What does this mean?
Between 2026 and 2030, we will ensure our Housing Register is clear, fair, and accessible to all eligible residents with a housing need. This means making sure our Housing Allocations Policy is applied consistently, applicants are correctly assessed and banded, and homes are allocated in line with our criteria and agreed timeframes. The Housing Register is a critical tool for matching people to the right homes at the right time, and it must remain responsive to changes in housing need across the district.

Challenges to achieving this goal:

• Continued growth in the number of households on the Housing Register, driven by affordability pressures, limited private rental options, and wider economic factors.
• Increasing demand for family-sized homes, adaptable properties, and accommodation that can support home working or flexible living.
• Predicting future housing needs so that planned developments meet both current and long-term demand.
• A potential shortfall in new affordable homes coming forward, which may result in longer waiting times for those in need.

What we have achieved and will build on:

• Implemented the Jigsaw housing system making it quicker and easier for residents to apply to join the Housing Register and update their details.
• Maintained compliance with our Housing Nominations Policy, ensuring fair banding and eligibility decisions.
• Improved shortlisting for vacancies in line with statutory and contractual timeframes and reduce the amount of time a property remains empty before being allocated.
• Provided targeted housing demand reports to Registered Providers and developers to inform the delivery of homes that meet local needs.
• Continued to honour our commitment under the Armed Forces Covenant awarding additional preference to eligible members of the armed forces community.

Looking ahead to 2030, we will continue to improve the accessibility of the Housing Register through digital innovation, ensure our policies reflect changing housing needs, and strengthen our partnership working with Registered Providers and developers to match supply more effectively to demand.

Key Actions 2026-2027

• Introduce incentive scheme for under-occupying social tenants.
• Annual review of Housing Register to reflect changing local needs
• Annual review of Housing Register completed