Applying for Social Housing

Why might it be of interest?

If your young person wants to live independently but won’t be able to do so without some support one route to independent living is to apply for accommodation through the local housing register.  There is a supported queue and a physical disability queue so they are not just joining the general needs queue.  This document talks about eligibility and gives you information on the bands and points awarded – which affect your likelihood of getting social housing accommodation.

Another document that might be of interest in the Housing Allocation Scheme document:  https://www.richmond.gov.uk/media/jb2dmado/richmond_housing_allocation_scheme.pdf

 This information is relevant to young people who may be too able for the local supported living options.  There is no absolute definition of who may be suitable for supported living but locally the homes tend towards young people with learning disabilities and these homes may not be suitable for able but neurodiverse young people.

These young people may want to live independently but will need some support.  In this instance the home may be sourced from the housing register and an appropriate level of support will be agreed and funded by Adult Social Care.

I’m including links to other local borough’s information about the housing register.  Some directly refer to alternate queues such as social care / disability / vulnerable persons which may be available to our young people who are also eligible for an adult social care support package.  You cannot apply to join these queues – the information needed to establish eligibility will likely come from adult social care.

Hounslow:  https://beta.hounslow.gov.uk/housing-register-allocations/apply-council-housing

Wandsworth:  https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/media/snolg2bs/wandsworth_applying_for_housing.pdf

Ealing:  https://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201102/finding_a_home/21/applying_for_a_council_home

Kingston:  https://www.kingston.gov.uk/housing-options-advice/join-housing-register

I haven’t included County Councils – Surrey being the obvious one – as they seem to work a little differently and you may have to apply to a specific borough rather than to the main council.