Decision details
HomeseekerPlus Policy Review
Decision Maker: Executive
Decision status: Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Purpose:
The HomeseekerPlus Policy has been in place
since 2016, and was last reviewed in 2022.
Due to legislative and other changes the policy is in need of a
refresh.
It is considered good practice to consult the public and associated
stakeholders on the new policy therefore the partnership is seeking
approval to consult and implement suggested changes.
Decisions:
Councillor Geoff Saul, Executive Member for Housing and Social Care, presented the item, the purpose of which was to review the HomeseekerPlus Policy.
In his presentation Councillor Saul made the following points:
- HomeseekerPlus was the choice based? lettings system used jointly by the seven councils across Gloucestershire and West Oxfordshire. It had been in place since 2016 and was last reviewed in 2022. Since then, changes in legislation, alongside operational learning, had meant that the policy now needed to be updated.
- The aim of this review was to ensure the policy remained fair, transparent, and legally compliant, and that it would continue to prioritise those most in need of affordable housing.
- The Key changes to the policy were:
- Qualification Criteria: The financial assessment had been updated so that it now also considered whether a resident had sufficient resources to access housing across different tenures. Where an applicant had deliberately worsened their housing circumstances, they would now be placed in the lowest priority band for six months and could only move up if they had taken reasonable steps to improve their situation. Local connection through employment would now apply only to the main or joint applicant (unless there are exceptional circumstances), which brought consistency across all partners. The Council was consulting on options to expand local connection for Armed Forces personnel and veterans.
- Assessment and Banding: Applicants would only receive higher banding where they had acted on reasonable professional advice — for example advice about preventing homelessness through working with Environmental Services, Landlords or medical professionals. Emergency priority for downsizing would now only apply where releasing the property had met a clearly identified demand, rather than being automatic. Fixed, six-month periods where banding may be reduced if an applicant does not act with urgency were being introduced. Two new criteria were added for bedroom need: where a couple could not share due to medical reasons, and where an applicant was in the third trimester of pregnancy.
- A four?week public consultation would commence in May 2026 which would allow residents, housing associations, voluntary organisations and other stakeholders to comment on the proposed changes.
Councillor Saul proposed accepting the recommendations of the report.
As there was a requirement to ensure an open, transparent and fair process to changes in Policy there were no other alternative options detailed in the report.
Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of the Council, seconded the proposal and noted that there would be a consultation on the proposals and communications would be made to highlight how the public could take part.
This was voted on and agreed unanimously.
The Executive resolved to:
1. Approve the draft Policy for public consultation
2. Delegate authority to the Business Manager Housing in consultation with Executive Member for Housing and Social Care and Publica Executive Director – Operations to adopt the new policy following consideration of the consultation results
Report author: Caroline Clissold
Publication date: 13/03/2026
Date of decision: 11/03/2026
Decided at meeting: 11/03/2026 - Executive
Date comes into force if not called in: 21/03/2026
Call-in deadline date: 20/03/2026
Current call-in Count: 0
Accompanying Documents:
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