For many years the number of people on the Isle of Wight housing register has been quoted at being around the 8,000 mark.
However, these figures have recently been updated and Cllr Baker-Smith – the Executive member for Planning – reports the number of people on the Homefinder system now stands at 1,807.
Cllr Baker-Smith explained to OnTheWight why and how the figures have changed so dramatically.
Local connection policy
In 2015, the Island Independent administration introduced what’s known as the ‘Local Connection’ policy.
This new policy, which came into effect from October 2015, was put in place to ensure all those on the housing register (ie. Homefinder) had either lived or worked on the Island for at least five years, or had a first-degree relative living on the Island.
Prior to the introduction of this policy, anyone from anywhere around the country could add their name to the housing register.
Starting from scratch
Last year the council wrote to all 8,000+ people on the housing register advising that they needed to reapply to be listed and must meet the criteria mentioned above.
Cllr Baker-Smith says the result is that the list has now been reduced to 1,807.
List wasn’t being updated
She went on to explain that historically, so many people had appeared on the list because it hadn’t been updated for years.
For example, if someone’s circumstances had changed and they no longer needed to be housed by the council, the list was not being updated accordingly.
