Joining the register won’t provide you with a solution to your housing need. Below are the minimum lengths of time you can expect if you join the register today.
Figures based on joining the register on 9 April 2020.
Band
1 bed
2 bed
3 bed
4+bed
Urgent
1 year
2 years
2 years
9 years
Homeless
4 years
12 years
9 years
15 years
General
7 years
19 years
26 years
28 years
Bands
Urgent band – households living in properties which are severely overcrowded; or who live in accommodation which negatively affects their health; or residents who are fleeing domestic violence
Homeless band – homeless households which the Council has a legal duty to house
General band – households with a housing need less urgent than other bands
Application process
Can I apply?
You need to meet set criteria from our lettings policy to be included on the housing register.
are an EEA national not exercising your treaty rights. For example, if you are an EEA national you need to show you are exercising your treaty rights by being a worker, a self-employed person, self-sufficient person, or a student
We can also exclude you if:
you have been involved in anti-social behaviour
you are in arrears with your rent
you don’t have a local connection with the borough
you are a homeowner
you have been found to be internationally homeless
you have enough income to rent privately or buy a home
We need to see some documents to ensure that you are eligible to apply, decide what your housing priority ought to be and identify fraudulent applications. These include:
proof of identity
proof of address
proof of income
proof of National Insurance number
If you have digital copies of your documents, you can upload and submit them with the housing register form.
These wait times are long, can I access social housing elsewhere?
Yes. You can find social housing in other parts of the country much quicker than in Hackney.
If you don’t currently have an existing social tenancy, we recommend registering with Homefinder UK.
Homefinder UK is a national housing mobility scheme available to anyone willing to move nationwide including:
homeless households
applicants living in temporary accommodation
private sector tenants threatened with homelessness
victims of domestic abuse and grooming
overcrowded families and social tenants
I’ve submitted my application, what happens next?
When we have received all the necessary documentation we will:
send you a copy of the information we have recorded, based upon the application form. We will ask you to check this and to tell us if anything is wrong
let you know which letting band you have joined and band date. Our bands are date ordered and new applicants will usually join the band at the bottom. You can find detailed information about letting bands in our lettings policy
Once you have had your application registered, depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to bid for vacant council and housing association properties.
I have a medical condition, does that give me priority on the register?
Not necessarily.
We will only take a medical condition into consideration if your current accommodation is negatively contributing to your medical condition.
Complete the housing health assessment form if you or a member of your household has a health-related issue and you want us to assess the impact of how your home affects your health, treatment and support needs.
I’m on the register and my circumstances have changed, how do I tell the Council?
If your circumstances have changed you need to notify us as soon as you can.
Here are some examples which you should report:
change of address
a member of your household has moved in or out of your address
buying or selling a property
a significant change in your or a household member’s medical condition
your marital status
your immigration status
3rd party details (such as a representative or an advocate)
income and capital details
if you want to cancel an application
A change in your circumstances may have an effect on your housing application and the level of priority you’ve been awarded on our waiting list.