Common Allocation Policy for Tees Valley Lettings Partnership

Adapted properties

Homes which have been designed or adapted to meet the needs of people with physical or sensory disabilities, for example level access shower, wet room, widened doorways or changes to access to the property.

Advocate

Someone who an applicant has given permission to act on their behalf to deal with their application, for example a support worker or family member.

Applicant

A person who applies for housing on the lettings scheme.

Band

The system used for giving priority for housing.

Common allocation policy

A single set of rules covering the way we give priority for housing, shared by all the partner organisations.

Interpreter

A person or organisation who can provide a translation service for non-English speaking customers or a sign language service for the hearing impaired.

Local connection

Connections to a local authority area because of residency, employment or close family

Nomination agreement

This agreement details how the local authority and registered providers will co-operate and work in partnership to help people in housing need and to prevent homelessness.

Non-qualifying person

Someone who is not allowed to register with the scheme due to their behaviour or the behaviour of a member of their household.

Partner

A landlord that advertises the majority of their vacant homes through the lettings scheme or the local authority (Council) for that area.

Priority date

The date when an applicant was given a priority band

Reasonable preference

The phrase used in the Housing Act to describe those types of housing need that should be given priority in a local authority's allocations policy.

Registration date

The date the application is received by one of the partners.

Registered provider (RP)

A housing association or housing company registered with the Regulator of Social Housing

Tees Valley Home Finder

The IT system used by the partnership for registering applications and advertising properties.