Pendle Borough Council
Market Street, Nelson, Lancashire BB9 7LG
Tel: 01282 661661 Fax: 01282 661130
Housing Allocations - General Information
The Housing Act 1996 requires the Council to keep a housing register from which offers of housing will be made. The Council is required to give "reasonable preference" when allocating housing to the following:
For information email: housing.management@pendle.gov.uk
- People occupying unsanitary or overcrowded housing or otherwise living in unsatisfactory housing conditions
- People occupying housing accommodation which his temporary or occupied on insecure terms
- Families with dependent children
- Households consisting of or including someone who is expecting a child
- Households consisting of or including someone with a particular need for settled accommodation on medical or welfare grounds
- Households whose social or economic circumstances are such that they have difficulty in securing settled accommodation
- People to whom the local authority owe a duty under the following homelessness legislation:
- Part VII Housing Act 1996
- Part III Housing Act 1985
It also requires that additional preference be given to households within the definition at (5) consisting of someone with a particular need for settled accommodation on medical or welfare grounds, who cannot reasonably be expected to find settled accommodation for themselves in the foreseeable future.
Who Can Apply?
Connections with the Area
The Council's main responsibility is towards applicants who currently live or work in the area. Your application will also be considered if you work in the area, used to live in the area, or if you have close relatives who currently live here. If you do not have any connection with this area, you may still register but it is not likely that an offer of housing will be made, you may, however, be able to move to this area through the Exchange Scheme link to pid 88 , or through the National Mobility Scheme.
Owner-occupiers
Owner-occupiers who wish to put their name on the housing register can do so but are advised to state very clearly why they feel they need Council housing. If you own your home you are only likely to be offered housing if you are faced with severe financial or medical difficulties, and cannot resolve your housing problem in any other way.
Age
People over 18 years may apply for Council accommodation. However, people between 16 and 18 years may be considered for Council accommodation but only in very special circumstances and with certain conditions attached such as a rent guarantor, assistance from social services or with a duty under the Homelessness Act 2002.
How is my Application Considered?
When a vacancy arises in the area and of the type you need, the housing register is checked. The cases with the highest number of points including transfer cases (people who wish to move from one Council property to another) are then closely considered. We identify the case or cases in the most housing need using the points as a clear guide.
We will then consider other factors such as how long people have been in need of housing, the ages of children if there are any, how long a person has been a tenant if it is a transfer case, and what the likelihood is of another vacancy arising which would be more suitable. The successful person will be offered the property in writing.
