LOCAL CONSERVATIVES: GIVE BIRMINGHAM RESIDENTS PRIORITY FOR BIRMINGHAM HOMES
Birmingham Local Conservatives are calling on the City Council to introduce a ten-year local connection rule as part of its planned overhaul of the city’s housing allocations policy.
With demand for social housing high and private rents putting increasing pressure on household budgets, Conservatives say Birmingham’s limited supply of social homes should give priority to people in genuine housing need who have established roots in the city.
Under the Conservative proposal, applicants would normally need to demonstrate a ten-year connection to Birmingham to qualify for the housing register, subject to exemptions required by law and appropriate safeguards for exceptional circumstances, for example armed forces personnel and those fleeing domestic abuse.
The policy formed part of the Local Conservative manifesto at this years elections and Conservatives are calling on the Council to include it when the new allocations policy is introduced.
Birmingham would not be the first local council to do this, Conservative run Hillingdon Council already have a 10 year local residency rule.
Councillor Robert Alden (Con, Erdington), Leader of the Conservative Group on Birmingham City Council, said:
“Birmingham has far more people needing affordable homes than homes available. When something is this scarce, the rules need to be fair and residents need confidence in how those homes are allocated.
“Our principle is simple: Birmingham homes should give priority to people in housing need who have put down roots in Birmingham.
“If you have lived here, built your life here and contributed to your community, that connection should count”.
Robert added “The City Council should also ensure where we allocate through local providers that there is a provision for at least 50% of the allocations to go to that local area so that local residents benefit from housing in their area”.
Councillor Ken Wood (Con, Sutton Walmley and Minworth) Conservative Shadow Cabinet Member for Housing, said:
“The Council now has an opportunity to rewrite its allocations policy. We are calling on it to introduce a ten-year local connection rule, with the necessary protections for people who must be exempt and put Birmingham residents first. We are urging everyone who believes in fairer allocation of social housing based on local need to sign our petition.”
Birmingham City Council’s Housing Allocation Scheme determines who qualifies for social housing and how applicants are prioritised. The Council’s current scheme was introduced in January 2023 and is due to renewal by 2027.
Birmingham Local Conservatives are asking residents to support their campaign and sign a petition calling for the ten-year rule to be included in the new policy.
