We can't offer a home to everybody who applies and only applicants with high levels of identified housing need will be accepted onto the housing register.
Please review the below examples of who should not apply to join the housing register. If any of these examples apply to you, you should not proceed with making an application.
I am going to be homeless soon. When will I get a council property?
Joining the housing register is not a suitable solution for your current situation and will not help you with your immediate homelessness.
Get support if you are experiencing homelessness or soon will be.
I am applying as a single person or couple without dependent children. Will I qualify to join the housing register?
If you are a single person or a couple without children, you are unlikely to qualify to join the housing register unless you:
- are a current council or housing association tenant looking to move to a smaller property
- have a moderate or severe medical condition and the condition of your home directly contributes to your serious ill-health
- are 60 years of age or older and want to apply for Sheltered Housing.
Why don't I meet the 'residency criteria' and what does this mean?
You must have been resident in this borough for a total of 5 out of the last 7 years and a resident in the borough at the time you make an application.
Or you must have lived in this borough, through your own choice, for a minimum of 5 years up to and including the date of your application, or the date on which a decision is made on your application, whichever is later.
I meet the residency criteria, but my partner does not. What does that mean?
Your partner must also have been a resident in this borough for a total of 5 out of the last 7 years and a resident in the borough at the time you make an application.
Or they must have lived in this borough, through their own choice, for a minimum of 5 years up to and including the date of your application, or the date on which a decision is made on your application, whichever is later.
I have been informed that I am adequately housed. What does this mean?
This means the size of your current accommodation is not deemed unsuitable for you or your household. For example, you need a 2-bedroom property and you are currently living in a 2-bedroom property.
You may want to consider other housing options, for example, within the private rented sector. For information about housing within the private rented sector visit the finding a home page.
I don't think my accommodation is adequate as I have some disrepair issues, so I want to be moved to alternative accommodation.
Disrepair issues within your current property is not an eligible reason to join the housing register.
If you have an issue with damp or your property needs repairs, you should contact your current landlord to resolve these issues.
If there is no resolution provided by your landlord, then you should report these issues to the Environmental Health team by calling 020 8753 1081.
I have a medical issue and have submitted the medical priority application form, but I have not been placed on the housing register. Why is this?
We recognise many people have health issues and their housing can affect this. However, many of these issues, in the case of applying for medical priority, are not viewed as a priority.
Upon consideration of your medical priority application, it has been concluded that your medical issues are not severely impacted by your current housing and as such do not qualify to join the housing register.
I am pregnant. I am not overcrowded now, but will be once my baby is born. Why don't I qualify?
We are only able to consider your current circumstances at the time you applied to join the housing register.
As your current accommodation is not currently overcrowded, you do not qualify to join the housing register. You are able to apply once your child is born and if, as a result, your accommodation is overcrowded.
You should also consider other housing options, for example, within the private rented sector. For information about housing within the private rented sector, visit the finding a home page.
I am pregnant and live with my partner's parents who have asked me to leave. Does this mean I will qualify for the housing register?
We are only able to consider your current circumstances at the time you apply to join the housing register. As such you will not qualify to join the housing register.
You are able to apply once your child is born.
You should also consider other housing options, for example, within the private rented sector. For information about housing within the private rented sector, visit the finding a home page.
I, or my household, earn a combined income above the threshold. Why don't I qualify?
Due to a severe shortage of social housing in the borough, we can't offer a home to everybody who applies for housing.
Only applicants with high levels of identified housing need will be accepted onto the housing register. For information about housing within the private rented sector, visit the finding a home page.
I own property elsewhere, but I live in Hammersmith for work. Why don't I qualify?
Due to a severe shortage of social housing in the borough, we can't offer a home to everybody who applies for housing.
Only applicants with high levels of identified housing need will be accepted onto the housing register. As you or any other adults on your application own or part-own property elsewhere, you will not qualify for the housing register.
I've lived in the borough for more than 5 years, but my husband or wife does not have eligible residency status in the UK. Does that affect my application?
Council housing is a public resource. As your spouse is considered the secondary applicant to your application and is not eligible to access public resources due to their immigration status, you will not qualify to join the housing register.
My spouse is subject to immigration control. Should I not put them on my application?
You must sign a declaration after completing your application to confirm that all you have stated is true.
This means you must describe your circumstances as they are. So if your husband or wife is to live with you, then they must be mentioned on the application.
As your spouse or partner is considered the secondary applicant to your application and is not eligible to access public resources due to their immigration status, you will not qualify to join the housing register.
I do not have eligible residency status in the UK. Can I join the housing register?
Council housing is a public resource and to be eligible for an allocation of social housing, you must qualify for public funds.
If you are not eligible to access public resources due to your immigration status, you will not qualify to join the housing register.
Unacceptable behaviour
If your behaviour makes you unsuitable to be a tenant, you will not qualify for the housing register.
Such behaviour includes:
- persistent failure to pay rent, service charges or both
- anti-social behaviour which has caused a nuisance by the applicant or a member of his or her household
- illegal or immoral behaviour
- threats of and or actual violence
- racial harassment
- obtaining a tenancy by deception, an attempt at tenancy fraud or both
- transfer applicants who have breached the terms of their tenancy by not looking after their home and have caused damage.