A policy that works to increase the number of people that can be housed in council homes and social housing in Portsmouth has had a positive first year.
In November 2024 Portsmouth City Council agreed the new housing allocations policy that changed the way that people in Portsmouth are allocated social housing to create more opportunities for residents to find a home. As a result of the policy more households have been moved from accommodation that does not meet their needs to accommodation that does.
The policy applies to people who are on the council housing register (also known as a waiting list). People seeking asylum can’t join the housing register.
An information paper that is being presented at the decision meeting for the Cabinet Member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness on Tuesday 3 February has found that there were 975 homes allocated last year, meaning 164 more households, a 20% increase, were allocated the property they need in the first year of the policy than in the preceding year, at least 90 of which are the direct result of the policy.
Additionally, there are 79 fewer households living in a property with an urgent need to move than there were last year.
The policy has an additional priority reserved for specified members of the armed forces community and for care-experienced people from Portsmouth. This has resulted in 87 of these households being rehoused.
Cllr Darren Sanders, Cabinet Member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness, said: “This policy wanted to put more people – including our homeless – into the homes they need and I am delighted it’s working. The problem is not solved by a long way, but the results are encouraging. Running alongside investing in homes for the homeless people, putting empty homes back into use and building more homes for our residents, this shows the council’s commitment to providing homes people deserve.”
The allocations policy was put into place with the aim of increasing the number of homes let via the housing register by creating more moves for transfer applicants, using chain lettings, and adding priority for current and former members of the armed forces and for care-experienced people from Portsmouth.