Applying for social housing (housing register)

The housing register is a list of households waiting for an allocation of social housing in the borough. These properties are owned and managed by us or housing associations.

There are strict qualifying criteria to join the register, and even for successful applicants there are long waiting times, often several years.

Read our council housing allocations policy

How the housing register works

Once you submit an application online it will be assessed by us. If we accept your application, we'll give you a priority date. This is the date you submitted your application. If circumstances change, giving more priority, it will be the date you told us of the change.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the housing register, you must:

• have been assessed and be deemed as having a ‘housing need’ by us
• be aged 16 or over
• be a citizen of the UK, the Commonwealth or the European Economic Area unless granted refugee status or granted leave to enter or remain in the UK
• have lived in the London Borough of Sutton for 2 years continuously immediately prior to application (out of borough applicants will be considered if there is a need to move into the borough to take up employment or avoid hardship)

When assessing applications, we take your financial circumstances into account. If there are enough funds available for you to rent privately, you won't be accepted on the housing register. The financial threshold is based on family make-up, the size of property required, and essential outgoings such as bills and childcare costs.

If you have rent arrears (debt), a history of rent arrears (not paying on time) or antisocial behaviour, we will not accepted you on the register until you've demonstrated a change in behaviour for a minimum of 12 months.

Once accepted onto the housing register, we operate an online choice based lettings system. The majority of applicants can place bids (this just means expressing an interest) on homes that they would like to live in as they become available.

Once bidding has closed we will look at the shortlist. Bidders are prioritised automatically according to their band and those who have been waiting the longest (the priority date). If successful, we'll contact you to arrange a viewing.

Bands

Applicants will be allocated a band according to their circumstances.

Band A

Households with an urgent need to move. Includes applicants with serious medical needs, under-occupiers and those with a need to be moved on from Sutton nominated supported accommodation (as per allocations policy).

Band B

Households accepted as homeless.

Band C

Households living in unsatisfactory conditions, such as those lacking space or living in medically unsuitable housing.

Band D

Households in insecure accommodation, such as those served a valid notice by their landlord

TNN (Transfers No Need)

Current tenants of Sutton Housing Partnership or one of our partner housing associations who wish to move but do not have a housing need.

OPEX (Older People Exceptions)

For those aged 55 and over who do not qualify for any other nand but who wish to be considered for older people's accommodation.

Waiting times

There is a shortage of affordable housing in London, therefore waiting times can be long.

As a general guide, the minimum waiting times we would expect for each band. There are no plans to allocate properties to the TNN Band this year therefore we cannot currently estimate the waiting time.

Band B minimum wait

• 1 Bedroom: 5 years or more
• 2 Bedroom: 6 years
• 3 Bedroom: 8 years
• 4 Bedroom: 4 years

Band C minimum wait

• 1 Bedroom: 5 years or more
• 2 Bedroom: 10 years or more
• 3 Bedrooms: 10 years or more
• 4 Bedroom: 10 years or more

How to apply

You can find out more about the application process and apply for social housing on the Homechoice website.

For more information, email housing-register@sutton.gov.uk