Common Allocation Policy for Tees Valley Lettings Partnership
Appendix 4 - Calculating bedroom need
Household bedrooms will be assessed based upon the number of people within the household and according to best use of the bedrooms to reflect the criteria set out under the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) Bedroom Standard.
One bedroom will be considered suitable for:
- one adult or adult couple
- two children of the same sex under the age of 16 years
- two children under the age of 10 years regardless of sex
- any other person aged 16 years or over
- any other child that cannot be matched with the above, for example who cannot share due to a medical condition or disability
This assessment does not include living room space unless there us a second living room which could be used as a bedroom and doesn't breach health and safety standards. Where a bedroom is being used for another purpose, for example a study or toy room, its original function as a bedroom will be used in assessing the level of occupation overcrowding.
The main householder(s) will be expected to share a bedroom with a child under the age of 12 months old.
Applicants who have more or less bedrooms than they need will be assessed for under occupation or overcrowding (for tenants of Beyond Housing or North Star) as per the banding categories details in this policy.
As a general rule, singles and couples will only be eligible for 1 bed accommodation on Tees Valley Home Finder.
Additional bedrooms
There may be some circumstances where a household is allowed an extra bedroom as detailed:
- health reasons which mean that the main and joint applicant are not able to share a room or for an additional room to store essential medical equipment
- bedroom for an overnight carer
- joint custody or overnight access to a child or children
Where one of the above applies, supporting information will be required and an affordability check may need to be completed to make sure the applicant can afford the additional bedroom (under occupation payment).
Applicants will also be subject to an affordability check to ensure they can afford the additional bedroom(s).
Where applicants qualify for overnight access only to a child or children they may not be eligible to bid on 'family type' accommodation and will need to provide evidence to support this request.
