A NEW social housing allocation system which links three districts across South Worcestershire is being proposed by Worcester City Council.

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Malvern Hills, Worcester and Wychavon District Councils are joining forces to launch a new scheme to allocate social housing across the three districts.

The new scheme would move away from the current system, Home choice Plus, and introduce new eligibility criteria for people on the social housing list.

One of the proposals is households which are threatened with homelessness will be eligible for the highest banding, if they are willing to work with a housing officer. Under the current system, the highest banding is only allocated once a household has actually become homeless.

Under the new proposals, all applicants would be able to bid on suitable available properties; under the current policy they are restricted to three bids per week.

It is also proposed that social housing tenants who wish to move, and who don’t use or need all of the bedrooms in their current property, would be eligible for the highest banding.

Households living in an overcrowded flat with a child under 10 would also be awarded a higher banding, under the proposals.

Applicants in the highest three bands who refuse a suitable offer of accommodation would see their priority banding reduced.

Home Choice Plus users that wish to apply for properties the three areas will need to re-apply to the new scheme, a higher priority will still be given to those with a local connection to an area.

A council spokesman said spokesman for the council said: “Depending on feedback from the consultation and other external unforeseen issues we aim to implement the changes by the end of September.” To have your say on the proposed policy visit www.worcester.gov.uk/voiceit