When I share that I'm married but don't live with my husband, people often look confused—especially when they hear about this rule. Despite many connections to my local area, a policy restricts me from living in my village. While mental health always comes up, it’s clear this rule has a major impact.

I’m writing to express my concern and dissatisfaction with the current housing policy enforced by Devon Home Choice. Their five-year rule requires someone to have lived in a locale for at least five years to gain priority for a property. This policy creates huge challenges for families like mine, who are deeply connected to their community but don’t meet this arbitrary time frame.

My family and I live in Witheridge; we’re active community members. My child attends the local school, and we hope he’ll start nursery here this September. Our roots run deep, yet the five-year rule threatens our ability to secure stable housing in the very community we call home.

We’re just about eight months short of five years, so we’re automatically declined. I believe that my situation—having my own place with my husband, who currently resides in Cornwall due to other circumstances—should also qualify me. If others are facing similar struggles, I urge reconsideration of this rule—perhaps reducing it to four years or waiving it if there are other strong local connections.

The five-year rule overlooks the strength of our local involvement and contributions. For families like mine, dedicated to our community’s well-being, this policy feels unjust and hinders our stability and growth.

Devon Home Choice should consider the real connections families forge in less time. There should be mechanisms to evaluate local involvement—such as children enrolled in local schools, volunteering, or other civic engagement—as valid criteria for housing eligibility.

According to Shelter, over 1.2 million UK households are on social housing waiting lists in a national shortage. In such a crisis, prioritizing community bonds and immediate needs over rigid timelines is crucial. Policies must adapt to reflect families’ realities, ensuring those with true local ties aren’t displaced.

I call on Devon Home Choice to revise the five-year rule and adopt a more inclusive policy that recognizes the dynamic nature of our communities and urgent housing needs. Join me in signing this petition to promote fairer housing policies that honor genuine local connections. Your support can make a real difference for families seeking stability and a sense of belonging. Let’s make our voices heard.