The Housing Register
The Council will consider every application for housing
providing it is made in accordance with the Council’s Allocation
Policy.
1. The applicant must be at least 16 years old.
2. Applicants will not be eligible if the Council is satisfied
that:
(a) they, or a member of their household has
been guilty of unacceptable behaviour serious enough to make them
unsuitable to be a tenant of the Council.
(b) in the circumstances at the time the
application is considered, they are unsuitable to be a tenant of
the Council by reason of that behaviour.
The only behaviour which may be regarded by the Council as
unacceptable is:
(i) behaviour of the person concerned which
would entitle the Council to a Possession Order.
(ii) behaviour of a member of their
household which would entitle the Council to a Possession
Order.
3. Applicants who are refused on the grounds of 2 (a) or (b)
above may make a fresh application for further consideration.
4. Applicants who are accepted on the register on the basis of
information they have provided and are subsequently found to be
ineligible will have their applications cancelled.
5. Asylum seekers are not eligible because of immigration
control. Asylum seekers become eligible if they are granted refugee
status, or granted leave to remain in the UK (without any
conditions).
Other persons who do not qualify are:
(a) a person who is not normally resident in
the European Community (EC);
(b) a resident of the EC who has been
notified by the Home Secretary that he/she no longer has a right to
reside in the UK.
6. The Secretary of State may prescribe other classes of persons
from abroad who are not eligible.
7. Where joint applicants separate, they may submit separate
applications which will be regarded as dating from the original
housing application date providing the new application is made
within 12 months of notifying the Council.
8. The Council is able to take into account the financial
resources available to a person to meet his housing costs,
including equity in a property. Owner occupiers over retirement age
and owner occupiers in housing need whose financial circumstances
prevent them from purchasing a more suitable home will be eligible
for consideration.
9. Right to a Review.
If an application to join the Housing
Register is refused; if an applicant’s name is removed without
their consent or if an applicant is suspended for refusing 3
suitable offers, they have a right to ask for the decision to be
reviewed. The request must be made within 21 days of being notified
if the decision and the Council has a maximum of 8 weeks to
respond. Once the Council’s decision on the review has been
reached, the applicant cannot ask for another review on that
decision. If the applicant remains unhappy, they can approach the
Local Government Ombudsman.
10. Right to Information.
All applicants have a right to information
about their application. The authority is not able to give
information to a third party under the Data Protection Act 1998,
unless authorised in writing by the applicant.
Contact
Tel: 01304 872265
Email: housingneeds@dover.gov.uk
