Applying for an accessible council or housing-association home — Easy Read

Understand the housing register

A housing register is a list of people applying for social housing. A council’s allocation scheme explains who can join, how priority is decided and how homes are offered. You may be considered for council homes or housing-association homes. Waiting times can be long and joining does not guarantee an offer. If you are homeless or may lose your home soon, ask for homelessness assistance as well; do not rely only on the waiting list.

Find the application route

Contact the council housing team or use its official website. Ask for its allocation scheme, application instructions and contact for help. Some housing associations also accept direct applications. You can ask about more than one provider or area, but check the rules and practical effect on care and support. Do not pay someone who promises to move you up a council list. Use official contact details and keep your application reference.

Ask for free help to apply

The council must make necessary assistance available free if you are likely to have difficulty applying without it. Tell staff if you cannot read the form, use the online system, gather documents or explain your needs alone. Ask for an accessible appointment, another application method or help from a named worker. You do not need to find a relative first. A supporter can assist with permission, but should check the answers with you.

Check eligibility and local qualification rules

National eligibility rules and the council’s qualification rules both matter. Immigration status, residence, household circumstances and some conduct or financial issues may need checking. Exceptions and equality duties can affect how local rules apply. Ask for an individual explanation rather than assuming a local-connection rule always excludes you. If refused, request the written grounds and review information. Get qualified immigration advice where relevant; this guide does not decide a particular person’s eligibility.

Explain why you need to move

Councils must give reasonable preference to specified groups, including people needing to move on medical or welfare grounds connected with disability. This includes learning disabilities and access needs, not only physical mobility. Explain the link between your current home and the problem: unsafe stairs, unsuitable bathroom, overcrowding, sensory distress, exploitation risk or being too far from essential support. A diagnosis alone does not automatically give the highest band or a particular home.

Describe the home and support you need

Give practical details about layout, equipment, access, location and the people who need to live with you. Explain any space needed for an overnight carer and ask how bedroom rules apply. Relevant evidence may come from an occupational therapist, social worker, GP or another professional, alongside your own explanation. Say what is difficult even with current help. Ask housing and adult social care to coordinate; an offer of a home does not itself fund care.

Check the written assessment

Ask which band or points you have, the date used for priority, bedroom entitlement and any property restrictions. Ask whether medical, welfare and access evidence was considered, and how the scheme was applied. Check factual errors. Ask how likely a suitable home is to become available and what other options could help meanwhile. Record any advice about bidding or direct offers. Priority systems differ, so a band number has no single national meaning.

Understand bidding and direct offers

Some councils use choice-based lettings. You show interest in advertised homes by bidding; this does not mean offering money. Check which properties you may bid for, the closing date and how you are ranked. Other homes may be offered directly. Ask for accessible adverts, telephone or assisted bidding, or another suitable arrangement if you cannot use the website. Agree who will help and how your preferences will be checked. Do not assume that joining the register places bids for you.

Look carefully at an offer

Ask to understand the location, access, rent, service charges, tenancy and whether necessary adaptations can be made. Check care arrangements, equipment and transport before committing. Offer deadlines can be short. Ask what happens if you refuse, and get advice promptly if a home is unsuitable. Refusing repeated offers may affect your application under local rules. An offer made as part of homelessness duties can have additional consequences and review rules; check which process applies.

Keep the application active

Report relevant changes, such as a new address, changed support needs, household changes or a notice to leave. Keep copies of evidence and contact details up to date. Check renewal requests, messages and bidding deadlines in a way you can use. Ask for support if this is difficult. If the application is closed or suspended, ask why, request a copy of the decision and act promptly to seek review or correction.

Ask for a review of a wrong decision

Ask for the grounds, the rule used and how to request review if you are refused, given incorrect priority or assessed using wrong facts. Follow the deadline in the council’s scheme and letter. Government guidance treats 21 days as a reasonable period to request an allocation review, but this is not a single statutory deadline for every housing-register decision. Ask for an extension promptly if disability or missing information caused delay. Give relevant evidence and ask for an accessible review outcome.

If review or communication is failing

Ask a manager about an unanswered review or missing adjustments, and use the council’s complaints process for poor administration. Government guidance suggests eight weeks as a reasonable review timescale; ask for reasons and a date if it is extended. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman may consider faults in council allocation handling. It does not simply replace a properly made priority decision with your preferred outcome. Seek housing legal advice promptly about urgent or unlawful decisions; a complaint does not protect separate legal deadlines.

Applying for a council or housing-association home

A housing register

Ask how to apply

You can get help

Give the information needed

Explain why you need to move

Describe a suitable home

Check your priority

Bidding means showing interest

Keep your application active

Check an offer

Ask for a review

If nobody is helping

What you can do next

More useful links