Social Priority and Managed Moves Policy

1. Purpose

1.1 This policy defines how we manage social priority and managed moves. 

1.2 The policy applies to general needs, supported accommodation and foyer customers

2. Who does it affect?

2.1 This policy applies to customers in a rented home owned by mhs and Heart of Medway including; Foyers, Social Rrent and Supported Living.

2.2 Homes managed by mhs for other providers and Market Rent customers are not covered by this policy, however these cases will be considered by directors discretion.

3. Terms and meanings

3.1 The term ‘we’ and ‘our’ relates to all concerned unless otherwise stated. 

3.2 The term ‘Social Priority’ generally refers to a situation that requires a person to move for their urgent safety. 

3.3 The Term ‘Managed Move’  refers specifically to decants or moves for development. For example, a person living in a property that is going to be redeveloped or a property with disrepair that can’t be remediated with the customer in situ.

4. Legislation and Regulation

4.1 The legislation governing this policy is: 

  • Housing Act 1988 

  • Housing Act 1996 

  • Homeless Act 2002 & 2016 

  • Equalities Act 2010 

  • Land Compensation Act

4.2 Tenancy Standard 2024 with specific reference to:

  • Section 2.1 Allocations and Lettings  

    • Registered providers must co-operate with local authorities’ strategic housing functions and assist local authorities to fulfil their duties to meet identified local housing need. This includes assistance with local authorities’ homelessness duties, and through meeting obligations in nominations agreements.

    • Registered providers must develop and deliver services that seek to address under-occupation and overcrowding in their homes

    • Registered providers shall grant tenants who have been moved into alternative accommodation during any redevelopment or other works a tenancy with no less security of tenure on their return to settled accommodation

  • Code of Practice S66

    • understand the significant impact that domestic abuse can have both on tenants experiencing it and their household members. In achieving this outcome registered providers should have a victim-centred approach to assisting tenants who experience domestic abuse.

5. What is a Social Priority/Managed Move?

5.1 Customers who want to move are expected to find their own accommodation. However, in some circumstances mhs may deem it necessary to offer a move within our own housing stock. 

5.2 The term ‘priority' does not translate as ‘rapid’, though in some cases it can be quicker than the other options available such as mutual exchange or allocation by the local housing authority. Customers requiring a rapid move must consider all options available to them.

5.3 By facilitating a social priority move mhs will enable a customer to transfer from an unsuitable property or location to a more suitable/safe residence. 

5.4 Social Priority moves will be considered for customers:

  • with an established threat of harm from others

  • who are required to move due to major works or redevelopment of their property 

  • who are downsizing or need to move for safeguarding concerns but do not have the capacity to apply and manage their own Home Choice Application 

5.5 Customers who fear for their safety must present to the local authority, who under Section 7 of the 1996 Housing Act may owe them a duty to provide emergency safe accommodation.

5.6 Customers looking to move for medical/health reasons are not eligible for a Social Priority Move.  They must apply through Home Choice whose  assessors are better able to establish a persons needs based on their medical condition and band their application accordingly. 

6. Applying for a Social Priority or Managed Move

6.1 Customers (or their nominated representatives), mhs staff and third-party organisations can all request a social priority move for a customer. 

6.2 Requests must be submitted using the application form and the customer must provide all the evidence (at their own cost) to support their application

6.3 All requests will be considered fairly and on merit by the Assistant Director Customer Services or the Business Partners. 

6.4 A decision will be given (usually) within seven days although it may take longer if additional information is required before a decision can be made 

6.5 Upon making a decision a clear reasoning will be provided on the application form as to how this decision arose. 

6.6 When an application is declined the customer will be informed of the reason and given 28 days to request a review of the decision. 

6.7 When an application is upheld, the customer will be informed in writing. This formal notification sets out mhs' commitment to facilitate the move and the customers obligation to co-operate.

6.8. Customer who live in properties managed by mhs for another provider must approach their landlord for a move first.  Their landlord may then ask mhs to help find the customer suitable accommodation.   This is at directors discretion and usually as a reciprocal arrangement.  

7. Facilitating a move

7.1 We will assess Social Priority applicants against all available social rental properties as they become available, and before they are made available to the public on Home Choice. New builds would normally be excluded from this process as we normally have 100% nomination to the local authority, but with agreement with the local authority a new build may be considered

7.2 Where more than one priority applicant matches a property, the Assistant Director or Business Partners will give preference in order of: 

  • Customers for whom we have a statutory duty to move1 

  • Customers at risk of harm/fleeing domestic abuse

  • Decant 

  • Young people without a community contribution moving on from Foyers 

  • Downsizing 

7.3 We will only make one offer of a property that matches the applicant’s requirements. 

7.4 If a customer declines an offer of a property that we deem suitable for their needs, their application for a social priority move will be removed.

1 Customer who are being decanted under Grounds 6 or 9 for development

8. Equality Statement

8.1 This policy applies to customers of all the tenures listed in section 2 of this policy. 

8.2 mhs homes wants to make sure that no person receives less favourable treatment from the organisation on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage, civil partnership, pregnancy, religion or belief, race, sex or sexual orientation. 

8.3 mhs homes recognises it must comply with the statutory duties imposed by the Equality Act 2010, including the Public Sector Equality Duty, having due regard to the need to: 

  • Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other detrimental conduct;

  • Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not; and 

  • Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. 

8.4 This policy will be reviewed in three years’ time or earlier if required by legislation, new significant guidance or in response to specific incidents.