Housing register
All councils keep a list of those waiting for social housing which is referred to as the housing register.
Anyone can apply to go on the housing register, even if you are an existing tenant.
Applications can be made via:
Once your application has been approved, your priority will be assessed using a point's based system or by placing your application into a band under a choice based lettings scheme. Under this scheme properties are advertised, which you can then bid for. You will be notified if you are successful. We may place restrictions on who can bid for some properties, for example, you may have to be over a certain age.
Available homes are allocated in accordance with each council's allocations policy.
For further information regarding the housing register and the length of time you may have to wait, please contact your local housing team.
Choice Based Lettings
Choice based lettings is a new way of allocating social housing. It will not solve the shortage of available housing but it will give applicants more choice. Soon all social letting will be done this way.
Available properties are advertised, and once you are on the housing register, when you see a property you would like to live in you will be able to bid for it. Bidding doesn't mean you pay anything. It is just the way we refer to you expressing an interest in a vacancy. We may place restrictions on who can bid for some properties, for example, you may have to be over a certain age.
Choice based lettings makes sure that homes go to people who want them and that those with the highest needs have the highest priority for those homes. We will give you feedback on the types of applicants who are getting the properties, so the system is fair and transparent.
