Two pivotal questions asked right at the beginning of any Affordable Housing scheme.  These are "Who would be eligible for houses in the scheme" and "How will the houses be allocated?".  The sections provides answers to these questions on the basis of information currently available.  It is possible that some of the details may vary as the project progresses and, what is written below, should be taken indicative of what the criteria may be rather than as being desriptive of what the criteria will be.

I   Introduction

One of the key benefits of the proposed Project is that not only will the initial allocation of the new properties be controlled locally, but that control will be maintained in perpetuity, through a Community Land Trust (in the case of the owned units) and through a partner Housing Association (in the case of the rented units). The properties will therefore be a long-term resource for the community, ensuring that occupancy is kept both “local” and “affordable”.

  The precise terms governing who will be eligible for the houses are set out in a “Section 106” document, the broad content of which is fixed by national legislation, but some detail may be defined locally. The following information is intended merely as a “rough guide”.

II   Who will be eligible for the proposed houses?

The intention is that the houses are available to local people who would not otherwise be able to afford to buy or rent locally in the open market. Applicants must therefore meet two sets of criteria – financial and geographical.

Financial qualification

This is defined (currently) as those whose income is less that £25,000 pa (for a single-person household) or £35,000 pa for a larger household. There are also restrictions on the amount of net assets which may be owned – equivalent to 1 ½ times the sale price of the property.

Geographical qualification

“Local” in this context is clearly defined by legislation. It means:

• Persons who have been ordinarily resident in the locality for the past three years or for a continuous period of five years at some time in the past.

• Persons not resident within the locality, but employed within the locality for the last three years and who need to live closer to their employment.

• Persons who have an unconditional offer of permanent employment in the locality within the following sectors: agriculture, education, fire service, health, local authority, police, tourism.

• Persons who can demonstrate a close family connection to the locality in that the person’s mother, father, son or daughter has been ordinarily resident in the locality for the past five years  and where a caring dependency relationship can be established.

  “Locality” first means the Parish of Stoke Climsland, and only thereafter its neighbouring parishes of Lezant, Callington, Calstock, Linkinhorne and South Hill. The locally determined criteria, listed below, will further focus the priorities under which the houses are allocated to eligible applicants

III  How will the houses be allocated?

a) The “owned” units will be allocated by the Board of the Stoke Climsland Community Land Trust, who will be responsible for assessing each application for eligibility under the terms of the Section 106 document and then allocating the properties according to the agreed criteria below.

If there are more applications from eligible candidates than houses available for purchase, priority will be given according to these criteria, in this order of weighting.

1)         Current residents of Stoke Climsland Parish, with credit being given according to length of residence.

2)         Immediate family of current residents of Stoke Climsland Parish, with credit given to those who have themselves lived in the Parish in the past according to their length of residence.

3)         Past residents of Stoke Climsland Parish, with credit being given according to length of residence, and reason for return.

4)         Those who currently work in the Parish.

5)         Those with an unconditional offer of work in the parish.

and, only if no suitable Stoke Climsland applicant can be found

6)         Current residents of neighbouring Parishes, with credit being given according to length of residence.

7)         Immediate family of current residents of neighbouring Parishes, with credit given to those who have themselves lived in the Parish in the past according to their length of residence.

8)         Past residents of neighbouring Parishes, with credit being given according to length of residence, and reason for return.

9)         Those who currently work in a neighbouring Parish.

10)    Those with an unconditional offer of work in a neighbouring Parish

  and finally

11)    Residents of the next “band” of contiguous Parishes….. etc (following the pattern

           of 1) to 5) and 6) to 10)

    All decisions about allocation will be made by the Board of Trustees of the CLT. Members will be required to declare an interest in the case of family or friends who make an application, and will withdraw from the decision-making in this instance.

Appeals against any decision of the Board will be heard and adjudicated by an independent arbiter.

b) The rented units will be allocated by our partner Housing Association along similar lines.

  IV  Under what conditions may owned units be sold on?

Owned units may only be sold on the basis of a pre-emptive agreement to offer the house back to the CLT. Should the CLT be unable to find a buyer in a reasonable period of time (offered at half market value), it would consult the local authorities in the area. The Vendor is responsible for obtaining a valuation from the District Valuer, and to pay a fee of 1% of the sale price to the CLT for locating the buyer.

February 2008