Housing Allocation Scheme

2018-2022
Effective 1 May 2018

How
Howthe
thescheme
scheme works
works
This booklet is a guide to making an application to
join the housing register in Slough.
It explains what is needed to assess an application,
who can and cannot apply and how offers of
accommodation are made.
It is a summary of the Housing Allocation Scheme
2018-2022. The full version can be viewed on the
website www.slough.gov.uk

Fraud prevention Ground 5 in Schedule 2 of the

Housing Act 1985 (as amended by
section 146 of the 1996 Act)
The Housing Act 1996 Section 171
enables a housing authority to
makes it an offence for anyone
seek possession of a tenancy
seeking assistance from a housing
granted as a result of a false
authority under Part 6 of the 1996
statement by the tenants or a
Act to:
person acting as the tenant’s
• knowingly or recklessly give instigation.
false information, or
The council will not hesitate to
• knowingly withhold information prosecute any applicant(s) who
which the housing authority has have either been allocated a home
reasonably required the or applied for a home by using
applicant to give. false or fraudulent information.
At any point during this process
applicants may be required to
attend council offices to have
photographs taken for
identification purposes.

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Making an If you are a Slough Borough
Council or housing association
application tenant you must contact your area
housing officer for details of any
The application is to join the other housing options that may be
housing register for an allocation available.
of social housing. The application Only main applicants and those
must be completed in full to be persons that may reasonably be
accepted. expected to reside with the
An offer of accommodation may be applicant can be included on the
anywhere in the borough, with any application. Extended families and
social landlord and for any non-dependant family members
property that meets housing need. are advised to make separate
Due to the high demand for social applications. An unborn child does
housing we cannot offer a choice not count as part of the household.
of area unless there are The following supporting
exceptional circumstances that (photocopied) documents must be
would make any offer unsuitable. submitted with the application.
Being on the housing register does These documents will be verified if
not always mean that you will get an offer of accommodation is
an offer of accommodation. The made.
Homeseekers newsletter gives • For each person listed on the
more information on the supply application a birth certificate or
and demand for social housing in valid passport
Slough.
• Proof of current and previous
The council aims to assess housing five years residence
applications within eight weeks.
• Proof of current income and
Applicants must be over 16 years employment details
of age and eligible within the
• Proof of savings or equity
meaning of the Asylum and
Immigration Act 1996. • Evidence of training or
volunteering

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• Proof of immigration status if • People who need to move on
subject to immigration control medical or welfare grounds
(including any grounds relating
• A tenancy agreement if in
to a disability
rented accommodation
• People who need to move to a
The council will inform the
particular locality in the district
applicant in writing if the
of the authority, where failure to
application has been successful
meet that need would cause
and what priority has been
hardship (to themselves or to
awarded. Applicants will be given
others)
a unique reference number. This
number must be given when • Unsatisfactory/overcrowded or
making any enquiry to the council insanitary housing conditions
concerning their application.
If an applicant or any member of
If the application has not been the household ceases to be eligible
successful the applicant will be then the application will be
notified in writing as to the removed from the register.
reasons why.
If an applicant or any member of
the household has a change in
Who can join the circumstance then any extra
priority may be removed/added
housing register and/or the application removed
from the register.
The law sets out groups of people
If a dependant child is no longer
who are considered to have
dependant then the application
reasonable preference or a need
will be re assessed - this may result
for the allocation of social housing.
in the cancellation of the
• People who are homeless application. Non dependants are
(within the meaning of Housing advised to make their own
Act 1996) application.

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Who cannot join • Applicant(s) who have a joint
gross household income
the housing register exceeding £55,000
• Applicants or members of their
The council has decided that the household that have over
following applicant(s) or any £20,000 in savings, investments
person included on the application or equity
do not qualify for an allocation of • Applicants who have refused
housing and cannot join the one suitable offer of a secure (or
housing register: introductory), assured or one of
• Applicants or members of their an assured short hold tenancy
household who have not had a • Applicants, or members of their
fixed address in the borough of household, that have any
Slough for a minimum of five housing related debt, including
consecutive years up to and rent arrears or mortgage
including the date of the arrears, in respect of their
application or the date on which current property or previous
a decision is made on the accommodation
application whichever is the
• Transfer tenants (from social
later. Some exceptions to the
housing) who have failed to
five year qualification are
maintain their homes, have
detailed in the allocations policy
caused damage to their home or
• Applicants or any member of have breached the terms of their
their household who own tenancy
property including those who
• Applicants, or members of their
have gifted property
household who own any
• Those who have been found property or have exercised a
guilty of unacceptable council Right to Buy scheme
behaviour serious enough to within the past 10 years
make them unsuitable to be a • Applicants, or members of their
council or housing association household who have been
tenant at the time of the placed into Slough by any other
application local authority
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How priority is awarded
Applicants on the housing register will be placed into one of three bands.

Band A Urgent or exceptional need to move

Need move due to reasonable preference and additional
Band B
preference
Band C Need to move due to reasonable preference

Band A Urgent preference

Urgent Where an applicant, or any member of his or her
medical household, has a life threatening illness or disability and
the accommodation occupied poses an immediate and
exceptional risk of serious harm
Urgent Where an applicant or any member of his or her
welfare household requires urgent re-housing as a result of
violence or threats, including intimidated witnesses and
those escaping serious anti-social behaviour or domestic
violence
Insanitary Where the local authority has served a demolition or
prohibition order under the Housing Health and Safety
Rating System where category 1 hazards exist and cannot
be rectified and continuing to occupy the accommodation
will pose a significant and immediate risk to health
Exceptional Special cases that cannot be covered in this scheme
case
Severe over Where an applicant is in severely overcrowded
crowding accommodation which poses a serious health hazard and
that housing need cannot be met by other options, such
as renting in the private sector. The property occupied
must be insufficient by at least three bedrooms, as per the
standard that the council uses to allocate property

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 Decants Slough Borough Council tenants who are required to
move due to the redevelopment of their homes or where
major works are required
Succession Slough Borough Council tenants who have succeeded to a
tenancy and the property is too large for their needs
Homeless Agreed statutory homeless cases in temporary
accommodation where there is an urgent need to free up
accommodation

Band B Additional preference

Under Social housing tenants in Slough occupying a home in
occupation demand and willing to accept a smaller home
Foster/ Approved two year record of fostering/adoption by SBC
adoption
Armed Armed forces applicants with housing need as set out in
forces section 166A (3) of the Housing Act 1996 as amended
Family Engagement with the council’s troubled families
programme programme
Leaving care Leaving residential care
Care leavers Relevant and eligible children leaving care
Reasonable Community contribution: working households - work
preference: must be in the UK. Applicants must fulfil a minimum of 16
working hours per week if a single applicant or 24 hours per week
if a joint applicant. This must also be for a continuous
period of six months up to the point of application and
the same at the point of offer

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 Reasonable Community contribution: Study or training - must be in
preference: the UK, be work related and lead to a recognised
work qualification
training
Applicants must fulfil a minimum of 16 hours per week if
a single applicant or 24 hours per week if a joint applicant.
This must also be for a continuous period of six months
up to the point of application and the same at the point of
offer
Reasonable Community contribution: Volunteering - must be on a
preference: formal basis and for an organisation accredited by the
volunteering Slough Council for Voluntary Services
Applicants must fulfil a minimum of 16 hours per week if
a single applicant or 24 hours per week if a joint applicant.
This must also be for a continuous period of six months
up to the point of application and the same at the point of
offer
Right to Social housing tenants exercising the right to move and
Move meeting the criteria set out in the allocations policy
Medical Where a medical condition or disability is severe and
remaining in the accommodation will contribute to a
deterioration in health
Homeless Qualifying households awarded a reasonable preference
under the Housing Act Part V11 s.193(2)
Key worker As per council key worker scheme

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 Band C Reasonable preference
Homeless Non-qualifying households awarded a reasonable
preference under the Housing Act Part V11 s.193(2)
Locality Some need to move for welfare reasons including the
need to live in a locality to avoid hardship where no other
solution is available
Over Overcrowding means the property is insufficient by one
crowding bedroom of the standard the council uses to allocate
property
Sharing Applicants sharing kitchen, bathroom and toilet facilities
with a separate household. Applicants who choose to
sublet their home will not be considered
Hostel Applicants living in supported hostel accommodation
Homeless: Applicants assessed as non statutory homeless
non
statutory

The housing panel considers unless the clients GP, consultant or

awarding an urgent preference to health professional can
those in an urgent housing need demonstrate, through evidence,
where no other housing solution that this client can benefit more
can be found. than any other.
Applications received through this The panel may also take qualified
route must demonstrate urgent medical opinion when required.
need and will not be discussed

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Making an offer The council will also make
enquiries with third party
of housing organisations to verify the
information on applications.
Offers are made to those who have References and/or credit checks
been waiting the longest in each may be sought. Applicants who are
band. Consideration will be given to unable to provide any information
applicants in higher priority bands. requested or whose circumstances
have changed will be removed
When a property becomes from the housing register and/or
available which is particularly placed in the relevant band.
suitable for an individual applicant
who has specific needs or to If the council is unable to contact
effectively match available housing an applicant, using contact details
stock it may be allocated to them provided, within 24 hours
even if they are not at the top of (excluding weekends) the
the housing register. application will be cancelled. Any
potential offer that may have been
New affordable social housing made will be counted as a refusal.
developments may require a policy
to enable a balanced and Applicants nearing the top of the
sustainable community. This local housing register may be invited to
lettings policy will be aimed at multiple viewings on vacancies. If
social households opting to the offer is declined by the first
downsize. applicant then it will be offered to
the next person on the list until the
Applicants well positioned for an property is accepted.
offer of housing may be visited at
home to confirm that the If an applicant is unable to respond
information given to the council is to any deadline in accepting an
correct. offer then it will count as a refusal.
Second viewings are not normally
Original documents will be verified considered.
and suitability to be a council or
housing association tenant will be
confirmed.

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The property size that will be Any applicant who rejects one
allocated for a particular suitable offer that would have
household will be assessed reasonably met housing need will
according to the following be removed from the housing
guidelines and will be based only register.
on the actual household
An applicant may re apply to join
composition. The council uses the
the register after a minimum
Government’s bedroom standard
period of 24 months. Any future
for housing benefit.
application will be assessed
It is recommended that applicants according to the eligibility criteria.
confirm any housing benefit
entitlement when accepting a
property.
Renewing
Applicants are entitled to a applications
bedroom each for the following
groups: The council will periodically ask
that an application is re assessed
• Single or co-habiting couple
to ensure that the eligibility and
• Any child over the age of qualification criteria are met and
16 years the correct priority band is
• Any two children of the same awarded.
sex under the age of 16 years If a renewal request is not returned
• Any two children any sex aged within one calendar month then
under 10 the application will be cancelled.
No reminder will be sent and any
• A resident care worker late responses will not be
• A disabled child who cannot considered.
share a bedroom

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Changes in Appeals
circumstance and reviews
The council must be notified if An applicant can request a review
there are any household changes of the following
that may affect an application. A • The assessment of an
new application form must be application
completed.
• The priority awarded or decision
The application will be re assessed to reduce priority
and any extra priority may be
removed and/or the application • The cancellation of an
removed from the register. application

Applicants who fail to notify the • The suitability of any offer made
council of any changes may be • The housing panel decision
prosecuted.
The senior reviewing officer will
conduct all reviews in relation to
Cancelling eligibility to join the housing
register, the assessment of
an application applications, the suitability of any
offer made and any other facts
An application will be cancelled relating to the allocation of
under the following circumstances accommodation.
• If an applicant is re housed The request for a review must be
• If an applicant fails to respond to made within 21 days of the original
review letters or to officer decision.
contact requests The service lead for strategic
• If an applicant is no longer housing services will conduct any
eligible or qualifies review relating to a decision made
by the housing needs panel.
• At an applicant’s request

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The council aims to respond to a
review request within 56 days.
There is no further right to a
review of a decision. If an applicant
remains dissatisfied they may seek
independent legal advice or they
may then take their case to the
Housing Ombudsman. The
council’s formal complaints
process cannot be used to further
challenge a decision already
subject to an independent review.

Complaints
If an applicant is unhappy about
the service they receive then the
council has a three stage
procedure for dealing with
complaints. Details of the
complaint procedure can be found
on the council website or at the
council offices.
Complaints that are not resolved
using this procedure can be
referred to the Local Government
Ombudsman.

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This document can be made available on
audio tape, braille or in large print, and is
also available on the website where it
can easily be viewed in large print.

Housing Allocation
Housing AllocationScheme
Scheme2018-2022
2013-2018- How the scheme works

If you would like assistance with the translation of the

information in this document, please ask an English
speaking person to request this by calling 01753 475111.

01753 475111

01753 475111

01753 475111

01753 475111

01753 475111

Designed and printed by Slough Borough Council | | BH/4641/27-04-18 www.slough.gov.uk