Eligibility & Process for Council House Application in UK

Applying for Council Housing in the UK: Eligibility and Process. This video provides a step-by-step guide on how to apply for council housing in the UK. To be eligible, you must be a British citizen, living in the country and at least 18 years old (or 16 in some cases). If you're not sure of your status as an immigrant, you can contact an immigration advisor. You need to contact your local council to obtain the specific application form, and it is possible to apply to multiple councils. You can also apply to housing associations which are private, non-profit organizations. The application form will require you to provide relevant information, and councils will give priority to people in certain circumstances, including those living in overcrowded, unsanitary or unsafe homes, those with medical or welfare needs, and those suffering hardship. The video also highlights specific factors that some councils may consider when prioritizing applications. Once you've applied, you'll be placed on a waiting list and given a band number indicating your priority level. Some councils allow you to apply to specific houses once you're on the waiting list. If you're offered a house, you need to make a decision promptly.

[MaterLacrymarum]

The number one thing I'll note here is that applying, and getting, a Council property (be it a house or flat) is indeed, a process. The people administrating the process - Council Workers, Housing Officers, Benefit Staff - has zero discretion. They simply follow the process to the letter, with no exceptions. In other words, getting upset, screaming, shouting, and even pleading with these people won't get you anywhere. It is not in their ability to push you up the list on a whim.

Even homelessness won't help very much. The best you can expect is temporary housing. This housing is not likely to be very good. It'll likely be a room in a house, and expect a shared bathroom, kitchen, and living area. The others at the property are likely to be those with addictions, people just released from prison, and others in need. In other words, they're not fun places to be. Some people get stuck in this type of housing for a year or more.

Next consider the type of property you're after. Everyone wants a property with a large garden and two or more bedrooms, and detached. Hardly anyone gets them. If you are single, you will ONLY get a single bed place. DO not bother trying to get a two-bedroom property, it's not going to happen. No excuse or reason will shake them - you will get offered properties that fit your requirement, and if you're single, that's one bed. When it comes to big gardens, detached, m semi-detached, etc. then it's completely random. I'll cover the choice of property next.

If you make it through the maze of requirements and you are told you can have a property, you will be allowed to bid on places. Here's how it works: Every Thursday at midnight, the Council publish a list of all their available properties. You scroll through them, and you can bid on one or more of them. The bids close on Sunday, at Midnight. Once the bidding is closed the Council will offer a viewing of a property to those selected. This happens quickly, usually Mon-Wed. During the bidding process, when you bid, you are shown what number you are in the bidding process. This is not simply a matter of how quickly you bid. The number is based on how many "points" each person has. So for example, if you are the first person to bid on a property, you will be bidder number 1. If a further 15 people bid on the same property, you likely won't stay at number 1. You might even become number 16. This is because the other 15 people who have bid have a higher priority (points) than you do, and so are automatically moved above you. IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE TOP TWO PEOPLE WHEN BIDDING IS FINISHED YOU ARE HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO GET OFFERED THE PROPERTY. No surprise, the best properties go very quickly. The worst properties don't get taken, and remain available for weeks or months. There is no getting around this system, so don't bother complaining to the Council about it.

If you are offered a viewing of a property, you are given an appointment to meet at the address. It is vitally important that you remember this golden rule: YOU ONLY GET TO VIEW TWO PROPERTIES MAX. So, if you go to look at a property, but don't like it, then you can tell the Council and they move on to Number 2. You are allowed to bid for other properties next week. However - since you've used up one chance, WHATEVER PROPERTY YOU CHOOSE TO LOOK AT NEXT MUST BE ACCEPTED. Your second chance is your last chance. If you don't accept the second property you see, then the Council will consider that you're not truly in need and discharge their responsibility to house you. You will no longer be able to bid on properties, the Council will no longer offer you assistance. In other words - only bid and view on properties you are really interested in. The Council is not a Real Estate Agent. You can't go and view every property they have available and decide from there. You get to see two, and if you pass up the first viewing, you MUST accept the second.

If you accept a property, you might well be able to pick up the keys THE SAME DAY. You'll need to go to the Council office to get the keys and sign contracts etc. If you have pets, you need to tell them. Keep in mind - you are responsible for rent and Council Tax from the day you sign. So for example, if you get the keys and sign, but don't move into the property for two weeks, then you will be expected to pay the rent and Council Tax for those two weeks. The Council don't care when you actually move in, only when they gave you the keys.

Off the top of my head, those are the key points, though there is more. Good luck!

[rimal_dar]

Hi I’m living in Redbridge since 24 years and I put my name in housing in 2008. and now I’m homeless living in Hotle 11 month but nobody give me house yet I’m single parent I have two kids

[sherry]

Well explained appreciated
Kindly can I asked you something I am lil confused bcoz i recently move in uk in 2019 can I apply for council house we are 5 people 2 kids husband & wife and my mom

[arsenal]

Lets be honest, if you british single male or female even with health conditions you get no help, if you are britsh with kids you get thrown in temporary accommodation i.e bnb, hotels etc and get forgotten about. If you are african with 1, 2 or 4 kids you get council house Quickly its called gatekeeping especially if you live in south london.

[HmmM-wndx]

Anyone knows what happens to your application if you find a private property in a different borough. I have heard that no one will get help until they actually evicted. So I looked for private rooms to avoid being on the street. TIA

[joaquinafernandes]

Very nice explained, kindly can I get a council house, i m 50, epilepsy seizure patient, not working, husband having knee problem, high bp, age 56.

[lydiabrindley]

Unless you're English n you've no chance