Received: 11 September 2024 

Observation: Why do you have to be homeless, mentally ill, pregnant, fleeing domestic violence or served in the armed forces to be considered for help with housing? There are many families who are long term MK residents who are stuck in unsuitable expensive housing working as hard as they possible can to make a better life for themselves and sometimes their children you have to be homeless, mentally ill, pregnant, fleeing domestic violence or served in the armed forces to be considered for help with housing. 
 

Reply: The needs mentioned are those associated with homelessness and priority need rather than those considered under the housing allocation scheme.  The banding priorities set out those with the greatest housing need. 

Received: 11 September 2024 

Observation:  Emergency band criteria - Mention of applications agreed via our exceptional decisions panel where discretion is applied and agreed as an urgent move. This includes urgent management transfers for MKCC tenants - it does not mention support for Registered providers with an urgent need for support of MK housing association tenant to be moved as an emergency band, or in fact considered by the panel. Could this be a consideration?

Reply: The Nominations agreement with registered providers allows 25% use of own stock, which can be used by the RP for their urgent management moves. 

Received: 28 September 2024

Observation: Why are carers with disabled children over the age of 18 excluded from applying for social housing?

Reply: Anyone that meets the criteria as listed in the housing allocation scheme with a qualifying housing need will be accepted onto the housing register.

Received: October 2024

Observation: Why are people born in Milton Keynes not given a higher priority?

Reply: MKCC housing allocation scheme does given priority to households with a local connection via the eligibility criteria, however, due the the lack of social housing, households must have a qualifying housing need to join the housing register.  

Received: October 2024

Observation: Why haven't I been accepted onto the housing register even though I am in temporary accommodation?

Reply: Even if the council has a housing duty under homelessness the household would still need to meet the eligibility criteria set out within the allocation scheme, including local connection.

 Received: 11 October 2024

Observation: Where there is overcrowding, a simple transfer when a home becomes available to the family in an area of their choice can be made, which frees up the house they need to move out of for a smaller family. I also feel it doesn't hurt to be kind and caring towards families with specific needs like to be protected from racial abuse and violence.  Please let's keep children of all races very safe single parents need additional support and acknowledgement. Safety cameras and lighting no hedging .
 

Reply: We assess overcrowding within our banding criteria along with risks linked to racial abuse and violence. We are unable to guarantee an offer of accommodation in a specific are as we are reliant on people moving to create those empty properties. There is the option to mutually exchange which allows for more choices in regards to area and this also allows for those families needing larger accommodation to move into suitable homes. Social housing will not be able to meet every demand and we also encourage to consider private sector accommodation to resolve peoples housing needs.

Received: 14 October 2024

Observation: How can you help a single mother with two children (new born and child) I am 25 years old 

Reply: Whether we can assist will be dependent on whether the single mother is currently suitably housed.  If the mother is suitably housed then the mother is unlikely to be in housing need and therefore will not qualify to join the housing register.  If the single mother is homeless then she should contact  Housing solutions and homelessness advice | Milton Keynes City Council for advice and assistance.

Received: 14 October 2024

Observation: For pure and equal equality according to the equality Act All applications should NOT be given specialty over anyone apart from Severely disabled, near end of life, and children Not Parents, also the mentally ill where the council have power of attorney! Pure equality no preference treatment for no one wait your turn like everybody it's a disgrace people jump others because of so called illness and is being abused treat everyone the same and in turn that is pure equality apart from the most needy and vulnerable.

Reply: All local authority allocations scheme are required to give reasonable preference to certain priority groups. The Local Authority will carry out appropriate checks on an Applicant’s eligibility to be allocated social rented housing but will ensure these checks are not discriminatory on the basis of race, nationality, ethnic origin, or any other protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act 2010.

Received: 15 October 2024

Observation: I'm 65 put in adapted place want exchange to Newport Pagnell

Reply: Those who have enquiries regarding a specific case, please contact the allocations team  housing.allocations@milton-keynes.gov.uk . However, the neighbourhood officer is involved and advised regarding a Mutual exchanges and swaps | Milton Keynes City Council

Reference: tbc | Received: tbc | Responded: tbc

Observation: Once we have received your observation, we will review and we will publish it on this page with our response.

Reply: tbc