Contradictory allocations policies could create a two-track social housing system with associations cherrypicking the 'best' tenants and homeless people herded into council 'ghettos', it was claimed this week
The Chartered Institute of Housing said differences between housing association regulations on anti-social behaviour and guidance to councils on allocations could lead to "serious problems" unless changes were made.

Institute policy manager David Fotheringham told Housing Today that the two policies - the Housing Corporation's addendum on anti-social behaviour and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions' draft guidance on allocations - were pulling social housing in two opposite directions.

Fotheringham said the quango's plans on anti-social behaviour could have a significant impact on allocations.

He said they signalled a shift away from allocation on the basis of need and called for a rethink "to make sure they link more closely to the [DETR] code of guidance".

"There is the danger that vulnerable and potentially anti-social people get concentrated in the local authority sector rather than all social landlords dealing with this strategically."

This could lead to a two-tier social housing system with the economically active being guided towards a preferential housing association option and homeless people in council housing left at the very bottom of the pile, he added.

Local Government Association head of housing Paul Lautman said: "We would be looking for a consistent criteria for social housing allocation with need as the primary consideration."

Corporation assistant director of regulation John Green welcomed the viewpoint, but refused to comment, saying the quango would "take into account what people are saying".

Source

Housing Today