Southwark families are celebrating a significant win after the local council decided to put a stop to a policy that was limiting the availability of social homes for bidding. The policy, which was implemented in May, aimed to save £4.8 million by offering council properties directly to households in temporary accommodation. However, this meant that families with urgent housing needs, such as those with severe medical conditions or living in overcrowded conditions, were finding it difficult to find homes to bid on.
In response to this issue, several Southwark families from the Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth (HASL) group sought legal assistance and sent a letter to the council demanding an end to the direct offer policy. The council has now suspended the policy and plans to review housing needs in the area.
One of the HASL members, Edith, who has a daughter with late-stage kidney failure, expressed her happiness at the victory, hoping that social housing will now be allocated fairly. Despite having high priority for rehousing, she struggled to find suitable properties to bid on. Another member, Elizabeth Wyatt, called for transparency from the council and urged them to publish direct offers on the bidding website for accountability.
Councillor Victor Chamberlain, the leader of Southwark’s Liberal Democrat opposition, criticised the council for its unfair allocations policy and the need for a U-turn following legal action. Councillor Sarah King, the cabinet member for council homes, acknowledged the urgent shortage of homes available for residents, especially those who are homeless. She highlighted the challenges posed by a lack of social housing, high rents in the private sector, and the pressure to move residents from Ledbury towers.
The council is now working on developing a new policy that takes into account the current housing supply situation and aims to provide transparency in the allocation process. This move is seen as a step towards addressing the critical housing situation in Southwark and ensuring that residents in need have access to suitable accommodation.
Overall, the decision to suspend the policy and conduct a review of housing needs reflects the council’s commitment to addressing the challenges faced by residents in securing affordable and suitable housing. The involvement of community groups like HASL and the response from the council indicate a collaborative effort to find solutions to the housing crisis in the local area.
