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Changes to the rules of Under One Roof – St Helens from 09 April 2025

1.        Why have these changes happened?

St Helens Borough Councils needed to review its Housing Allocations Policy. This was so the policy could better reflect peoples circumstances locally and to give priority to local people.

2.        What has changed ?

There is a new Allocations Policy for St Helens. It  means changes to how the Under One Roof service works in St Helens, including:

 

• Who can apply for housing using Under One Roof has changed.  There will be some people who will no longer qualify to go onto the waiting list based on their circumstances.

• The number of bands  has  changed.

•  The council puts an application for social housing in a group called a band, based on housing need and circumstances.     This band decides where people go on the register.    The priority banding system has changed and there will be seven bands including a new Band C*

Providing proofs at point of application

 

•          Existing applicants , Bands A*, A, B* and B  we will be contacting you in when the new policy is active to ask you to complete the new qualification questions on the application form and provide proofs of your identification and circumstances.

 

•          New applicants  - Band A*, A, B*, B and Band C*  you will need to provide proof of your identification and circumstances before your application is assessed and made active. This is to allow us to assess your housing need in accordance with the new allocations policy.

 

Renewing applications.

•          There will be a longer time to respond to your annual renewal.  It is now 56 days.

•          You will be given 28 days initially to complete your renewal which will start from the date you are sent your renewal notification.

•          If you do not fill in your renewal within 28 days you will be allowed a further 28 days before your application for housing will be closed.

•          It will no longer be possible to reopen or backdate housing applications once they have been closed

 

Change to the Computer System.

 

Updates have been made to the computer system which means it can do more and is easier to use, like:

 

•          Being able to load verification documents ( proofs) directly to your online account like, proof of ID, support letters, etc.

•          More information about the availability of properties by area and average waiting times.

•          You will also still be able to view messages we have sent to you, like it is now.

 

3.        How has the qualification criteria changed?

Qualification Criteria means the rules we use to decide if you can apply for social housing. Proof will be required for all circumstances. There will be new questions that all applicants will need to answer to show you still qualify to be on the waiting list. 

 

The main changes to the qualification criteria are:

Local Connection 

•          You will need to currently be living in the St Helens area and have lived here for at least the previous two years to join the scheme.

There are times when your circumstances mean that you will not have to have lived in the St Helens region for two years. These are  explained in the policy. Some examples are:

• If you have near family that live in St Helens 9 parents/ guardians/ siblings/ adult children.  Their period of residence within the St Helens area must have been for at least the last 5 years or more .

• If you have a job in an area -  The applicant has been in settled employment in St Helens for more than 12 months and for over 16 hours per week?

• Any 16- or 17-year-olds who want to join the scheme must have a “trustee” (a professional person who is responsible for you).

Rent Arrears 

• Persons (be it the applicant, or anyone who usually lives with them, or might reasonably be expected to live with them) who have outstanding liabilities (such as rent or service charge arrears, or recharges) attributable to a tenancy which are more than 2/12ths of the annual amount payable (or which was payable) by an applicant to a landlord in respect of a tenancy. When determining a realistic repayment agreement, there will be an emphasis on an applicant’s willingness to address the debt and to come to an agreement to do so. Any agreement will be based on the affordability of an applicant, rather than the level of debt. Efforts will be made to take into consideration why the arrears have arisen. The urgency of an applicant’s housing need will also be of paramount importance. 3.2.5 of the policy.

Homeowners 

•          If the applicant, or anyone who usually lives with them, or might reasonably be expected to live with them, are homeowners they will not qualify unless they meet the exceptional circumstances.

 

           These can be found in section 3.2.8 of the policy.

Savings 

•          If you have savings of more than £16,000 then you will not be able to join the scheme from now on. There are times when this does not apply, and more details can be found in section 3.2.9 of the policy.

Unreasonable Behaviour

•          There are some small changes to criteria for unacceptable behaviour and breaking tenancy terms. More details about this can be found in section 3.2.6 of the policy.

 

4.        What are the criteria for the priority bands?

The banding system and detailed criteria can be found in Section 4 of the  new policy.    An overview of the new bands is given below. Full details can be viewed in the Housing Allocations Policy.

 

The more detailed criteria that is in the policy will be used when assessing applications. 

Band A* – Applications are placed in this band when rehousing is urgently needed this is called Additional Preference.  Owed the main duty under Housing Act 1996, part 7. Not intentionally homeless and have a priority need for accommodation. Applicants will need to be assessed by Housing Options at St Helens Council.

 

Band A – Applications are put in this band when rehousing is urgently needed this is called Additional Preference and includes

 

•         The application is because the applicant is homeless and in situations when councils must help.  This is called owed duty. Assessment will be made by Housing Options at St Helens Council

•          Victims of domestic abuse.

•          There is evidence of a risk to life.

•          Sudden loss of home because of a disaster.

•          Overcrowded by three or more bedrooms.

•          Life threatening or terminal medical issue.

•          Leaving a stay in hospital and unable to return home.

•          St Helens Council Care Leavers.

•          St Helens Council approved Foster Carers who need to move to a larger home.

•          Armed Forces with a housing need.

•          Bereaved partners of Armed Forces personnel who need to leave accommodation that is only for those who work in the Armed Services.

•          When the applicant’s current home is needed for Regeneration, Compulsory Purchase Order, St Helens Council approved decant.

•          Housing First programme which gives support and housing to those who are homeless or with health and care needs.

 

Band B* - Homelessness prevention, threatened with homelessness owed the prevention section 195 duty. Assessment will be completed by Housing Options at St Helens Council

 

Band B – Applications are put in this band when rehousing is needed this is called Reasonable Preference and includes:

•          When an applicant is Homeless for other reasons than included in Band A.

•          Moving on from approved supported living

•          Domestic Abuse.

•          Properties failing to meet minimum standards.

•          Overcrowded by two bedrooms.

•          Under occupying social rented housing.

•          Non urgent Medical

•          Non urgent welfare/social reasons.

•          Financial Hardship.

•          Older people in flats/maisonettes above GF and not designated for older people.

•          Applicants with specialist support requirements.

•          Take up employment, education or training opportunity and in respect of transfer applications to be closer to work.

•          Access specialised medical treatment

•          Give or receive care where current geographic circumstances limit the ability to do this.

•          Escaping anti social behaviour

•          Victims of Racial harassment

•          Victims of hate crime – Protected Characteristics

•          Witnesses of Crime or victims of crime who would be at risk of intimidation if they remained in their current home.

 

Band C * - Overcrowded lacking 1 bedroom

 

Band C – All applicants will be in band C if they don’t have priority under the allocation scheme.

 

Band D – Applicants from A, B  and C who have exhausted their right to refuse an allocation of social rented housing (see section 5.15) will be placed on autobid and allowed one final offer. 

If they refuse this final offer  or have failed to bid as follows where a suitable property would have been available:

•  Band A – failed to bid after a period of 6 weeks

•  Band B – failed to bid after a period of 12 weeks

Applicants will remain in Band D for a period of 12 months from date of final refusal and then they may be reassessed.

 

5.        When did the change happen?

The new Policy was introduced  on 09th April  2025

 

6.        Do I need to make a new application?

If you have an active application you will not need to do anything until we contact you.

We will be contacting everyone in order to ask you for more information and answer some new questions based on the changes in the new Allocations Policy.  This is so that we can assess your application under the new rules and check you still qualify.

Please ensure you reply to any contacts within the time you are asked to.  If you do not respond within 28 daysa your application may be closed.

 

7.        Will anything on my application change?

Your application will be assessed using the new policy.  This may mean a change.  This could affect whether you qualify for the scheme, or there could be a change to your priority band or the  sizes of property you can bid for.

Some people will not meet the new qualification criteria.   In this situation their application will be closed.

If there is any change to your application, we will contact you to tell you about this.

 

8.      How will my priority band be affected?

A number of people will not be affected by the changes and their band will remain the same.

Please refer to the Band change table for information on how the bands will change in the new scheme.

9.      Will my band date change when the new scheme is introduced?

For most applicants, the date of entry into a  band or “band effective date” will stay the same as your band will not change. 

If the new policy means you move into a higher band then your effective date will change to the date your application is assessed as qualifying for the new higher band.

 

10.      Will my registration date change?

No, your registration date will stay the same.  This is the date you originally applied.

 

11.      How will I know if my application has been affected by the change?

A number of people will not be affected by the changes and their band will remain the same.

We will write to you to tell you about any change to your application due to the changes in the policy.

Most of our letters are sent by email, please regularly check your emails, including your spam or junk folder.

 

12.      What if I disagree with any change made to my application?

You will be sent a message or email with the decision to tell you about any changes to your application.

The  message will explain how to ask for a decision to be considered again if you disagree. This is called a review.

You must contact us to ask for a review within 21 days of receiving the decision letter which tells you about any change.

The timescale for a review to be completed is 56 days from the date it was submitted 

 

13.      Is the website changing?

Yes, the main website address will stay as www.u-1-r.co.uk

There will be then be two new pages created, one for St Helens and one for Warrington where you will find details of how to apply to each borough and how the schemes work. You will need to apply separately for each scheme.

We will be upgrading the information provided on the website to provide you with more details about how long you may wait to be rehoused.  There will also be some new features which we think will improve how people can use the website.

 

14.       Will my account login details be affected?

No, your login details should not change.

 

15.      Has property advertising and bidding changed?

There will be no change to the weekly advertising cycle which is when you can bid.

There will be no change to how you bid but there may be changes to the size of property you can bid for and the number of bedrooms you qualify for.

Underoccupancy will usually not be allowed under the new allocations policy. 

Property adverts will continue to include eligibility criteria   e.g. bedroom needs, sheltered accommodation, accessible accommodation.

Occasionally properties may be advertised to specific groups, in line with an agreed Local Letting Plan.

 

16.      I receive help with bidding, will this continue in the new scheme?

There are no plans to change the way we help people with bidding for properties eg autobidding. This will continue in the new scheme.

 

17.      What if I no longer qualify for the scheme and my application is closed?

If you believe that the assessment for your application is wrong, you can ask for it to be looked at again. This is called a review.

If the review finds that closing your application was wrong, your application will be put back on the system.

Your application will stay closed if the review was because you disagree with the new policy criteria.

 

18.      What if my application was closed as I did not qualify, but my circumstances have now changed?

If your situation has changed and you think you will now meet the qualification criteria, you should complete a new housing application.

You will need to provide evidence to show how you qualify