Key Worker Housing and Intermediate Housing Policy

During November and October 2021, we asked for your views on updating our current Intermediate Housing Allocations Policy, including the possible provision for the allocations of homes reserved for key workers. This included:

• Which professions should be regarded as Kensington and Chelsea key workers;
• How key worker categories should be ranked when prioritising for key worker homes;
• Whether some intermediate rent homes should be reserved for key workers;
• What the minimum household income should be to access key worker housing and intermediate housing;
• Whether a resident’s borough should affect their priority for intermediate housing or key worker housing;
• The consideration of key workers on casual contracts.

By asking for your views, the Council is best advised to establish the local need of key workers that provide valuable services to the residents of Kensington and Chelsea and who will benefit most from affordable housing in the borough.

Key worker sections and organisations 
You said that workers in the following sectors and organisations received over a 66 per cent ‘Strongly Agree’ or ‘Agree’ rating that they should be considered a Kensington and Chelsea key worker:

• National Health Service (NHS);
• London Fire Brigade;
• Qualified care workers (for example social care);
• School workers including teachers;
• Metropolitan Police
• Childcare workers;
• Social services.

Ranking key worker categories
The following were the top five key worker categories to be included in the definition of a Kensington and Chelsea key worker:

• National Health Service (NHS);
• London Fire Brigade;
• Metropolitan Police;
• Qualified care workers (for example social care);
• Childcare workers.

Reserving some intermediate rent homes for key workers
A total of 77 per cent of respondents said that they strongly agreed or agreed with the proposed approach to reserve some new intermediate rent homes for key workers providing services to Kensington and Chelsea residents.

Minimum household income
A total of 58 per cent of respondents said that they strongly agreed or agreed with the proposed minimum household figure of £20,000 per annum. In addition, a total of 10 per cent of respondents (largest percentage) thought that between £15,000 to £19,999 was the most appropriate minimum annual household income threshold for intermediate and key worker housing.

General intermediate housing
A total of 80 per cent of respondents strongly agreed or agreed with the proposed approach to continue to prioritise Kensington and Chelsea residents over non-Kensington and Chelsea residents for general intermediate housing.

Key worker priority
There was no majority consensus over which group should receive a higher priority for key worker housing. A total of 40 per cent of respondents thought key workers who live in Kensington and Chelsea should receive a higher priority, whereas just below a quarter (22 per cent) of respondents thought that key workers living outside of Kensington and Chelsea should receive a higher priority. Nearly a third (32 per cent) of respondents thought that neither group should be prioritised over the other.

Key workers on casual contracts
Nearly half (a total of 48 per cent) of respondents strongly agreed or agreed with the proposal to consider key worker applications who are on casual contracts for key worker intermediate housing provided they are in regular work.

The new Key Worker Housing and Intermediate Housing Policy (the ‘Policy’) has been shaped by the results and comments from the public consultation survey, the results and comments from the employer survey, and desktop research conducted by Council housing policy officers. The Policy is due to be presented at the Leadership Team Meeting on 16 March 2022. It is anticipated that the following will be approved and implemented as Council Policy on 17 March 2022.

Key worker sections and organisations
A definition of a Kensington and Chelsea key worker will be fully defined. The following key worker categories achieving over 66 per cent of ‘Strongly Agree’ and ‘Agree’ support in the public consultation survey:

• National Health Service (NHS);
• London Fire Brigade;
• Qualified care workers (for example social care);
• School workers including teachers;
• Metropolitan Police
• Childcare workers;
• Social services.

Ranking key worker categories
No key worker category will be prioritised over the over when it comes to the future allocation of key worker housing. The Council regards all the key worker categories as being equally valuable in contributing to the public services in the borough.

Reserving some intermediate rent homes for key workers
The Council is committed to reserving some intermediate rent homes for key workers, in line with the Council Plan and the Council’s Housing Strategy.

Minimum household income
The minimum household income has been revised to £20,000 per annum whilst acknowledging that there is discretion on the figure subject to the household undergoing an affordability assessment. This has taken into account the ten per cent of respondents’ view that the minimum household income should be within £15,000 to £19,999 per annum.

General intermediate housing
The Council will continue to prioritise Kensington and Chelsea residents over non-Kensington and Chelsea residents for general intermediate housing.

Key worker priority
The Council will adopt a residence-blind priority when considering applications for the allocation of future key worker homes.

Key workers on casual contracts
The council will consider applications from those on casual (or ‘zero-hour’) contracts provided that the applicant can demonstrate that they have been in regular work for the previous 12 months.