Proposed Housing Allocation Scheme

Overview

All local housing authorities are legally required to have a clear and transparent scheme that sets out how social and affordable housing is allocated, including how applications are assessed and how priority is determined.

North Northamptonshire Council is currently reviewing its Housing Allocation Scheme and is seeking your views on a number of proposed changes.

The proposed scheme will:

• Replace the current Housing Allocation Scheme for North Northamptonshire.
• Apply to both existing and new applicants.
• Retain the familiar Choice Based Lettings approach to allocations.*
• Continue to prioritise good quality, affordable housing for those in the greatest housing need, while supporting sustainable tenancies and communities.

*Choice Based Lettings is a system to allocate social and affordable housing which allows applicants to actively express interest (or “bid”) on available properties they are eligible for, rather than being directly matched to a home. There are still certain circumstances under the current and proposed scheme where bids will be restricted and applications placed on autobid.

The proposed scheme covers:

• How to apply (Section 2)
• How applications will be processed (Section 2)
• Eligibility criteria for the scheme (Section 3)
• Qualifying criteria for the scheme (Section 4)
• How housing need is assessed (Section 5)
• How priority is determined (Section 5)
• How homes are allocated (Section 6)
• Who can be considered for different types of properties (Section 6)
• How properties are shortlisted (Section 7)
• How property offers are made (Section 7)

The proposed scheme comprises several important updates which includes but is not limited to the qualifying, priority band and property eligibility criteria.

Consultation

We invite you to give your views on the council’s proposed changes on how social and affordable housing is allocated across North Northamptonshire, through the proposed Housing Allocation Scheme.

Residents, tenants, applicants, internal departments, housing associations and statutory and voluntary organisations are among those being encouraged to give their feedback on the proposals as part of a six-week consultation.  Your feedback will help shape the final version of the scheme, which will be presented to the Council's Executive for consideration and approval.

You can share your feedback via the survey link below, or alternatively via email or post:

Email:    keywaysconsultation@northnorthants.gov.uk  

Post:     Housing Allocation Scheme Consultation
             North Northamptonshire Council
             Deene House
             New Post Office Square
             Corby, NN17 1GD

For more information or to request paper copies of this survey, or copies in an alternative language call: 0300 126 3000.

You can also access this online questionnaire free of charge at any North Northamptonshire Council Library. Please see the Library website or telephone 0300 126 3000 to check opening times.

This consultation closes at 23.59 on 3 December 2025.

For information about how consultation and engagement responses are managed, please see the consultation and engagement privacy notice. 

Please note that this consultation is solely intended to gather feedback on the proposed scheme. It is not the appropriate forum to provide details about any application you may have submitted or are planning to submit. If you have specific questions or require updates regarding an application, we kindly ask that you use the appropriate channels for such enquiries.

What will happen next?

All feedback will be reviewed and considered by the Council’s Executive before a final decision is made on the new Housing Allocation Scheme for North Northamptonshire.