Prioritisation criteria
There are two/three considerations that will inform the prioritisation of households for the allocation of properties:
A) Local connection
B) Economic activity
C) Accessible property and medical need for ground floor/wheelchair accessible/adapted M4(3).
Accessible flats and ground floor flats will be considered using the above prioritisation criteria and medical need for a ground floor or accessible home. Households with a need for accessible/ ground floor accommodation who also meet prioritisation criteria A or B will be prioritised for these homes. Next priority will be to those with a medical need for an accessible/ground floor home, regardless of meeting criteria A or B.
A) Local connection
Priority will be given to households with a local connection to Larkfield ward or Aylesford and Ditton ward, in line with the definition of local connection in the Council’s Housing Allocation Scheme.
Households in temporary accommodation (TA) will have their local connection considered based on their last settled accommodation before placement in TA, or through family. This is to ensure they are treated fairly, regardless of where they are placed in TA.
B) Economic Activity
This plan aims for 50% of homes to be let to economically active households; where the lead or joint applicant is permanently employed or in work-based training.
Applicants will be required to evidence their employment or training information to West Kent as part of the offer and pre-tenancy checks.
Households not able to be economically active because they are not working age, are full time carers, due to a disability or impairment, will not have the economically active element of priority considered, i.e. they will be treated in a neutral way and not bypassed due to not working should they be next in line to be offered once the other criteria of this local lettings plan has been applied.
C) Adapted or Accessible homes and medical need for ground floor
There are four 2bed ground floor level access flats and three 3bed accessible houses built to building regulations M4(3) to be suitable for wheelchair user. The four flats will have a level access shower in the bathroom.
Accessible homes and ground floor flats will be prioritised for households with a medical need for them. Prioritisation criteria A and B will be applied to prioritise households with a medical need for ground floor.
If there are no suitable households with a medical need for an accessible home the remaining homes will be allocated in the same way as the other flats, with criteria A and B applying in the first instance.
Households not able to be economically active because they are not working age, are full time carers or due to a disability or impairment, will not have the economically active element of priority considered, i.e. they will be treated in a neutral way and not bypassed due to not working should they be next in line to be offered in line once the other criteria of this local lettings plan have been applied.
If no households meet local connection prioritisation criteria (A) or once all those with this prioritisation have been exhausted on a relevant shortlist then the LLP will not apply.