Local Connection and Homeseeker Plus

In some areas we take local connection into account when we decide who to offer the property to. Sometimes we give priority to people who have a local connection to the area where the property is.

Who has a local connection?

You may have a local connection to an area if:

• you have lived in the area for the last six months or more
• you have previously lived in an area for three out of the last five years
• you have permanent (not seasonal or temporary) employment in an area
• you have family members (parents, siblings or children) who have lived in the area for the last five years
• see armed forces below

Armed Forces local connection

If you are currently serving, served within the immediate preceding five years; are a bereaved spouse or civil partner who has recently or will cease to be entitled to Ministry of Defence accommodation following the death of their service spouse and the death was wholly or partly attributable to their service; existing or former members of the reserve forces who are suffering from a serious injury, illness or disability which is wholly or partly attributable to their service – you will be awarded a Local Connection to the District of your choice within the Partnership Area.

How we take local connection into account when letting properties

We consider your local connection before your priority band. For example, if we advertise a property in West Oxford, we will offer the property to people with a local connection to West Oxford in the first instance. Only once all the people with a local connection to West Oxford have been considered would we offer the property to people with a local connection to other Homeseeker Plus areas.

Local lettings plans

Sometimes a local lettings plan will override the normal local connection criteria. Where this is used, it will be clearly stated in the advert.

See the Local Lettings Plans and Planning Restrictions page for more details.

Section 106 Agreements

Sometimes a property may be linked to a Section 106 agreement, this is a legal agreement agreed to when those properties were originally given permission to be built. If local connection criteria is specified in one of these documents it will override the normal criteria. Where this is used it will be clearly stated in the advert.

Further information

See the Homeseeker Plus Allocation Policy for further information about local connection.