Affordable Housing Gateway
Policy for Re-assessment following a property refusal
Corporation of t
- Introduction
The Affordable Housing Gateway is now the single waiting list for social housing in Jersey. The list is used by all social housing providers in order to allocate their vacant units to those deemed to be in the greatest need.
It is vital that the list is actively maintained and that records are up to date and actually reflect the applicant’s level of need.
The Gateway operates a Banding system, using Bands 1-6, with Band 1 being the highest priority. Priority within the Bands is in date order, so that those that have been waiting the longest are appropriately prioritised.
Social housing providers aim to offer their vacant properties to those in the highest bands who have been waiting the longest.
- Purpose of the Policy
This policy aims to provide guidance to the Gateway Team in dealing with applicants who have refused an offer of accommodation and in re-assessing their priority on the waiting list.
It is important that those being given a high priority are not refusing offers for reasons deemed not to be justified.
Housing providers will advise the Gateway of all refusals so that a re-assessment can take place as appropriate.
- The Policy
Where an applicant has refused an offer for justified reasons, no further action will be taken by the Gateway other than to update the application as appropriate.
Examples of justified reasons are:-
- Medical grounds – where a property does not meet their medical needs as evidenced by an Occupational Therapist Report, Medical Officer of Health report or GP recommendation;
- Social grounds – where a family member or acquaintance that the applicant is unable to live near by, lives in the same area as the offer; or where the applicant is unable to obtain required family support in the area offered (evidence to support these reasons will be required);
- Where the housing provider supports the refusal reason and is comfortable that no further action is taken.
New Applicants
However, where a property is deemed to have been refused for unjustified reasons, and the customer is a new applicant rather than a transfer, the application will be re-assessed and treated as follows:-
1st refusal – application will be fully re-assessed and unless the Gateway Assessment Officer can justify otherwise, the application will be dropped one Band.
2nd refusal – application will be fully re-assessed and unless the Gateway Assessment Officer can justify otherwise, the application will dropped a further Band.
3rd refusal - application will be fully re-assessed and unless the Gateway Assessment Officer can justify otherwise, the application will be dropped to Band 4 where it will remain unless the applicant’s circumstances change, which will result in a further re-assessment. Any movement to a higher Band will only be from the date of re-assessment and not from the original application date.
New applications will not generally be cancelled due to refusals unless this is at the applicant’s request.
Existing tenants requesting a transfer
In respect of existing tenants requiring a transfer to alternative accommodation, the above process will also be followed, although will drop directly to Band 4 after their second refusal as Band 3 is not appropriate for transfers.
However, if the applicant is on the list to downsize within the Housing Department stock, the application will remain in Band 1. These applications will continue to be seen as a high priority for housing providers.
The Housing Department will decide at which point further action should be taken, which might include the eviction of the tenant into smaller accommodation.
- Implementing the Policy
The Gateway Team is responsible for implementing this Policy.
- Appeals Process (prior to establishment of SHU and transfer of Gateway)
The appeals process for applicants to the Gateway is initially in writing to the Head of Policy & Business Improvement (HPBI).
The HPBI will review the application and the original decision made in partnership with the Gateway Assessment Officer who initially assessed the application.
If the decision is changed, the HPBI will write to the applicant to confirm that the appeal has been successful and will also confirm which Band the application has been placed in. The application will be passed back to the Officer to update on Saffron and complete the administrative process of activating a new application.
If the initial decision is upheld, the HPBI will write back to the applicant and confirm that decision and explain why the appeal has been unsuccessful. It is also necessary to advise the applicant of the next steps should they remain unsatisfied with the outcome.
The next step is for the case to be considered by the Housing Minister / Assistant Minister. The case will be presented to the Minister by the HPBI and it will also be normal practice for the applicant to attend the meeting.
The HPBI will confirm the Ministers decision to the applicant in writing.
The Ministers decision is final but does not affect the applicant’s ultimate right to seek an independent review of any decision.
- Policy Owner
Head of Policy & Business Improvement – until such time as the Strategic Housing Unit is established.
- Effective Date
This Policy will become effective from the date approved by the Housing Department Senior Management Team.
Update Policy Register with Review Date
Policy Register.xls
Policy created | Drafted 23 February 2012 | <name of the officer who drafted/wrote the policy> |
| | |
Policy reviews | Date | Reviewed by |
Give details of the review – if any amendments were made they should be detailed, if no amendments were made a statement like “policy reviewed no amendments made” should be entered here | Date that the policy was reviewed | Details of who reviewed the policy if it was a team or an individual they should be named here |
Process
The housing providers will advise the Gateway of all refusals on a weekly basis and will stipulate whether or not they believe the refusal reason to justified or not. Applicants will be requested to confirm their refusal of a property in writing.
The Gateway will review each refusal and determine the level of re-assessment required, for example:-
Refusal | Action by Gateway |
Justified refusal reason, no change in circumstances and application carries up to date information. | Up date case notes only. |
Justified refusal reason due to a change in circumstances. | Telephone applicant to discuss change of circumstances and request additional information as appropriate. Application to be placed in FI until additional information is provided at which time it will be updated and re-banded as appropriate. Letter to be sent to applicant to confirm outcome of re-assessment. |
Refusal reason not justified | Telephone applicant to discuss refusal. Remind applicant of refusal policy above and discuss action to be taken (down-banding) Confirm in writing. |
Tenants needing to downsize (Housing Dept) | The Gateway will not reduce the priority Band or renew the application date for these applicants as they must continue to be a high priority for downsizing. The application will be reviewed to ensure that there are no changes in circumstances and a letter will be sent to the applicant to advise them that they must seriously consider the offers being made as the Housing Department may decide to evict them into the next suitable property. |
Affordable Housing Gateway Refusals Policy Page 1 August 2012
gov.je