North Yorkshire Home Choice Policy April 2025.
Published: Friday 7 March 2025On the 10th April 2025, a revised North Yorkshire Home Choice Policy will be introduced, and the former Harrogate Borough Council area will be joining the existing partnership. This will mean that the whole of the North Yorkshire Council area will be using a single allocations policy and single system to allocate homes.
What does this mean for me?
Residents in the Harrogate locality-
Please visit the housing in harrogate section of the website-Housing in Harrogate
Existing North Yorkshire Home Choice Applicants
What do I need to do?
You do not need to reapply, your application will remain active.
What has changed?
Bedroom need
A child over 16 will now be allocated their own bedroom. Currently adolescents of the same sex can share a room up to the age of 20. This change will be automatically applied to your application on the 10th April, 2025.
Refusal of offers - If two suitable offers of accommodation are made in writing within a 12-month period and refused, their application will be cancelled and will not qualify to join the housing register for a minimum period of 12 months from the date of cancellation.
All applicants will start at zero refusals from the start of the new policy.
The 12-month period is on a rolling 12-month review.
Local Connection- When an applicant’s local connection is met by employment in the partnership has been amended to the following. Employment in the partnership area on either a full or part-time basis for a minimum of six months. The main place of work must be in the partnership area. Casual, seasonal and voluntary work is not included. An employment contract must remain valid as the point of offer.
If you no longer meet the local connection criteria, please contact us to let us know.
Homeowners- The definition of Homeowners now includes Homeowners definition now includes:
Property can include narrow boats, caravans, and mobile homes (both residential and holiday sites) as well as other dwellings that are suitable for occupation.
If you own a narrow boats, caravans, and mobile homes (both residential and holiday sites) and have not previously been assessed as a homeowner please contact us to let us know.
Gold Band- If your home is subject to an emergency prohibition order issued by North Yorkshire Council you will be entitled to gold band.
Please contact us if you are affected by this change.
Students- Students who are temporarily absent from the applicant’s home and living in student accommodation are included as household members.
If you have a student who is temporarily living away from home and not on your application, please contact us.
The full policy will be published on the 10th April 2025.
