Concern as thousands 'fall off' housing list (From This is Hampshire)

Concern as thousands 'fall off' housing list

8:40am Sunday 22nd November 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(2)

THOUSANDS of people “vanished” from the borough’s housing register following a review.

When Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council decided last year to move to a new system for allocating social housing, it asked the approximately 6,000 people on the register to reapply.

Once the review was completed in April, the council removed 3,800 applicants – because they had failed to renew their housing applications.

South Ham Councillor Sean Keating was shocked to discover the housing list had shrunk during a recession, when people are more likely to be losing their homes after failing to keep up with mortgage repayments.

He said: “I was staggered to see that 3,800 people have been removed from the waiting list in one go like this.”

Cllr Keating said 270 residents of his ward had been removed.

He added: “A small number of people have gone back on, but most haven’t and I’m sure that there are many people out there who don’t even know they’ve been removed.

“I’d urge anyone who thinks they may have been removed to urgently check with the council.”

Tracey Cole, the council’s head of housing and benefit, said it had been 10years since the housing register was so comprehensively reviewed and the change was undertaken to improve the simplicity and fairness of the system.

She said all applicants were sent a new form and letter informing them of the need to reapply, and were told they would be removed from the list if they did not.

A series of drop-in sessions was held across the borough, a free phone telephone number for applicants were provided and reminder letters sent out.

Ms Cole added: “This rate of non-return is consistent with other local authorities who have reviewed their housing register.

“We fully anticipate to recoup the numbers over the following 12-month period and already 1,500 people have been added since April, when the system started.”

Anyone wanting more information can call 01256 844844 or visit the council offices in London Road, Basingstoke.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(2)