From Monday 17 March, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council will once again manage the borough's Housing Register and homelessness prevention services itself in-house.

The Housing Register and homelessness prevention services have been managed on behalf of the Council by the housing association Russet Homes since 1991. But the Council has decided to bring the running of these services back in-house so that it can play an even greater role in helping residents in housing need and take a more proactive approach to preventing homelessness.

The existing contract between the two organisations finishes at the end of March, presenting the Council with an ideal opportunity to make the necessary changes to manage the services directly.

The Housing Register (or Housing List) is a central list of applicants who have asked to be re-housed in an affordable home within Tonbridge and Malling. Each applicant who applies to be on the Housing Register is assessed and given a level of priority for re-housing (using the Housing Allocations Scheme points system) depending upon their level of housing need.

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From 17 March, any resident wishing to apply for affordable housing (for rent or shared ownership) or who is worried about becoming homeless, should contact the Council's housing options team for help and advice on 01732 876067 or email [email protected] instead of contacting Russet Homes. The Council is recruiting a new team of Housing Options Officers who will help residents in housing need by assessing their housing situation, looking at all the available options for housing and, if necessary, adding their name to the Housing Register.

Residents who are already on the Housing Register don't need to take any action. The Council is in the process of writing to everyone on the Register to explain that the Register and any housing need points already allocated to residents on the list will remain unchanged.

Cllr Jill Anderson, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: "I am very grateful to Russet Homes for the work they have carried out on the Council's behalf and I would like to thank them for all that's been achieved so far. But now is the perfect time to provide a more holistic approach to helping people in housing need and bringing these services back in-house means that we shall be able to work more closely with residents before they lose their accommodation so that a home can be found and the harsh reality of homelessness can be avoided. We shall continue to work in partnership with local agencies and organisations to support those in housing need and we'll be working closely with Russet Homes throughout the coming weeks to ensure that the handover of services goes as smoothly as possible."

(CD)