Common Allocation Policy for Tees Valley Lettings Partnership

Under-occupation and overcrowding will be assessed based upon the number of people within the household and according to best use of the bedrooms to reflect the criteria set out by the Department of Work and Pensions.

One bedroom will be considered suitable for:

• an adult or adult couple
• two children of the same sex under the age of 16
• two children under the age of 10 regardless of their sex
• any other person aged 16 or over
• any other child that cannot be matched with the above

Please note: this assessment does not include living room space unless there is a second living room which can be used as a bedroom, and it does not breach health and safety standards. Where a bedroom is being used for another purpose, for example a study or toy room, its original function as a bedroom will be used in assessing the level of under occupation or overcrowding.

The main householder or householders will be expected to share a bedroom with a child under the age of 12 months.

Additional bedrooms

There may be some circumstances where a household is allowed an extra bedroom as detailed below:

• health reasons
• bedroom for an overnight carer
• joint custody or overnight access to a child or children
• prospective adopters and foster carers

Where one of the above applies, evidence will be requested, and an affordability check may need to be completed to make sure the applicant can afford the additional bedroom.