Public Consulted on New Home Search Scheme (Southwark Liberal Democrats)

Southwark Liberal Democrats <info@southwark-libdems.org.uk>

Public Consulted on New Home Search Scheme

July 30, 2004 5:11 PM

Lib Dem run Southwark Council is asking local people for its views on a scheme which will revolutionise the way housing in the borough is allocated. Under the new scheme called Southwark Homesearch, people on the housing waiting list will be able to bid for vacant properties which will be advertised regularly in a free newsletter. People can bid for up to three properties at a time.

Each property will go to the bidder with the greatest priority need who has been waiting the longest. The way people are prioritised will also be streamlined into four bands under the new system, with current tenants receiving a higher priority than at present.

Lib Dem Councillor Gavin O'Brien, Southwark Council's executive member for housing management, said: "This means that people will be bidding for properties that they actually want in areas they want to live instead of that decision being made by the housing department.

"The new scheme will give all housing applicants more choice, but particularly those living in overcrowded conditions on our own estates. We hope that Southwark Homesearch will provide a more efficient and effective means of allocating our properties."

A questionnaire which includes a free postal address for replies and full details of the proposal can be found on the Southwark Council website: www.southwark.gov.uk/homesearch.

Alternatively you can request this information from, or send in your views to: Pauline Edwards, Housing Options, Southwark Council, Chatelaine House, 186 Walworth Road, SE17 1JJ, tel: 020 7525 0740 or e-mail pauline.edwards@southwark.gov.uk.

The closing date for people to send in their views is September 10.

Ends