Common Allocation Policy for Tees Valley Lettings Partnership

Anyone over the age of 16 years can apply to join the register, providing they are eligible as detailed below. Applicants do not need to have a connection with the partnership area, although preference for housing will be given to applicants with a local connection - see the Advertising properties section for more information about local connections.

EEA applicants

The Tees Valley Lettings Partnership follows UK government guidance in relation to applications from EEA citizens. A copy of this guidance can be viewed at the Allocation of accommodation: guidance for local authorities GOV.UK webpage.

Immigration status and entitlements of people arriving under the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Those who are currently arriving in the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme or Homes for Ukraine Scheme are being granted leave outside the rules for an initial period of three years.

People with leave outside the rules have the right to work and have access to public funds without the requirement to satisfy the habitual residency test. They will therefore have access to benefits and will be eligible for homelessness assistance and social housing. Emergency secondary legislation (The Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (England) and Persons subject to immigration control (Housing Authority Accommodation and Homelessness) (Amendment) Regulations 2022) makes these groups eligible for homelessness assistance and social housing following commencement.

This statutory instrument also exempts those fleeing Ukraine who are British nationals, other persons not subject to immigration control with a right of abode in the UK from the requirement to meet the habitual residence test when applying for these services.

These legislative changes have been made in parallel with changes to legislation regarding access to benefits and services.

Local authorities will need to continue checking eligibility of anyone who presents as homeless in the usual way. However, the changes made through these regulations will mean that people arriving under the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine are eligible for social housing and homelessness assistance.

The Ukraine Extension Scheme

This supports Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family already in the UK. Immigration rules have been updated to give those under the scheme leave to remain for an initial period of 3 years and provides the right to work and recourse to public funds in line with support for those under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme and Ukraine Family Scheme.

Non-qualifying person

Applicants need to meet the requirements of section 160ZA of the Housing Act 1996 which deals with the immigration status of people who have come to the United Kingdom from abroad.

For example, we cannot allow people who fall into one of the below ineligible groups to join the register:

• people who are subject to immigration control unless they have been granted refugee status, exceptional or indefinite leave to remain, are the subject of a sponsorship undertaking
• some EEA nationals that are not eligible for social housing
• people not habitually resident in the Common Travel Area unless they are exempt
• EU nationals required to leave the UK by the UK Government
• an EEA national who has entered the UK as a job seeker or a family member of a job seeker
• an EEA national with an initial right to reside in the first 3 months of residence
• an EEA national with a derivative right to reside based on being a non-EEA national who is the primary carer of a British citizen child or dependent adult, where such child or dependent adult would be unable to live in the UK or another EEA state if their carer left the UK (a Zambrano carer)

Joint applications

Joint applications will be accepted provided all applicants are eligible, aged 16 or over, and intend to occupy the property together as their only or main home. The joint application will be assessed and placed in a priority band using the details of the household with the greatest housing need.

Multiple applications

Multiple applications are not allowed. A person can only be on the register with one active account.

Re-applying for housing

If an applicant has been housed via the scheme and then wishes to re-register, they would need to register a new application which will be assessed based on their new circumstances.

Requests to transfer to another home

Applicants who already rent from one of the partners (a current tenant) can register to move and will have their housing application considered by the relevant partner landlord, and may be subject to checks in line with the tenancy management policies set out by their landlord.

Applications from employees or members and their close relatives

Applications can be accepted from employees of partner organisations, elected members of local authorities, board members of registered provider partners and their close relatives, provided they meet the eligibility criteria set out above. Applicants must tell us about any such relationship at the time of registration. To ensure fairness, checks will be completed before any offer is made to people in this category.