Re-housing & Allocations
Web:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Councilandhousingassociatio...
Council housing – what it is
Council housing is property that is owned by a council and not by a private individual or company.
There’s usually a very high demand for council housing and you’ll normally have to join a waiting list (sometimes known as a ‘housing register’). Joining a waiting list doesn’t guarantee you a property and you may have to wait a long time – even years.
You can often apply directly to local housing associations as well as your council. Housing associations are separate from councils but often work closely with them to house local people.
How to apply for council housing
You’ll need to complete an application form and join a waiting list. Contact Greenwich Council for an application form.
If you give false information in your application (for example, claiming you have children when you don’t) you’re committing housing fraud. You can be taken off a waiting list and even taken to court for housing fraud.
Who can apply for council housing
You can normally apply:
a) if you’re 18 or over – although some councils let you join their waiting list if you’re 16 or over
b) even if you don’t currently live in the area – although priority for housing is normally given to local people
You can’t normally apply if:
1) you’ve been responsible for serious anti-social behaviour
2) you owe money to another council or housing association – for example, unpaid rent
If you’re a British citizen who doesn’t normally live in the UK
You may not be eligible to apply for housing straightaway because you’re not ‘habitually resident’ in the UK. Check with the council.
If you’re not a British citizen
If you’re not a British citizen you can get information about settling in the UK from the UK Border Agency.
If you move elsewhere in the UK
You can apply for housing even if you move away and temporarily live elsewhere in the UK. This could be because you’re:
• serving in HM Forces
• a student at college or university
• serving a prison sentence
• Housing fraud - council and housing association properties
• Anti-social behaviour (crime and justice section)
How councils decide who gets housing
Contact the council to find out what priority or banding you’ve been given
Council homes are normally offered to the people who need them most. Councils use either a ‘points’ or ‘banding’ (grouping) system to decide who gets offered housing first.
Points system
The more points you have, the higher up the list you are. How many points you’re awarded depends on things like, if you:
• currently live in cramped conditions and need an extra bedroom(s)
• work in the local area
• have a medical condition that’s made worse because of where you currently live
• are homeless or living in temporary accommodation provided by the council
Banding schemes
The banding you’re put into depends on your housing needs. There are normally between three and five bands. For example:
# Band A – people with a serious medical condition who need to move urgently because their home is affecting their health
# Band B – people with children living in overcrowded conditions – for example, you need two bedrooms more than you have
# Band C – all other applicants
People in the same banding are normally housed in the order they joined the waiting list.
How long do you have to wait?
Joining the waiting list doesn’t guarantee you a property
How quickly you get a property depends on things like, the:
• number of points you have or what banding you’re in
• size of property you need
• number of people on the waiting list wanting a similar property
• number of properties available
Joining a waiting list doesn’t guarantee you a council home. You can ask your council how long you may have to wait.
Overcrowding and council houses
The rules on when a property is overcrowded are complicated, and even if conditions are cramped a property may not be not ‘legally’ overcrowded. When deciding if a property is legally overcrowded, your council will consider:
1) what rooms you can use to sleep in – for example, you may be expected to sleep in a living room
2) the number of people in each room – children under ten are expected to share
3) the amount of space in each room – children under one year old aren’t counted as a person when deciding how many people share a room
If you're concerned about overcrowding speak to the council or get advice.
Finding out about available properties
The council may:
a) contact you directly about an available property
b) invite you to use its choice-based lettings scheme
Choice-based lettings give you the opportunity to tell the council which properties you’re interested in.
c) Choice-based lettings - bidding for properties that become available
If you’re offered a property
The council should explain to you why it’s chosen the property offered to you. For example, you may have expected a larger one.
Normally you only have a short time to accept an offer. If you don't accept it, you can stay on the waiting list but you may be put further down it. If you keep rejecting offers you may be taken temporarily off the waiting list.
If you’re unhappy with a council housing decision
You can ask the council to review a decision:
• about the number of points you have or what banding you’re in
• if it doesn’t put you on the waiting list
Where to get housing advice
Contact your council if you have difficulty completing the application form. For example, because English isn’t your first language or you need a large print or Braille version.
You can get housing advice and more detail about housing options from organisations like Shelter and Citizens Advice.
• Find your local council Opens new window
• Find your nearest Citizens Advice or Shelter advice centre Opens new window
Choice-based lettings – the basics
To apply for a council property you usually need to be on the council’s housing waiting list (sometimes known as a ‘housing register’). Once you’ve joined the waiting list, you should be able to use the council’s choice-based lettings scheme to let them know which properties you’re interested in.
There are rules about what properties you can express an interest in. Expressing an interest in a property is known as ‘bidding’. There is no cost involved in bidding and it has nothing to do with money.
Bidding – a step by step guide
Expressing an interest in a property is known as ‘bidding’ - there’s no cost involved in bidding and it has nothing to do with money
Different councils run their schemes in different ways. The basic steps are shown below but check with the council.
Step 1: find a property
Properties are advertised:
A) in local papers
B) on council websites
C) in council and housing association offices – often as a weekly or fortnightly leaflet you can take away
D) in local libraries
The advert will tell you about the property – for example, its layout, the number of bedrooms, if it has a garden etc. It will also contain details about who is eligible to bid for a property.
Step 2: check you’re eligible to bid
Check the advert to make sure you’re eligible to bid for a property. The advert should tell you:
A) if the property is suitable for a single person, couple or family
B) about any other criteria you need to meet – for example, adapted properties may be offered only to disabled people
The council will check you meet the criteria.
You should bid before the deadline – it doesn’t matter who bids first because all bids are looked at together
Step 3: make your bid
Check the advert to see when the deadline is and make sure you bid before the deadline.
You can usually do this online, by telephone or by text. If you’re already on the waiting list you may have a personal applicant number – this identifies you when bidding.
Some councils limit the number of bids you can make within a certain period. For example, you may only be able to bid for one or two properties a week.
Step 4: the council’s decision
It doesn’t matter who bids first, all bids are looked at together.
Council homes are normally offered to the people who need them most. For example, if you‘re homeless or currently live in cramped conditions. Councils don’t contact people who are unsuccessful because of the amount of applicants they have to deal with. They might provide feedback about properties that have been let on their website or in newsletters.
If you’re offered a property
Normally, you’ll only have a short time to accept an offer. If you don't accept it, you can usually still bid for other properties.
If you keep rejecting offers, you may be taken temporarily off the waiting list.
Where to get help and advice
Contact Greenwich Council if you’re likely to have difficulty bidding, as they may be able to bid on your behalf or find someone to help you bid. They may also be able to help if English isn’t your first language or you need a large print or Braille version of the advert.
You can get housing advice and more detail about housing options from organisations like Shelter and Citizens Advice.
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