Frequently asked questions

We work out what band your application will be placed in by considering your housing needs. The factors which we take into account are listed below, please click on the factor for a brief explanation.

Band 1 Factors

• Special case accepted
  
• High medical or welfare need
  
• Single Agency Assessment accepted

  Band 2 Factors

• Major overcrowding
  
• Transfer Incentive Scheme accepted
  
• Statutory homeless due to domestic violence
  
• No fixed abode for more than 6 months
  
• Major disrepair
  
• Leaving supported housing
  
• Insecure tenants for more than 3 years
  
• Families living with relatives or friends for more than 1 year

  
  
  Band 3 Factors

• Medium medical or welfare need
  
• Minor over crowding
  
• Lacking kitchen facilities
  
• Lacking bathroom facilities
  
• Lacking WC
  
• Under occupying
  
• Statutory homeless under licence
  
• No fixed abode for up to 6 months
  
• Family living apart
  
• Two or more children living above ground floor
  
• Inadequate heating
  
• Insecure tenants for 1 to 3 years
  
• Family living with relatives or friends of up to 1 year

  
  
  Band 4 Factors

• Low medical or welfare need
  
• Sharing facilities
  
• Pregnant one child living above ground floor
  
• Children with no private garden
  
• Tied tenants
  

  
  
  Band 5 Factors

• No housing needs
  
• No local connection
  
• Able to gain access and maintain suitable housing privately

This factor will be assessed by senior officers, if you have an urgent need to move, such as harassment by neighbours.

High medical or welfare need 

This factor will be assessed by The Medical Welfare Panel and will be awarded if you health or welfare is critically affected by your housing conditions. It will be reassessed after each year. The Panel may say what type and what area of home you might be offered.

Medium medical or welfare need 

This factor will be assessed by The Medical Welfare Panel and will be awarded if your health or welfare is seriously affected by your housing conditions. The Panel may say what type and what area of home you might be offered.

Low medical or welfare need 

This factor will be awarded if your housing condition affects your health or welfare.
Single Agency Assessment accepted

This applies when your case has been supported by other statutory authorities, such as Social Services or Mental Health Teams.

Major overcrowding 

Applies if you are lacking two or more bedrooms, or three or more bed spaces.

Minor overcrowding

Applies when you are lacking one bedroom, or lacking up to two bed spaces.Who needs their own bedroom?

• You and your partner (unless Medical and Welfare Panel have agreed separate bedrooms)
  
• Children over 5 years old or opposite sex
  
• Each non-dependant

Lacking kitchen facilities

If you have no separate sink unit (not within bathroom), and/or having the facilities for cooking hot meals.

Lacking bathroom facilities

If you have no bath or shower with hot or cold water.

Lacking WC

If you have no WC within the building you live in.

Sharing facilities 

If you share with persons you don?t know. The facilities are kitchen, bathroom and WC.

Transfer Incentive Scheme approved

The scheme is only open to current Council tenants, who are seeking a transfer to a smaller home. A leaflet providing details are available from us. No other housing need factors awarded.

Underoccupying 

Applies if you are a householder, and have two or more bedrooms than your needs.

Major disrepair

This applies where there are ongoing, not temporary, repairs required to your home.

Inadequate heating 

This will be awarded if there is no heating in your bedrooms. If there is no heating in your home, you will be awarded the factor for major disrepair.

Families living apart

This will be awarded if your family is living at separate homes. A family means a family who would normally live, or would reasonably be expected to live together. Residence must be through choice. If you have a right to occupy any other homes this factor will not apply. No other housing needs factors awarded.

Statutory homeless due to domestic violence

If you have been accepted as homeless and we have a rehousing duty towards you, and you are homeless due to domestic violence. No other housing needs factors awarded.

No fixed abode for more than 6 months

If you have been accepted as homeless, but not in priority need. You must have had no fixed abode continuously for over 6 months. No other housing needs factors awarded.

Statutory homeless under licence

If you have been accepted as homeless and we have a rehousing duty towards you, and you are living as a licensee. No other housing need factors will be awarded. If you need to move from this property quickly, you will be offered another house under licence.Where there are special circumstances, for example if we are unable to offer a suitable tenancy to you, your case will be referred the Medical and Welfare Panel. If we have not offered you a property of your choice within 1 year, you will be offered a licence home.

No fixed abode for up to 6 months

If you have been accepted as homeless, but are not a priority need. No other housing need factors awarded.

2 or more children above ground floor

If your front door is above the ground floor and you have two children living with you under 5 years old.

Pregnant or 1 child above ground floor

If your front door is above the ground floor and you have a child living with you under 5 years old, or you are pregnant.

Children with no private garden

Applies if you have a child under 10 years old, and where you live has no garden.

Leaving supported housing

If you live in a local home that has support provided, your landlord will have an agreement with us. He will provide us with nominations from persons who are due to leave supported housing. If you apply for housing before then we will place your application in band 5. if your landlord does not nominate you, and you are due to leave, you should apply as homeless to us.

Insecure tenants for more than 3 years

This factor will be awarded if you are renting a home privately, and your landlord has the automatic right to possession. Examples for this are if you are an assured short hold tenant or a licensee. To qualify you must have been in this position continuously for more than three years.

Families living with relatives or friends for more than one year

This factor applies if you are a family with a dependant child, living as non- householders. You must know the householder, and you must not be charged rent. This must have been your position for over one year.

Insecure tenants for 1 to 3 years

This factor will be awarded if you are renting a home privately, and your landlord has the automatic right to possession. Examples for this are if you are an assured short hold tenant or a licensee. To qualify you must have been living in this position continuously between one to three years.

Families living with relatives or friends for up to 1 year

This factor applies if you are a family with a dependant child, living as non- householders. You must know the householder, and you must not be charged rent. To qualify you must have been living with relatives or friends for a year or less.

Tied tenants

This applies if your home is tied to your employment, and you have less than 2 years left before you are due to leave.

No local connection

We aim to give priority for homes to local people. If you do not have a local connection, your application will be placed in Band 5. To have a local connection, you or your family must have been:

• Living in this area through choice for either 6 months during the last year, or 3 years during the last 5 years, or
• You are currently working permanently in this area, or
• You have close family living in this area for the last 5 years, or
• You have a special reason for needing to live in this area, for example the need to give or receive support.

Able to gain access and maintain suitable housing privately

If you have enough income or savings to find and maintain suitable housing privately, your application will be placed in band 5.