Quick Guide to Hillingdon’s allocations policy changes:

People affected / Detail of change / Outcome
Couples aged 21+ who have not had any children. /
  • Includes same sex couples.
  • To qualify, households must never have had children.
  • Must have a “housing need”.
/ Priority band C
People who have lived in Hillingdon for a long period. /
  • Households who have been on the housing register continuously for 10 years or more, or who can demonstrate 10 years or more continuous residence in Hillingdon.
  • Must have a “housing need”.
/ Priority band C
People in secure employment. /
  • 1 or more person in the household must be working either full or part time for 20 or more hours per week.
  • Must have been in work for 12 months continuously at the time of the assessment.
  • Must retain work in order to retain their priority.
  • Must have a “housing need”.
/ Priority band C
People who make a contribution to their community. /
  • 1 or more person in the household must be carrying out regular volunteering or community involvement of 10 hours a month or more.
  • Must have been carrying out the role for 6 months or more at the time of the assessment.
  • Must continue in the role to retain priority.
  • Must have a “housing need”
/ Priority band C
For the purposes of this policy, having a “Housing Need” is defined as either:
  • Living in housing which is not affordablebased on an assessment of the household’s income and expenditure.
  • Living in unsettled or insecure housingbased on an assessment of the number of times the household has moved house within the last 2 years (where they have held a tenancy).

People who have served in the armed forces /
  • Must not have been dishonourably discharged.
/ Priority band B
Severely Overcrowded Families /
  • Must be in need of 2 or more bedrooms
  • Must have school age children.
  • All children in household must be aged 20 years or below.
/ Priority band B
Homeless Households living in temporary accommodation /
  • Length of time living in temporary accommodation and bidding history will be monitored.
  • Where bidding is not active or time in temporary accommodation exceeds average levels 1 x direct allocation of suitable accommodation will be made which will discharge the full housing duty.
  • If the suitable offer is unreasonably refused, temporary accommodation will be withdrawn immediately.
/ Direct Allocations to end full housing duty.
Households who do not attend property viewings /
  • Households which bid for suitable properties and are invited to view them but do not attend the viewings will have 1 months time on the housing register deducted from their priority date for each instance.
/ Loss of 1 months priority date.
Time Limits for specific households /
  • Homeless households whose temporary accommodation lease is ending.
  • Un-authorised occupants of social housing who are in priority need.
  • Social housing tenants who are ex service tenants.
  • Council housing tenants who are awaiting a Management Transfer or Reciprocal move.
/ Band A time limited for 3 months.
  • Households who are approved for fostering or adoption
/ Band A time limited for 6 months.
Annual Income, Savings or Property Equity over £30k /
  • Households which have equity in their property of £30,000 or more will be awarded a band D.
  • Where the household may have a need for a particular type of housing support will be offered to ensure they are not trapped in housing which is not suitable.
  • Does not affect reasonable preference.
/ Priority Band D
  • Households with a gross income of £30k per year and above will be awarded a band D.
  • Does not affect reasonable preference.
/ Priority Band D
Local Connection: Whilst we cannot exclude people who are not Hillingdon residents from joining our register, we award these households less priority than those who are Hillingdon residents. All out of borough applicants are awarded a Band D (no priority) unless we agree that they have a specific need relating to their housing which can only be met by the household coming to live in social housing in the borough of Hillingdon.
Succession to council housing. / Succession to a Council tenancy will only be permitted once per household.
Second succession will only be awarded in very specific circumstances, where the applicant is vulnerable, has a clearly defined need, and has lived in the property for the past 10 years or for as long as it has been available. / No secondary succession allowed.