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Please access the link below to inform Home Options of any changes in circumstances 

https://www.norwich.gov.uk/homeoptionschangeofcircs

WELCOME TO NORWICH HOME OPTIONS  

Home Options policy is changing

From August 1^st Home Options policy is changing.

Since 2009, the council’s allocations policy has been called Home Options and social housing in Norwich has been allocated through the Home Options scheme. 

Home Options policy was last refreshed in 2015 and, following agreement at Council Cabinet on July 7^th, an updated policy will be introduced on August 1^st.  The new policy will align with the 2018 Homelessness Reduction Act and changes to benefit legislation. We also need to ensure that our allocations policy meets the council’s objectives and also effectively prioritises the 3800 applicants currently waiting to be housed.

Two key changes are

1) To bring policy into line with benefit (‘bedroom tax’) legislation and ensure effective prioritisation of those in greatest need, households with children of mixed gender who have to share a bedroom will only receive a priority banding for overcrowding when the eldest child reaches age ten.  

2) To ensure effective prioritisation of families in blocks of flats those households with children living in a flat which has its own garden will no longer receive priority banding. 

The changes will come into force on 1^st August and will be applied to all applications, current and new.   Current applicants whose banding will be effected by the policy changes will receive notification in writing.

The new policy will be available at the council’s website, www.norwich.gov.uk from August 1^st.