When you apply for social housing, you’ll be added to a waiting list. You'll get higher priority on the list if you have urgent housing needs.

Each council and housing association have their own rules about how priority is decided, but there are some things they must always take into account.

After you apply they must tell you what level of priority you have.

How the priority system works

Each council and housing association have an allocations policy, which explains how your priority will be decided. It's usually decided using a points system, a banding system, or a combination of both.

In a points system, you get points for each reason why you need a home. The more points you have, the more quickly you should be offered a home.

In a banding system, the council or housing association puts you in a priority group, called a band, based on your housing needs. Sometimes there’s a set amount of housing for each band.

They must give you a copy of their allocations policy if you ask for it.

When you must get priority

You must get a reasonable level of priority if:

• you’re homeless or threatened with homelessness

• your home is overcrowded - this means there are not enough rooms for the number of people who live there

• your home is unsuitable to live in – for example, if it does not have suitable water, cooking or heating facilities

When you might get priority

Depending on the allocations policy, you might also get higher priority if you need to move because:

• you have a disability and you need a home that’s adapted for you

• you need to move closer to a specific clinic or doctor for medical reasons

• you’re leaving care, hospital or prison, or you have other community care needs

• you’re at risk of harassment or domestic abuse in your current home

• you need to move closer to your workplace

• you need to move closer to family - for example to care for a relative

The council or housing association may consider other things as well, such as:

• how long you've been on the waiting list

• whether you have a connection to the local area

• what other housing options are available to you

Things that cannot affect your priority

Council and housing associations are not allowed to take these things into account when deciding your priority:

• your income or your family’s income

• how long you’ve lived in the area

• your age, except for housing that’s intended for people of a particular age

• debt which is not related to the tenancy of a home

If you do not live in the area

This cannot affect your priority if:

• you work or want to work in the area

• you want to move there to be near family or a carer

• you need to live there for medical reasons

• you are a victim of harassment or domestic abuse

If you've had rent arrears

This cannot affect your priority if:

• you have paid off your rent arrears

• you have a payment plan for your rent arrears, you have made payments for at least 3 months and you are continuing to make payments

• you were not a tenant of the property at the time of the arrears

If you own property

This cannot affect your priority if:

• the property is being rented by someone 

• living there would lead to abuse 

• living there would cause you or any other person living there harm

Check your other housing options

If you do not have priority for social housing, you could be on the waiting list for a long time. You could try:

• applying for a mid-market rent

• looking for a private rented home