CURRENTLY

Social housing in Fenland is let using a points based system. Under this system, an applicant to the housing register is awarded points to reflect their current circumstances and future housing need. The total number of points awarded would then determine their position in the waiting lists for the particular areas or villages where they would like to live. A higher number of points reflecting a greater housing need.

Sometimes customers find a points based system difficult to understand and it does not easily allow you to work out for yourself how many points you may be awarded. Also, there is little or no information about properties that are currently available to let.

THE FUTURE

Fenland District Council have agreed in principle to use Choice Based Lettings (CBL) as the best approach for the future allocation of housing across it's district. Fenland is working towards a sub-regional scheme with six other local authority areas covering Cambridge City, Huntingdon, East Cambridgeshire, South Cambs, St Edmundsbury and Forest Heath. A proportion of each authority's/partner RSLs properties will be made available to people from anywhere in the Cambridgeshire sub regional area. This will offer applicants greater choice and ease of movement between local authorities across the region. The move towards a CBL scheme has been the intention of the Council for some time and this sub-regional project offers a great to move the project forward.

The launch or 'go-live' date of the new scheme is planned for mid-2008. As the planning and implementation of the new CBL scheme moves forward, further information will be added to these pages.

Most CBL schemes work under the same basic principals. However, every area has to deal with different levels of housing need and pressures of demand with local differences having to be taken into account. Why not visit the websites of some CBL schemes already operating successfully, this will give you an opportunity to see how they work.

 

After visiting these sites please contact us at choicebasedlettings@fenland.gov.uk if you have any questions or ideas you would like us to consider for our own scheme.

For further information about Choice Based Lettings in Fenland, click on the Choice Based Lettings Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Glossary link at the bottom of this page.

We are currently consulting on our Draft Policy and CBL Framework. Links to these documents can be found at the bottom of this page.