Big Changes to Cornwall’s Homechoice Scheme – Will You Be Affected?

New rules designed to prioritise Cornwall’s most vulnerable residents for social housing will come into effect on 1st April 2025. The changes follow a public consultation in 2023 and updates to Cornwall Council’s Homechoice Allocations Policy, which sets out who qualifies for social housing and how properties are allocated.

The policy update will launch alongside a brand-new Homechoice website, which also goes live on the same date.

What Is Homechoice?

Homechoice is Cornwall’s scheme for allocating social housing to residents in need. It is run by the Cornwall Homechoice Partnership, which includes social landlords responsible for managing housing stock across the county.

According to Olly Monk, Cornwall Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for housing, the demand for affordable homes far outweighs availability.

“Demand for affordable housing in Cornwall far outstrips the number of homes which are available. Post covid, our housing crisis has become even more severe, with a doubling of the number of applicants for social housing and increasing numbers of families and people in temporary and emergency accommodation. We currently have around 25,000 households registered on Homechoice, with just 4% of homes becoming available to bid on each year.”

What’s Changing?

Previously, the system prioritised primary connection households, meaning applicants could only bid for a property if they had a direct local connection to the parish. This led to some cases where local connection was prioritised over housing need.

Under the new approach:

• Primary and secondary connections (surrounding parishes) will be considered together in most cases.
• The goal is to strike a balance between prioritising those in greatest need and ensuring residents can remain in the communities where they have grown up, live, or work.

Annual Review and Adjustments

Cornwall Council has confirmed that the new Homechoice policy will be reviewed annually with its partners. If needed, adjustments will be made to address new or emerging housing needs.

To learn more about the updated policy and Cornwall’s housing allocations scheme, visit: Cornwall Council’s website.