Applying to go on the council
housing register
Anyone can apply to go on the council housing register or allocation scheme, even if they are not homeless or are in temporary accommodation or are homeless, but the council will not accommodate them. Every housing authority has to have a scheme under which they allocate housing to housing applicants. Anyone in England can apply to go on the housing scheme of any local authority, but most authorities give some priority to people on the basis of local connection with the area. Only eligible people can be offered accommodation, and eligibility is determined by immigration status and habitual residence.
An eligible person can go on to the housing register and include in their application anyone who is part of their family or household, whether they are eligible or not. Their circumstances (such as overcrowding or medical needs) will also count towards the priority the applicant gets.
Local authorities then have to prioritise the applications for any housing where demand exceeds supply. They are required to give due priority to those living in poor conditions, people in social or medical need and those who are homeless. New secure local authority tenancies and local authority nominations to housing associations for long-term accommodation can only be granted to people on the register.
Local authorities have different ways of allocating property. Some still operate a waiting list system, with points granted on the list for need (medical, social, housing conditions, etc), homelessness, time waited etc. When an applicant gets to the top of the list for the type of accommodation s/he needs, s/he is simply allocated the next vacant property. If s/he refuses that property, some councils may allow him/her to wait for another offer, but homeless people are usually told they will lose their temporary accommodation if a suitable reasonable offer is refused.
The government is encouraging all authorities to change to choice-based allocations systems. Applicants go on to a register and are given points for need as before. Vacant properties are then advertised in local housing offices, on the internet, etc, and applicants are allowed to bid for them. The property is allocated to the bidder with the highest number of points.
In some cases, councils may refuse to put applicants on the housing register because they do not understand the law. Further information about what you can do to challenge discrimination by housing associations and councils.