Housing Allocation Policy – We want your views

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough is considering changing the way we allocate social housing within Merthyr Tydfil. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The housing allocation policy needs updating due to changes in legislation and the needs of the people in Merthyr Tydfil. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This is your chance to have a say on how the Housing Choice scheme will operate in the future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council cannot allocate social housing to everyone who wants one, as overall demand exceeds available housing stock. It is therefore vitally important the Council works in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders, including local citizens, to ensure the needs of the local population are considered in any decisions made. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Many of you will have used or at least heard of the Housing Choice (Tai Dewis) housing scheme. It is a choice based letting scheme which allows people on the housing register to bid for a property they would like to live in, owned by one of the four local Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) (a.k.a. Housing Associations). These are: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Merthyr Valleys Homes (MVH)
• Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association (MTHA)
• Wales & West Housing Association
• Hafod Housing Association

Please note the Council does not own any social housing. It was all transferred to Merthyr Valleys Homes in 2009. The Council does however remain liable for managing access to social housing as part of its strategic housing function. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Your views are really important and will help ensure we collectively make the best use of the social housing available locally, whilst offering applicants the widest possible choice of accommodation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

You have up until Monday, 16th May to have your say on this which can be done by completing a survey online at www.cwmtafhub.com or collecting a paper copy from the Civic Centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Please e-mail housing@merthyr.gov.uk or telephone (01685) 725452 if you have any questions on this consultation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following the consultation period, we aim to publicise a draft policy for consideration in summer of 2016, with a final policy becoming live in the autumn of 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​