Single mum Dawn Watson was today toasting the end of the old
'take it or leave it' approach to social housing.
The mother of three is one of the first tenants in Newcastle to
exercise her right to choose the location of the family home.
Just like house hunters in the commercial sector, she and her
sons - back in the Midlands from the Isle of Man following a change
in her personal circumstances- have had the luxury of deciding
exactly where they want to live.
The Choice Based Lettings system (CBL) is the result of a shake
up of housing allocation by Aspire Housing, which has placed
tenants' choice high on its agenda.
Mrs Watson found her dream home on the housing advice website
NHA Options, which carries a full list of available social housing,
updated weekly. The service is a joint venture by Aspire and
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
Caroline Baggaley, head of housing services, said: "In the past
the council or landlord told people where they would live.
"Now we have introduced choice, and people can visit the website
to see what is available week by week.
"People can look at the properties and decide whether they want
to be considered for any of them."
She stressed, however, that a housing shortage coupled with
increasing demand meant that not all applicants would be successful
in their bids for the home of their dreams.
Mrs Watson was among the lucky applicants, finding a three
bedroom house in Chesterton at a rental of around half what she was
paying in the Isle of Man.
Mrs Watson grew up in Newcastle and recently moved back. She and
her three sons, Samuel (7), Nathaniel (6), and Joseph (4) were
living in a two bedroom flat on the island and paying £825 a
month.
Their new house, which is much bigger and has space for the boys
to play, is just £81 a week.
Mrs Watson said: "I wasn't able to make ends meet and we were
very cramped in our previous flat.
"Now I've got a good lounge, a kitchen, utility room, front and
back gardens and we overlook open green space."
An added bonus is that she has family living nearby in
Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle. Her immediate plans include finding
work, either as a care assistant or in a supermarket.
"The bidding process went very smoothly. It was easy and I got
my first choice, so I'm very pleased," she added.
Cllr. Robin Studd, cabinet member for regeneration and planning,
said: "Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is committed to working
in partnership with Aspire Housing to deliver excellent housing
services to residents.
"The scheme is innovative and a great improvement on the
traditional way of allocating housing. We wanted to make finding a
home as simple, fair and open as possible for everyone.
"It's also about giving people a choice about where they live
and I'm delighted that Mrs Watson has found the house of her
dreams," he added.