Low-priority group has little hope for housing

9:56am Tuesday 14th August 2001

LEWISHAM'S council house allocation system has been slammed by a councillor as a “cruel fraud” giving people false hope.

Like other councils, Lewisham runs a system where people who request council housing are given a number of points to indicate their place on a waiting list.

But the current priority order means people who do not fall into certain categories, such as exceptional cases and homelessness, have virtually no chance of being allocated a home.

The second highest category is for “decants” being forced out of block-style housing being demolished in Deptford in the north of the borough.

Matthew Huntbach, Liberal Democrat councillor for Downham ward, said: “The council is proceeding too fast with its demolition policy, without considering the knock-on effect this is having elsewhere.”

Between February and July, Downham's John Henry and Bankfoot housing offices did not allocate any accommodation to people in the lowest priority group, category six (which includes people who do not qualify for the other bands). For three-bedroom housing between February and July, for example, the John Henry team made 12 offers: two exceptional, three decants and seven priority group homeless.

Cllr Huntbach said: “Some of my constituents in Downham are in desperately overcrowded situations, yet these figures suggest they will never get rehoused.”

Ashley Hook, head of housing, said: “Given the huge demand we have for housing we have to make sure the housing we have got goes to those with the greatest needs.”

He added: “Some of the estates we are demolishing will provide new, modern and affordable homes for people on the housing register.”

The council has been awarded a £229,000 government grant to pilot a new lettings policy to replace the points system, initially for 18 months.

Mr Hook said: “Rather than being passive recipients of housing allocated to them, applicants will be able to put themselves forward for specific properties.”

Cllr Huntbach said: “If at present they can't house people in quite desperate circumstances, how can they offer a choice to people?”

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