Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Housing and recommendation from the People and Health Overview Committee on 2 February 2026.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Housing set out the proposed key revisions to the policy. The current allocation policy (2020 – 2026) was due for renewal, and a comprehensive review had been undertaken to ensure the policy remained fit for purpose and aligned with legislative requirements, local housing need, and strategic priorities.

The policy had been considered by People and Health Overview Committee at its meeting on 2 February 2026. The Cabinet Member stated the reasons why she could not support the committee’s recommendations (a) to (c) as each would either conflict with legislation, had a lack of sufficient evidential justification, or created disproportionate disadvantage or operational risk to Dorset Council. 

However, the Cabinet Member did propose that recommendation (d) go forward for consideration by Full Council in April, along with seeking approval for the Housing Allocations Policy.

It was proposed by Cllr G Taylor and seconded by Cllr S Robinson

Recommendation to Full Council (unanimous)

That the Housing Allocations Policy 2026–2031 be approved, subject to an amendment to section 4.15 replacing the first bullet point with the following text:

• applicants who own, or part own, or have any legal or beneficial interest in a residential property in the UK or abroad, whether occupied by them or let to others.  This includes applicants who hold such an interest directly or indirectly, including through a company, partnership, trust, or other legal entity, where the applicant has control of, or a material interest in, that entity and it owns residential property, or

Reason for the recommendation

To ensure Dorset Council had a clear, fair, and legally compliant policy governing the allocation of social housing, consistent with the Council’s statutory duties under the Housing Act 1996 (as amended) and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 considering the needs and priorities of Dorsets residents.

To consider a report of the Service Manager for Housing Register and Lettings.

The Corporate Director for Housing and Community Safety introduced the report and outlined the purpose of the allocations policy. The policy would remain similar to the current policy, however there were some amendments and changes which were listed in an appendix to the report.

Since publication of the report, an issue was identified with section 4.15 of the report. The Corporate Director suggested an amendment to the committee to provide information on ownership of a property through a company or shares. The Committee agreed to including this amendment in a recommendation to Cabinet.

Members discussed the report and asked questions of the officers. The following points were raised:

·         Whether registered providers can turn down people on the housing register. Registered providers could do this in some circumstances although the reasons need to be explained to the council. It was rare for this to happen.

·         The statutory guidance for bedroom standards and how house sizes are assessed for families.

·         The £60k income and the savings limit were not means-tested following allocation of a property.

·         The income limit of £60k was a common number across local authorities and was suggested by the government as a reasonable threshold. Only 45 people on the housing register of approximately 7000 people were earning between £50 – 60k.

·         Reassessment of approximately 2000 applicants on the housing resister would need to take place and would be undertaken with support from temporary staff.

·         Implementation of this new allocation policy would likely have a marginal impact on the waiting list for housing.

During the discussion, the committee considered recommendations for amendments to the draft policy. The following recommendations were made:

Proposed by Cllr Quayle, seconded by Cllr Parkes.

Recommendation: To replace ‘any English local authority’ with ‘any UK local authority’ in section 4.14 – moving to Dorset for work or an apprenticeship.

Proposed by Cllr Furhmann, seconded by Cllr Holloway.

Recommendation: To replace ‘a minimum of two years’ with ‘a minimum of five years’ in section 4.12 – association with close family.

Proposed by Cllr Furhmann, seconded by Cllr Bown.

Recommendation: To amend section 4.15 to add ‘or assets’ after ‘having £16,000 or more of savings’.

Following the discussion and making recommendations to Cabinet, the committee considered the recommendations in the report.

Proposed by Cllr Furhmann, seconded by Cllr Atwal.

Decision: To recommend to Cabinet that the Housing Allocations Policy 2026 – 2031 be recommended to Full Council for approval.