A COUNCIL is to consult housing groups over planned changes to the way it allocates accommodation.
Chester-le-Street District Council currently operates a system where the longer someone is on the waiting list the higher priority they are for a home but no account is taken of need or circumstances.
It proposes to change its criteria so that matters such as whether a person is homeless, living in overcrowded accommodation, needing to move for their welfare or suffering hardship, are taken into consideration.
The council has previously been criticised by the Housing Inspectorate for not having a fair allocation scheme, which resulted in the department, which rents out 4,600 homes, getting a 'poor' rating.
It will now consult tenants, applicants, registered landlords, social services, the Citizens' Advice Bureau, Shelter, the Community and Voluntary Sector Network and councillors about the changes.
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