A purportedly SOCIAL landlord now has an allocation policy banning anyone under the age of 36 from having one of their properties. Severn Vale Housing based primarily in Tewkesbury will NOT allocate any property to anyone under the age of 36 in response to the Government’s imposition of the shared accommodation rate (SAR) to social housing.
The above is taken from their website from where you can also download their new allocations policy which also confirms this banning of under 36 year olds:
NO OFFERS OF ACCOMMODATION WILL (ie definitive) BE MADE TO ANYONE (also very definitive) UNDER 36 YEARS OF AGE (that will include those with children under 35 who are not affected by the SAR change) WHERE THE LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE SHARED ROOM RATE (they mean the shared accommodation rate as the shared room rate no longer exists!!) EQUALS LESS THAN THE RENT AND SERVICE CHARGE (which it does in 100% of case in all areas that Severn Vale Housing operate and is therefore otiose) REGARDLESS OF EMPLOYMENT STATUS.
So that means a total 100% ban on anyone under 36 years of age from being allocated any Severn Vale Housing property!
The SAR ranges from £56.50 per week in Forest of Dean, to £67.08 in Tewkesbury to a whopping £68.18 per week maximum in Gloucester and Stroud – the four areas in which Severn Vale Housing operate thus proving this to be a total ban on anyone under the age of 36. Age discrimination anyone? Huge increase in calls for housing associations to become subject to FOIA? Oh yes indeed!!
Issues relating to whether housing associations are public or private sector and the ONS current issue? (A social housing current issue of huge importance that means the shit will really hit the fan with this outrageous policy!)
I hear the local councils are not best pleased about this reader (surprise, surprise!) and you will see why when you realise who Severn Vale are and again their website tells us:
Oh! I see what you mean Joe – they took over the ex council stock and are now BANNING anyone under the age of 36 from ever being allocated a property yet they claim they are a SOCIAL LANDLORD!!
As an aside I wonder how the NASUWT – the teacher’s union feel about their managing agent for ex and retired teachers being run by a purported SOCIAL landlord who practices blatant age discrimination and has abandoned any form of social purpose, social mission or social ethos whatsofucking ever?!
One final perverse irony of this outrageous practice of which the legality must be seriously questioned never mind the morality is the usual glossy brochure this excuse for a SOCIAL landlord publishes:
Have a look closely and ask yourself how old the couple are posing happily away on the front cover of this glossy work of sophistry by this truly offensive and disgraceful excuse for a SOCIAL landlord? They are not over 35 are they?
Will the last remaining person in the country who believes housing associations have any form of charitable or social purpose or ethos please switch off the light on their way out!
SPeye Joe (Welfarewrites) 
Tweeted @melissacade68
Is what they’re doing legal?
Applicants for Housing Association social housing who experience discrimination on grounds of age can take the Housing Association to court under the Equality Act 2010 to get the Housing Association to stop discriminating against them.
Age is a “protected characteristic” under the Equality Act.
Here is information about the Public Sector Equality Duty: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/public-sector-equality-duty
On this page http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance-faq/general-duty-faqs-gb under the heading “Is the equality duty applicable to housing associations?” it states: “Remember that the general equality duty applies only to public functions, not to everything that a registered provider does. Examples of public functions include: allocation of housing…”
This is proof that a Housing Association which allocates social housing is legally bound by the Equality Duty.
Applicants for Housing Association social housing who experience discrimination on grounds of age can take the Housing Association to court under the Equality Act 2010 to get the Housing Association to stop discriminating against them.
Age is a “protected characteristic” under the Equality Act.
Here is information about the Public Sector Equality Duty: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/public-sector-equality-duty
On this page http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance-faq/general-duty-faqs-gb under the heading “Is the equality duty applicable to housing associations?” it states: “Remember that the general equality duty applies only to public functions, not to everything that a registered provider does. Examples of public functions include: allocation of housing…”
This is proof that a Housing Association which allocates social housing is legally bound by the Equality Duty.
I have to wonder how many people under 36 in Seven Vale agree with that poor policy? Severn Vale’s reputation is truly damaged, would this damage the ‘sector’s’ reputation in trying to recruit under 36 year olds to be social housing professionals?
This new policy change will probably not come to light until potential ‘customers’ apply for housing.
Existing ‘customers’ will probably not even be aware of it.
Disgusting!! Is the only word you can use!!
For those that would like to voice their disgust.
Email them at: godigital@svhs.org.uk
Direct discrimination, anyone?
It’s completely fair to say that U35 tenancies need to be reviewed and managed differently in the future. But to blanket ban U35s irrespective of personal circs, housing need, employment status etc…. That’s not going to hold up in court.
It sounds outrageous .Perhaps they should be asked in writing if they are actually pursuing this policy, and if they consider it to be legal, as well as morally defensible.