Decisions and Reviews
Decisions and Right of Review
Information
Applicants have the right to information about certain decisions which are taken in respect of their housing application and the right to review those decisions (s.166(1A)) Housing Act 1996
These include
- Access to the North Yorkshire Home Choice register by either Eligibility and/or Qualification
- A decision to cancel/close an application
- A decision to withdraw or reduce priority banding
- A decision in respect of any information which is being taken into account in considering whether to make an offer of accommodation
The Review Process
North Yorkshire Home Choice operate a two stage review.
Stage 1
Applicants have 21 days from the date of notification to request a review of the decision made, by contacting the North Yorkshire Homechoice partner who made the decision.
The stage 1 review will be conducted by the housing partner administering your application.
Reviews are carried out by a senior graded officer independent of the officer responsible for the original decision. The reviewing officer will not have had any previous involvement with the application or the original decision made.
Applicants are advised that it is permissible for a review request to be submitted by a representative on their behalf, with confirmation of the applicants consent.
Stage 2
If applicants remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the stage 1 review they have 21 days to appeal and request a stage 2 review.
This review should be submitted in writing.
Stage 2 reviews are conducted by two members of the NYHC Review panel.
The Review Panel is comprised of senior housing officers or appropriate housing specialists of the NYHC Partner Landlords.
The panel has 56 days to complete a review and their decision will be provided by written outcome and recommendation report.
The Review Panel is comprised of senior housing officers or appropriate housing specialists of NYHC Partner Landlords. The panel will have 56 days to complete a review and will provide a written outcome and recommendation report.
Where the panel require a time extension beyond the 56 days, applicants will be notified and advised of the reason for this and the additional time required.
The review is a paper based review but subject to agreement by the panel a meeting may be held if required in some circumstances.
The outcome and recommendation report from the stage 2 review will be sent to the administrating partner who made the original decision. They in turn have 7 days to notify applicants in writing of the outcome and any action they intend to take.
This will assist applicants should they remain dissatisfied and with to either seek a judicial review or take the complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman.
You will receive a copy of the panel's report along with the administering Partners response.
General Complaints
General complaints may be defined as an expression of dissatisfaction, however they are made about the standard of service, actions (or lack of actions) by the individual partner organisation, their staff (or those acting on its behalf) all of which may have affected an individual.
General complains are not part of the right of review process and will be investigated by the NYHC Partner administering the housing application using their own published complaints procedure.
Please contact the partner administering your housing application for details of their specific complaints process.
Personal Data
If you want to know more about your rights under the Data Protection Act 1998 you can go to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) at https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public
If you are unhappy with the way your personal data is handled you can contact the independent Information commissioner at https://ico.org.uk
Other sources of information may be found on the following websites
Which ombudsman for social housing complaints? - Housing Ombudsman (housing-ombudsman.org.uk)
How to Complain - Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman