The Housing Selection Scheme Consultation Paper - Northern ...

Purpose and Scope of the Consultation
In 2011 a preliminary consultation was carried out on proposals to amend a
number of key aspects of the Housing Selection Scheme. Housing Executive and
DSD officers subsequently jointly developed a number of options for
modernisation of the Scheme which contained an option for a potentially radical
examination of what factors should be taken into account in determining the
priority for the allocation of social housing.
This work was reported to the Minister in early 2012 and, as a result, the Minister
has recently announced a fundamental review of allocations policy in Northern
Ireland. The fundamental review will be conducted by independent consultants
and will consider overarching strategic issues.
It will take some time to research, develop, consult and implement change on
such a scale and, in the interim, while that broader work is being carried out, it is
recognised that important amendments will be required as a matter of priority to
the existing Housing Selection Scheme in light of the Government’s programme
of Welfare Reform.
The Welfare Reform Act, affecting Great Britain, received Royal Assent in March
2012. The Act provides for the most fundamental programme of welfare reform
for sixty years. A similar Welfare Reform Bill has been developed for Northern
Ireland, and is currently being debated by the Northern Ireland Executive and will
be subject to approval by the Assembly. The Bill proposes corresponding
changes here and, if implemented, many of the current benefits will cease to
exist and a new Universal Credit will replace several benefits and new payment
systems will be introduced. Information on universal credit and other elements of
welfare reform can be found on the NI Direct Website: www.nidirect.gov.uk
If the Welfare Reform Bill is passed, and Northern Ireland maintains parity with
Great Britain, from 1 April 2013 a size criteria will be introduced for new and
existing working-age 1 Housing Benefit claimants living in the social rented sector.
This size criteria will replicate that which applies to Housing Benefit claimants in
the private rented sector and whose claims are assessed using the local housing
allowance rules. The tenant’s maximum rent will be reduced by a national
percentage rate depending on how many bedrooms the household is considered
to be under-occupying. The change will only apply to working-age Housing
Benefit claimants. New and existing Housing Benefit claims from those claimants
who have reached the qualifying age for state pension credit will be unaffected
by this measure.
The size criteria measure is the only element of the Welfare Reform Bill which
affects social landlords alone.
1 By April 2013 the qualifying age for state pension credit is 61 rising to 62 years by the following
April so, a tenant who is aged 62 or older before 6 April 2013 (or more precisely anyone born
before 6 October 1951) will not be subject to the size criteria.
Proposals for Changes to the Housing Selection Scheme 4