Ms Elaine Leech:

Relating to my own local authority, two refusals are permitted. We track the reasons properties have been refused because it is gives us a greater insight as to why a property may not be attractive or if there are multiple refusals on a property, what do we need to do to re-let that property. Again, in terms of the re-let timeframes, refusals do slow it down. On re-lets, if there is a refusal after going the whole way along and at the end the applicant decides to decline the property, then the process has to start again. Choice-based letting is key here because it is applicant sourced. The applicant is making the decision to express an interest in that property. We should see lower rates of refusal on applicant sourced properties through CBL.