Applying to be on the housing register

All councils have to keep a list of people who have applied to them for housing. Only people on this list (which is called the housing register) can get permanent accommodation from them or be referred by them to a housing association (HA).

In London, HA's don't usually keep a list or register of their own but instead take all their new tenants from the council. There are a few exceptions however. You could ask the Housing Advice Centre if they have details of any that do take direct applications. You can find the details for Housing Advice Centres by clicking on www.homelesslondon.org.uk or from your council's website which can be found by clicking on www.oultwood.com/localgov/uk.

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Who gets priority?

Councils also have to publish how they will decide who has priority for their housing. This is usually called a lettings policy or allocations policy. The local housing advice centre should have a copy, or you can ask the council direct.

Most councils assess applications on the basis of greatest need using a points system. Points are usually awarded for:

• overcrowding
• poor health made worse by current housing
• shared facilities
• current housing being inappropriate due to a disability
• insanitary conditions
• a family having to live apart because of inadequate housing.

Some councils also give you more points the longer you are waiting on the list. Homeless people usually get priority over all other people, and the demand from homeless people is so high in some areas that other people have very little chance of being housed. To see whether you might be able to apply as homeless, click on Homeless?.

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Who can apply?

Some councils set conditions about who can go on their register. Many require people to have lived in their area for a minimum period, e.g. two years. Others have age limits that mean, for instance, that they won't consider applications from people under 25. Ask for a copy of their allocations policy, or ask at the Housing Advice Centre, to find out.

If you are from abroad you can only go on the housing register if you:

• have refugee status
• have exceptional leave to remain
• have settled status
• are a national of the european community or are from Iceland, Liechenstein, Norway, Malta, Cyprus or Turkey.

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What are my chances?

If single people get an offer it is usually for a bedsit. In areas of high demand there may be little chance to transfer into a bigger flat later on. The amount of choice you get over what type of flat you get and where, varies from council to council.

Some councils are now operating 'choice based' lettings schemes in which they advertise all of their vacant properties and invite people on the housing register to apply. The person with the greatest points who applies will then get the property. If you only apply for the best flats then you may have to wait a long time or may never get one (depending on how many points you have) as you will be competing with lots of people. If you apply for the less attractive flats e.g. bedsits in tower blocks, then you might stand a better chance of getting one.

If you live in an area of very high demand then you might be able to increase your chance of getting a flat by asking your council to nominate you to a council with less demand, through the HOMES mobility scheme. To qualify you must have a very good reason to want to move to the other council's area. Examples are:

• you are taking up a job or course that is too far to travel to from your present home
• you need to be closer to relatives to give or receive support
• there is another pressing reason - such as a need to escape harassment or domestic violence.

You can ask the council to nominate you for the HOMES mobility scheme. Getting a move through this scheme is not guaranteed and will be most difficult in areas (such as central London) where there is the most demand for council and HA homes.

You might also want to search the HOMES website by clicking on www.availablehomes.org.uk. This website has details of properties managed by councils or housing associations around the country that are vacant and able to be let to someone who doesn't already live in the area. You can also phone the HOMES helpline on 0845 080 1089 (calls are charged at local rates). It is unusual for properties in London to appear on the website but it has happened in the past. A photograph and details of each property are usually available. When you find one that you like you can apply directly to the landlord. They then make a decision about who to let the home to.

It can sometimes be easier to get housed if you are over 55 or disabled and willing to live in sheltered housing. For more details click on Sheltered housing.

You can have much more chance of getting a council or HA flat if you are willing to move out of London. To find out more click on Moving out of London.

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Click on these links to reach different parts of the website:
Private renting - Council or housing association - Buying your own home
Hostels - Jobs with accommodation - Moving out of London
What's right for me? - Help - Contacts & info - Go back to the start