Applying for council housing or housing association property

break

We have changed the way in which residents apply for a council or Housing Association property and our criteria for allocating properties.

Housing register applications are moving online

Anyone wishing to join the Newham Housing Register must apply online. Paper application forms are no longer being used and will not be accepted. Find out if you are eligible to join the housing register.

Computer mouse
Find out about the new online process and how to apply

Newham's Housing Allocation Policy has changed

The new Housing Allocation Policy has been effective from Monday 29 October 2012. This was approved by the Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales and members of the council's Cabinet.

Word document
See the revised Housing Allocations Policy (Word doc.)

Am I affected?

All existing housing register cases have now been assessed. All applicants affected by the changes have received a letter for each change affecting them.

Who can join the housing register?

To apply to join the housing register applicants must be;

18 years of age or older
living in Newham and have been doing do so continuously for the past two years or have a strong local connection with Newham (as described below).

Local Connection applies when at least one of the following applies to the applicant;

has employment in Newham
has close relatives (parents, siblings or children)
is a Newham tenant living in one of our out-of-borough estates
is owed a duty by Newham Council under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996
has been placed in a women's refuge outside Newham but was referred to that refuge by the council or another organisation in Newham and has lived in Newham for two years immediately prior to occupying the temporary accommodation
has been placed in accommodation by the council or the Newham Local Health Authority, and who are continuing to receive services from the Council or the Newham Local Health Authority
has been nominated to the council through the Pan Mobility Scheme, Safe and Secure Scheme and any other scheme to which the council subscribes.

If you do not meet the residency criteria and do not have a local connection you will not be able to register.

Who cannot join the housing register?

You cannot apply to join the housing register if you;

are subject to immigration control and do not have leave to remain in the UK or have no access to public funds
are a European citizen not exercising your treaty rights
are, in the opinion of the council owed a duty under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 by another local authority
own your home, or own residential accommodation elsewhere
currently serving a custodial sentence.

It is possible for you to be prevented from joining the housing register if;

your past behaviour, or the past behaviour of a member of your household has not been acceptable and the council believe that you will not be a suitable tenant
action has been taken against you by the council or another competent body on grounds of alleged Anti Social Behaviour (ASB).

It is also possible to allow an applicant to join the housing register and for them to receive reduced priority on the grounds of behaviour or anti-social behaviour.