Sub-Regional Choice-based Lettings Policy

Choice-based Lettings is a way of allocating social housing that gives the customer more choice about where they want to live. The Government has asked all Councils to introduce Choice-based Lettings schemes as the preferred way of allocating social rented housing.

Wirral Council, in partnership with a number of Housing Associations, has operated a Choice Based Lettings scheme known as Wirralhomes since 2003. The Council has been working with the Councils of Halton, Liverpool, Knowsley and Sefton and more than 20 Housing Associations to develop a scheme across all of these areas. The new scheme will be called Property Pool Plus.

Choice-based Lettings schemes have been operating in Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral for a number of years, but it will be totally new for Halton and Knowsley residents.

The Councils and Housing Association partners intend to adopt a common application form, a common housing register, a common allocations policy and a shared computer system. The aim is to offer a simplified, more accessible service for customers as well as creating efficiencies for partner organisations.

In Autumn 2010 we consulted those potentially affected by the changes outlined in the Draft Merseyside Choice-based Letting Allocations Policy which set out proposals for how the new scheme would work.

During the consultation we sought the views of current and future social housing residents, organisations with clients in social housing and other stakeholders. The consultation ended on 14th October 2010.

The results of the consultation were used to revise the draft policy. The revised draft policy was reported back to the Council’s Cabinet on 17 March 2011 when it was finally approved. All the partner local authorities have now approved the revised policy and will continue to develop the scheme during 2011.

The results of the consultation and the approved policy can be downloaded from this page. We will be contacting all current Wirralhomes applicants later in 2011 to explain how their applications will be moved to the new system.