged today.
Under radical plans, any Cannock tenant in rent arrears may face automatic disqualification and those who owe money on previous properties will not be considered for one of the district council's 5,500 homes.
Residents who are behind with payments on their current home and apply to move to another authority-owned property will face eviction.
Potential changes were revealed last year pending consultation, which closed in December. A report is being prepared for council's cabinet for approval in February, housing chiefs said today.
They hope to tackle a growing waiting list, easing a chronic shortage of family homes.
Almost 3,000 expressed a firm interest in a council home – with about 50 four-bedroom properties available.
Head of housing Ian Tennant said today: "Certain changes have to come into effect by law, so we are looking at our policy as a whole while we do that."
The target date for this to be brought was in spring, assuming that cabinet gave the go-ahead.
"We have got to change the allocations system and we have already started the major process of re-registering everyone, which will take some time.
"We are going to be reporting to cabinet at the meeting on February 20."
Council leader George Adamson said people who "genuinely needed help" meeting their bills received support but added: "We are talking about tenants who can afford to pay but refuse to keep up with their rent."
The revised policy recommends anyone owing rent should be denied a place on the waiting list. The exclusion could be lifted in "exceptional circumstances" if chiefs are satisfied debts will be cleared.
