Domestic violence survivors could be given higher priority for council housing in Islington

Housing chief Cllr Una O’Halloran said the changes need to be ‘fair and transparent’. Photograph: Julia Gregory

More priority could be given to residents affected by domestic violence as part of changes to Islington’s lettings scheme for council homes.

The plans, unveiled recently by local politicians, would also see abusers banned from the housing list.

The borough has 15,000 people on its waiting list and said it is likely to be able to find council homes for 1,000 households a year.

It will consult residents over the policy, which also aims to “strengthen the local community benefit as well as to maximize the wider chain of benefit from new homes”.

It means “people who are the perpetrators of domestic abuse, violent, coercive, or controlling behaviour towards a resident of the borough will not be permitted to join the housing register”.

People fleeing domestic abuse will get extra priority points and there will be more support for those at risk of homelessness.

Residents who have lived in Islington for five years or more will get 100 points when they join the housing register.

Those with savings or assets of £16,000 or more, or with a household income of £90,000, will not be allowed to join the register.

Waiting time points for those not in “significant need” will be removed to prevent them from “leapfrogging” those in dire straits.

Other changes could allow a tenant to request one or more separate homes for the people in their household, and an increase in medical points for the severely ill.

The changes follow a review last year after new legislation allowed councils more flexibility in their priorities to adapt to the area, such as including people with strong local or family connections.

The council also saw a 10 per cent increase in homelessness applications in 2022.

This comes after evictions across the private and public sector were put on hold by the government during lockdown, and the increased financial problems caused by the cost-of-living crisis.

Cllr Una O’ Halloran, the executive member for housing, said: “The new housing allocation scheme needs to be fair and transparent, but recognise that the council is required to ration a scarce and valuable resource to build the successful and stable communities of tomorrow.”

Islington Council plans to have a mutual exchange scheme to make it easier for people in homes that are too big for them or those in overcrowded homes to swap.

It also aims to allocate all lettable empty properties within 21 days.

Cllr O’Halloran said: “The new housing allocations scheme will design a framework which enables the council to look at the housing needs of households through the lens of treating every household as it they are an important member of our own families.”

The policy will be discussed at the executive meeting of senior politicians this Thursday.