Housing Allocation Policy 2026 - Summary of Key Changes
Ashford Borough Council has approved a new Housing Allocation Policy, scheduled for implementation in April 2026. This updated policy replaces the previous Lettings Policy and aims to provide a clearer, fairer and more consistent approach to allocating social housing within the borough.
The main changes are outlined below.
1. Updated Banding Structure
The former five band system (Bands A - E) with multiple subcategories has been replaced by four simplified bands:
- Band H – Homeless (exclusive category)
- Band A – Urgent Housing Need
- Band B – Significant Housing Need
- Band C – Ongoing Housing Need
This structure provides clearer prioritisation and ensures homelessness duties are fully recognised.
2. Revised Local Connection Criteria
The new policy introduces strengthened and more detailed local connection rules. Applicants may qualify through:
- Residence: At least 3 years living in the borough
- Family connection: Close family (parent, adult child or sibling) living in the borough for 5 years
- Employment: Working in the borough 16+ hours per week with employment expected to continue for at least 12 months
- Armed Forces: Includes bereaved spouses, reservists with attributable injuries, and adult children of currently serving personnel
- Domestic abuse: Moves made for safety reasons
- Returning residents: Those with a 10‑year historical connection whose residence was interrupted by exceptional circumstances
- Care leavers: Young people leaving care who continue to require support
Current Ashford Borough Council tenants are exempt from these requirements.
These changes ensure vulnerable groups and local households are better supported.
3. Effective Date Rules
The effective date system has been simplified to improve consistency:
- Moving to a higher band results in a new effective date
- Moving back to a previous lower band restores the original effective date
- Moving to a new lower band retains the existing date
Delays in providing required evidence (over 3 months) may result in removal of the registration date until documents are supplied
This creates a clearer and more transparent waiting time framework.
4. Updated Means Testing
The financial thresholds have been revised. Applicants may not qualify if they have:
- £16,000 or more in savings
- £23,500 or more in savings (for adults assessed by Kent County Council as needing care)
- £60,000 or more in taxable household income in the most recent tax year
These changes ensure the policy supports households in housing need while maintaining fairness.
5. Bedroom Allocation Rules
The policy retains existing age-based sharing rules and provides clearer guidance:
- Same-sex sharing permitted with an 8‑year age gap
- Opposite-sex sharing permitted up to age 10
- Defined processes for additional bedrooms required for medical reasons or overnight carers, including senior officer approval
This ensures consistency between needs assessments and the Choice Based Lettings system.
6. Bidding, Shortlisting and Direct Lets
Key changes include:
- A universal maximum of three offers before the effective date resets (excluding Band H applicants)
- A consistent shortlisting order: Band → Effective Date → Registration Date → Applicant Type
- Clearer criteria for direct lets, including emergency moves, risk‑based decisions, and decants
- Quotas used to maintain a balanced distribution of allocations
- Applicants will bid only against others within the same band
These updates create a more predictable and equitable allocation process.
7. Review Process
The review and appeals process has been standardised:
- Reviews must be completed within 56 days
- Applicants may provide written or verbal representations
- Reviews will be carried out by an officer of equal or higher seniority than the original decision maker
This ensures greater transparency and alignment with statutory requirements.
