LEAFLET 3: BOROUGH OF SPELTHORNE POINTS SCHEME This is the points scheme that the Council will use to assess your priority.
Please note that there is no "magic" number of points which will automatically result in rehousing. What is important is how your points total compares with other applicants on the Register. Additional factors are the type of accommodation you are interested in, and the availability of such accommodation.
1. BEDROOM SHORTAGE
Points will be awarded for bedroom shortage based on a standard which assumes that a separate bedroom is required for each of the following:-
(i) Two adults living together as man and wife
(ii) One or two children under 10 years old
(iii) One or two males where one is (or both are) over ten
(iv) One or two females where one is (or both are) over ten
(v) A person whom the Council's Medical Adviser considers should be provided, on medical grounds, with separate sleeping accommodation.
For each bedroom by which your accommodation falls short of this standard:-
Where the accommodation is self-contained - Points Awarded = 20
Where the accommodation is not self-contained - Points Awarded = 10
2. FLOOR AREA
In addition to the bedroom shortage points above, points will be awarded where the number of occupants of a room used for sleeping exceeds the "permitted number" as defined in Part 10 of the Housing Act 1985. A child under 10 years is counted as a "half person".
Floor Area
Permitted Number
110 sq.ft. or more
2
90 sq.ft. or more but less than 110 sq.ft
1
70 sq.ft. or more but less than 90 sq.ft.
1
50 sq.ft. or more but less than 70 sq.ft.
For every person over the permitted number - Points Awarded = 5 3. SHARED FACILITIES
(i) If you are sharing your accommodation with at least one other household, and the only W.C. is in the same room as the bath/shower - Points Awarded = 5
(ii) If you are sharing your accommodation with at least two other households, to whom you are not related, for each household (up to a maximum of 20 points) - Points Awarded = 5
(iii) If you are sharing a living room, or have no living room available - Points Awarded = 3
(iv) If you are sharing a kitchen - Points Awarded = 5
4. BEDROOM SURPLUS
If you are not sharing your accommodation, for each bedroom in excess of requirements - Points Awarded = 5
5. UNSUITABLE ACCOMMODATION
(i) If your accommodation lacks the following (where these cannot be provided after consultation with the Head of Environmental Health):-
Bathroom - Points Awarded = 15
Separate kitchen (eg bedsit) - Points Awarded = 10
Piped water supply - Points Awarded = 5
W.C. (inside) - Points Awarded = 5
Washbasin - Points Awarded = 3
(ii) If your accommodation suffers from disrepair or dampness which cannot be resolved by other means, points may be awarded on the recommendation of the Head of Environmental Health up to a maximum of - Points Awarded = 15
6. DEPENDENT CHILDREN/PREGNANT WOMAN
If your household includes one or more dependent children under 16 years of age and/or a pregnant woman - Points Awarded = 5
7. SEPARATED FAMILIES
If you have a dependent child and the child's other parent is included on the application, and through genuine lack of accommodation you have to live at different addresses, and have done so for a period of at least 3 months - Points Awarded = 15
8. ACCESS TO GARDEN
EITHER (i) If you have no garden (shared or otherwise) available for your use
OR (ii) If you have a garden (shared or otherwise) available for your use, but the entrance to your accommodation is above the first floor
for each child under 10 years of age (up to a maximum of 10 points) - Points Awarded = 5
9. LENGTH OF TIME ON REGISTER
For each year (up to a maximum of 20 points) - Points Awarded = 2
10. MEDICAL POINTS
If you, any person included on your application, or any person with whom you are currently living, has any medical or welfare problem which would be improved by your moving to another home, points may be awarded on the recommendation of the Council's Medical Adviser up to a maximum of (NB see Additional Notes below) - Points Awarded = 40
11. SOCIAL/ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES
If your social and/or economic circumstances are assessed as being such that you have particular difficulty in securing settled accommodation, points may be awarded by the Housing Needs Manager up to a maximum of (NB see Additional Notes below) - Points Awarded = 15
12. EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Where exceptional circumstances occur not adequately covered by the above headings, points may be awarded by the Head of Housing & Community Care up to a maximum of - Points Awarded = 30
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Exceptions to the Points Scheme
Certain applications are considered outside of the points scheme:
(i) Homeless households placed by the Council into temporary accommodation under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 are placed onto a separate list within the Register from which they are permanently rehoused in date order of original application into a proportion of available lettings
(ii) Households affected by Closing and Demolition Orders
(iii) Persons recommended by the Council's Medical Adviser
(iv) Special allocation arrangements (normally involving multi-agency allocation panels of various kinds) apply to certain special needs properties
NB The Council reserves the right to consider any case as a special case where it is felt that circumstances warrant this.
Medical
The Council's Medical Adviser can recommend the award of medical points up to a maximum of 40, or ask that an application be treated as a special case on medical grounds. Medical information, usually in the form of a letter or report from a doctor, health visitor etc, is considered by the Medical Adviser.
The Council will not request or pay for medical evidence. It is up to you to seek this if you believe that the medical condition or welfare of yourself, another person included on your application, or someone with whom you are currently living would be improved by your being rehoused. It is important to note that medical points relate only to circumstances where the Medical Adviser is of the opinion that rehousing will result in some medical or welfare benefit, and not because of illness or disability alone. Additional priority will be given to a household with a particular need for settled accommodation on medical or welfare grounds, who cannot reasonably be expected to find settled accommodation for themselves in the foreseeable future.
Problems of stress caused by shared accommodation or poor facilities are covered in the points scheme and additional medical points will not usually be awarded.
Social/Economic Circumstances
The Housing Needs Manager can award points up to a maximum of 15 if your social and/or economic circumstances are assessed as being such that you have particular difficulty in securing settled accommodation. Supporting evidence, for instance from Social Services, Education, Police or other relevant agency, is usually required. Please note that your circumstances would have to be considerably more unsatisfactory than the average circumstances of other similar applicants for such points to be awarded.
