Choice Based Letting In West London
The flagship West London project is the Locata choice based lettings scheme. The scheme was originally set up by 5 West London boroughs (Ealing, Brent, Hounslow, Hillingdon and Harrow) and 3 RSLs (Ealing Family Housing, PCHA and Paradigm)
The original development of the scheme was funded by a grant from the then ODPM, with match funding from the original member boroughs. The West London Locata scheme now includes Hammersmith & Fulham and most of the RSLs with property in West London. Member fees cover the cost of property ads, maintenance of the IT system, processing of bids. Locata Housing Services (the company owned by the original 8 members) provides administration and support, plus additional products (mutual exchange, nomination tracking, shared ownership tracking) at no extra cost to West London members.
In West London the Choice Based Lettings scheme is operated on a sub regional basis with boroughs and RSLs working closely together and sharing a common allocations policy. This ensures that people looking for social rented housing have a wider choice of properties(albeit within a very constrained supply), including access to properties in other boroughs. It is currently the only CBL system in London that facilitates cross borough mobility in this way.
"Striking the Balance" - West London Publishes Research into Choice Based Lettings and Mobility
13th March 2009
In March 2009 the West London Housing Partnership commissioned research into cross borough lettings under the West London Locata CBL scheme.
As a starting point, the Locata partner boroughs agreed to have one edition of the Locata Home Magazine in which properties were made avaialable to all residents across all member boroughs and RSL partners. Normally only 10% of properties are advertised in this way. The research,Striking the Balance:A review of Cross Partner Moves within the West London choice based lettings scheme
carried out by Auxo Ltd, looked at the results of this so-called 'Open Edition' and compared these to historic lettings data for both in-borough and cross-borough lets. At the same time an online survey of bidders looked at people's attitudes to mobility generally.
Key findings of the research are that:
- 94% of applicants support the idea of more opportunity to move to other areas of London and beyond
-38% of lettings from the Open Edition went cross-borough, compared to 5% normally.
-Bidding activity increased markedly in the Open Edition, particularly for under occupiers, who placed twice as many bids compared to normal editions
-large boroughs with a high housing need dominate cross borough lettings shortlists
- refusal rates on cross-borough offers are approximately 60% higher that on in-borough offers
-Cross-borough lettings tend to favour higher banded applicants: lower banded people (those in Band C) account for 33% of all in-borough lets but only 25% of all Cross Partner lets
The report demonstrates that although extending choice and mobility is without doubt popular with applicants for now, a system of unfettered cross borough mobility would result in boroughs with lower housing need losing out to a considerable extent to boroughs with a higher housing need, which could cause tensions over time.
The report's authors recommend that providing there is an adequate equalisation system in place, the opportunity for cross borough mobility should be increased.
The West London Locata scheme is unique in advertising 10% of all available properties on its cross-borough pages already.The West London boroughs are considering the report and its recommendations, but have no plans to increase the percentage of cross borough advertising at present.
Click here to see a full version of the report Striking the Balance: A Review of Cross Partner Moves within the West London choice based lettings scheme by Auxo Ltd, who now jointly own the company, Locata Housing Services.
The West London Allocations Group
The West London Allocations Group consists of lettings officers from the 6 West London boroughs and partner RSLs who are members of the West London Locata Choice Based Lettings partnership, and deals with the operational issues arising from the joint system. The West London Strategic lettings group manages the relationship with Locata Housing Services and deals with strategic issues.
Click here to see the Scheme User Guide
Last updated: 28 May 2010