Home » Wrexham Council agrees to lift age restrictions on housing allocation

Wrexham Council agrees to lift age restrictions on housing allocation

Wrexham councillor Marc Jones expressed concern over ending local lettings policies which allowed some properties to be exclusively allocated to over 50s - but the changes were approved over age discrimination concerns (Pic: Google Street View)

WREXHAM Council has ended the allocation of social housing in certain communities solely to the over 50s amid fears it may be accused of age discrimination.

The council’s Executive Board approved plans to lift local letting policies which previously allowed its central allocations team to reserve some properties exclusively for those over 50 as it reviewed its overall social housing allocation policy.

Local lettings provisions were once common in authorities throughout the UK. They were designed around the idea that older people would feel safer in communities where their neighbours were of a similar age.

Bur Wrexham will now abolish the policy, allowing houses and flats to be allocated to anyone on the housing waiting list that is suitable.

The policy change – which will come in on March 17 – does not affect sheltered accommodation or bungalows – which will continue to be allocated to residents over 60 based on need.

Councillor Marc Jones raised the issue at the Executive Board meeting this week.

“The proposal to get rid of the local lettings policy gives me cause for concern,” he said. “I feel in some circumstances it would be problematic.”

But Head of Housing Tracy Hague said that  the policy needed to end to prevent tenants bringing age discrimination cases against the council.

“What we’re looking to do is remove local lettings policies for general need properties and review that over two years to see if that assists us in any way in bringing down the waiting list,” she said.

“When we undertook the impact assessment it showed we could be challenged over discrimination with regard to the general need blocks,

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“We will be monitoring to make sure that, in fact, it is beneficial to the people of Wrexham.”

Council leader Mark Pritchard supported the proposal.

“I take on board the challenge the housing team faced,” he said. “Having seen the assessment I’m surprised we haven’t had a legal challenge in the past.”

Cllr Dana Davies also raised concerns over the lack of a specific reference to those fleeing domestic violence or fearing a threat to life in the new allocations policy.

Ms Hague explained that where there is an immediate danger of domestic abuse or threat to life vulnerable individuals and dependents are found emergency temporary accommodation.

Once they are safely housed in temporary accommodation they are classed as homeless and placed in Band Two on the waiting list, the second highest priority, for a long-term home.

The Executive Board approved the new policy and it will come into force on March 17.

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