With nearly 10 times as many people on the housing list as there are properties to offer, most people on the housing list cannot be helped. So the Council has to set priorities for how properties are allocated.
In line with s167 of the Housing Act 1996, as modified by the Homelessness Act 2002 and the Housing Act 2004, the Council considers that the rehousing needs it must try to meet are of people with:
- no permanent or secure accommodation
- people occupying insanitary or overcrowded housing
- vulnerable people and people with medical needs and disabilities
- urgent transfer needs.
The Council also gives priority to people who are moving because of:
- a decant due to major repairs works, improvements or redevelopment
- racial, sexual or other harassment
- underoccupying much-needed Lewisham Council family housing.
In order to achieve this, the Council uses a banding system.
The banding system is used to work out your own or your household’s particular rehousing needs. It is based on 18 reasons for rehousing, which are set out in order of urgency and divided into 4 priority bands (and a non-priority band). Some rehousing reasons appear in more than one band, recognising that there are different degrees of urgency.
Full details are in the Allocations Scheme, Section 2.2.
Under the banding system, each application is placed in the highest band the applicant is entitled to. The length of time you are in need is important. If you have been in a particular band for a long time you will be considered before someone who has been in that same band for a shorter time.
The system takes multiple needs into account. If you have more than one need in the band you are in, you are given a higher priority than someone who has only one need in that band.
All the partners in the choice-based lettings scheme, and Lewisham Homesearch use the same banding system.