Last chance to have your say on how homes are allocated in Carmarthenshire

Carmarthenshire County Council is asking residents to have their say on the way social homes are allocated in the county in a consultation which closes on 31 May.

Last year (20 February 2023), the Council’s Cabinet approved an Emergency Allocations Policy to help address the unprecedented situation where the Council, as with all Welsh Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords, was facing increased demand for social housing that exceeded the level of supply.

Following the successful pilot of the Emergency Allocations Policy, the Council is now looking to mainstream their new approach of allocating social housing and is seeking views on the changes they have made in the Emergency Policy.

The Emergency Allocation Policy includes:

• Changes to those considered to be in urgent housing need
• Enabling homes to be directly matched to suitable applicants who are in most need
• Prioritising allocations to those with a community connection to a particular area
• Allowing the Council to register particular groups of people under a ‘no preference’ category
• Requiring applicants to re-register every six months

The Social Housing Allocations Policy outlines the way in which social housing is allocated in Carmarthenshire, operating a common approach with other registered social landlords (Housing Associations) who operate within the county.

Cllr Linda Evans Davies, Cabinet Member for Homes said:

There is still time to have your say on the way social housing is allocated in Carmarthenshire.

The adoption of the Emergency Allocations Policy in 2023 has enabled us to help those in greatest need more quickly, with residents directly matched with a suitable property.  We now need the views of residents to help us shape the existing Allocations Policy, which will include important updates to the way homes are allocated.”

Have your say on the way social housing is allocated in Carmarthenshire.