Kingston residents to help shape a fairer approach to how council homes are allocated

The council is committed to creating a fairer borough, ensuring those on the housing register with the greatest need are offered homes first. Currently around 4,000 households are on Kingston’s Housing register waiting for an offer - far higher than the number of homes that become available each year. 

The borough is ambitious in its plans to create more council homes for local people. This year construction has started at the Cambridge Road Estate, Norbiton - the borough’s largest social housing project in a generation which will deliver 2,100 new homes over the coming years.

The council has also completed the build of 18 new homes at Arun House, Cambridge Road, with residents due to move into these new properties this summer.

The current council housing allocation policy has been in place since 2017. While major elements of the policy such as using bands to describe the level of need for each applicant will stay, there are some important changes proposed. These include how housing could be allocated to young people through a guarantor, how people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness are prioritised, and how those who are no longer eligible are removed from the housing register. 

Cllr Davey, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said:

“The offer of a safe, affordable council home to rent can change lives for the better. Council homes give people the security they need to build happier lives.

“We want to hear the views of Kingston residents so they can help plan how we determine which households have the greatest need for the homes available.

“There are many factors to balance when considering someone’s need for a new home, including the suitability of their current accommodation and medical or social needs that affect their living situation.

“We want to ensure the way council housing is allocated is clear, fair and will prioritise those with the greatest housing need.”

An online survey is available from our Housing Allocation Consultation webpage 

A printed version of the full document and the survey  is available on request by emailing Businesssupporthcl@kingston.gov.uk or at libraries across the borough. The consultation is open until 17 September 2023. Views collected during this period will inform the final policy to be presented at the Council’s Place Committee in November.