Allocations Policy Consultation from EPIC

EPIC currently allocates homes based on who has been on our waiting list for the longest time, without considering individual circumstances and the urgency of finding a home. This means that some applicants with a more urgent and pressing need of a home are waiting whilst others who may be adequately housed have been allocated a new home.

Our proposal is to introduce a system whereby those in the most need of a home are prioritised followed by the length of time on our waiting list. The way in which this would be done would be the introduction of a banding system which is a consistent and familiar approach in the social housing sector.

We understand that this change may alter your current position on the waiting list and will likely make a difference to how long people are waiting for new homes. The proposed changes are aimed at assisting applicants with the greatest need. None of these changes will affect who we can offer housing to; our eligibility criteria will remain unchanged but will be re-prioritised based on need.

EPIC allocates around 110 homes every year, 50% of these are offered to applicants on Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s waiting list. Our waiting list is currently paused to new applicants, as we were receiving more applications than we could reasonably deal with (up to 40 per week at one point – around the number of homes we could allocate to our own applicants in 10 months).

The changes are being proposed because of the increasing pressure on social housing – many more people need housing than there are houses to allocate – and those individuals and families who are in the most need would be prioritised.

You can read the full draft Allocations Policy here. The policy explains the proposed banding system and the circumstances that will lead to banding decisions.

We ask that if you have any comments to make, please let us know via:

• In person at our offices on Ubberley Road, Bentilee – Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.
• By phone on 01782 252575 – Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.
• Via email at mailbox@epichousing.co.uk

Consultation is open until 14 July 2025 and feedback from this consultation will be published soon afterwards. We have previously shared our proposals with our group of Tenant Ambassadors and at Community Voice events.