From June 2012, a new choice-based lettings system will be introduced within Liverpool. This new system will be very similar to the existing system Property-Pool but will be called ‘Property-Pool Plus’.
So what’s the difference between property pool and property pool plus?
One of biggest changes will be the number of participating landlords as this new system will be sub-regional covering the Merseyside and Halton areas. Currently only landlords within the Liverpool boundary advertise their empty homes on Property-Pool.
Property Pool Plus will therefore include housing providers in Halton, Knowsley , Liverpool ,Sefton and Wirral . Full list of scheme partners:
• Arena
• Beechwood & Ballantyne
• Cobalt
• Cosmopolitan
• Contour
• Crosby
• Guinness Northern Counties
• Halton Housing
• KHT
• Leasowe Community
• LMH
• LHT
• One Vision Housing
• Pierhead
• Plus Dane
• Regenda
• Riverside
• SLH
• Venture
• Villages
• Wirral Methodist
• Wirral Partnerships
There will be a single common application form which will be used by all the housing providers.
Sheltered Accommodation will be advertised on Property Pool Plus for the over 55’s in all areas except Liverpool. Liverpool will continue to use Access Liverpool.
Adapted Properties properties will be advertised on Property Pool Plus. Liverpool will continue to use Access Liverpool.
How will Property Pool Plus allocate empty homes?
Properties will continue to be advertised to a number of bands determined by housing needs. However these bands have been revised and are listed below. If the property is advertised to your band you will be allowed to place a bid.
Banding system. There are 6 bands and 15 sub bands.
BAND REASON FOR HOUSING NEED
Band A
Urgent Priority
Health/Welfare (Urgent)
Statutory Homeless (Unintentionally with priority need)
Regeneration
Overcrowded (2 or more bedrooms)
Band B
High Priority
Health / Welfare (High)
Overcrowded (1 bedroom)
Disrepair
Under occupation
Band C
Medium Priority Health/Welfare (Medium)
Homeless (no priority need)
Homeless (intentional with priority need)
Living with family and friends
Band D
Low Priority
No assessed need and in employment
Band E
No Priority
No assessed need and not in employment
Band F
Reduced Priority
Reduced preference status due to unacceptable behaviour (ASB & significant rent arrears)
Current applicants will be re-banded in line with the new allocations policy that has been agreed and adopted by Liverpool City Council and Cobalt. If you are registered for rehousing on Property-Pool now, then you will receive a letter before the new system goes live June 2012 and we will re-assess your banding in line with this new policy. If you are unhappy with your new band or sub band you should contact the landlord who originally inputted your application. The letter will also include your new log in details.
How do I bid for a property?
The IT system is very similar for applicants to use in relation to “bidding” for homes. If you are unclear on how to use the system you should contact the landlord who input your application as all the participating
Landlords have been fully trained how to use the new system.
How many bedrooms am I entitled to?
One bedroom is required for the applicant and their partner. One bedroom is then added for the following:
• Pair of children aged under 10 years regardless of sex
• Pair of adolescents aged 10-20 years of the same gender
• Any single adult aged 21 years or more
• A carer/group of full time carers as recognised by social services
3 bed parlour houses can be allocated to a larger family requesting a 4 bed house.
Expectant mothers will need to provide MATB1, once received unborn child can be included on the application.
It is important to note that the Property-Pool Plus policy will aim to ensure all allocations are made to fully occupy all bedrooms within the property. There are some obvious exceptions to this such as for example – applicants who require an additional bedroom for carers who may have to stay overnight regularly or occasionally.
Staying in contact with children
Children will only be considered as part of the application if the applicant can prove that they live with them for the majority of time (more than 50 %). Proof should be obtained from solicitor, court order or letter from ex- partner.
In cases where one partner or guardian has access arrangements in place, if this access is equally shared it is likely that accommodation of the same size may be made available to both parties. A parent or guardian staying in contact for less than 50% of the time may be allocated an additional bedroom for those children. For example a single person may be allocated a two bedroom property.
Reviews/staying on the list
Each year on the anniversary of your application you will be sent a letter asking if you wish to remain on the waiting list. You should respond to this latter as a matter of urgency. Failure to do so will result in your application being cancelled and your name removed from the waiting list.
BIG CHANGES TO THE WAY COBALT ALLOCATE ITS HOMES
In line with Property Pool Plus in June 2012 Cobalt will change the way it allocates its empty homes.
Cobalt has always let its homes using a “time on list” policy. Applicants would be placed on a waiting list for a period of time for a particular property in a particular neighbourhood. This is now changing to enable Cobalt to allocate its empty home to those in greatest need.
What are the changes?
Cobalt will allocate the same way as property pool plus using priority needs banding and sub banding as previously detailed. We will now be able to prioritise those applicants in the greatest need. This will also include transferring tenants. These are called ‘direct-match’ allocations.
Within the next few months all registered applicants on Cobalt’s waiting list will receive a letter advising them of their priority on our waiting list and their date of application.
Reviews of applications will be sent out yearly, applicants must respond within 3 mont
