The Housing Allocation Policy Explained

For up to date information on how to apply to the housing register, please visit West Northamptonshire Council here

How Allocations are made up to February 28th 2024:

When you apply for housing with us, your application is assessed according to West Northamptonshire Council's Allocation Policy.

The policy explains the full criteria for applying for housing with us.  

Below is helpful information on the key terms within the policy.

Unacceptable behaviour

You or a member of your family in your application can be refused an offer of accommodation on the grounds of unacceptable behaviour.

Unacceptable behaviour includes:

  • housing related debt. This includes when your or a family member has not kept to the terms of an agreed repayment plan
  • a conviction for illegal or immoral purposes
  • caused nuisance or annoyance to neighbours or visitors
  • being found guilty of committing certain criminal offences in or near the home
  • posing a threat to neighbours or the community
  • past violence towards a partner or members of your family
  • not looking after your property
  • falsifying information to obtain a tenancy
  • paying money illegally to obtain a tenancy
  • committing housing or welfare benefit fraud
  • being a perpetrator of domestic abuse
  • committing acts of violence or aggression towards staff.

Housing related debt

Eligible applicants with housing related debt will usually be awarded reduced priority. The reduced priority will usually apply until the applicant has cleared the debt in full.

The Council will only consider housing related debt accrued within the last six years.

Making regular payments

If you owe 2 or more weeks’ worth of housing rent you will be refused an offer of accommodation. You will need to show that you are paying off the debt.

Once the debt has been reduced to 2 weeks or less, and you are making regular payments, you may be offered accommodation. There are some exceptional circumstances explained below.

Reasonable preference categories

The law, as it applies to local housing authorities, requires that reasonable preference for housing must be given to those in the categories set out in the Housing Act 1996 (as amended). However, factors such as the financial resources available to an applicant will determine the priority awarded. The statutory reasonable preference categories are people:

  • who are homeless as defined in Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996;
  • who are owed a particular statutory duty by any local housing authority under certain provisions of homelessness legislation;
  • occupying unsanitary, overcrowded or otherwise unsatisfactory housing;
  • who need to move on medical or welfare grounds (including grounds relating to a disability); and
  • who need to move to a particular locality within the district to avoid hardship to themselves or others

Community contribution

A community contribution is when you play a part in making your neighbourhood a good place to live, work and play. The Council's Community Contribution Priority Scheme gives an applicant increased priority, in addition to any other Reasonable Preference they are entitled to because of housing need. 

If you are already in Band A or B you will receive 1 multiple needs star. 

You can request a Community Contribution award, regardless of which social landlord you originally registered with. This award will also be used to prioritise applicants without Reasonable Preference, who want to move. 

Please note: If you are making a community contribution but have no housing need or are not in a reasonable preference category you will not be able to join the Housing Register. 

Am I eligible for a Volunteering Star?

The criterion for a Volunteering Star is: 

  • The applicant or joint applicant must have been volunteering for a continuous period of at least 6 months up to the point of application, and the same at point of offer
  • Volunteering must be for a not-for profit organisation or a charity and must be for a minimum of 10 hours per month

Evidence required for voluntary work

A letter will be required from the manager of the organisation you volunteer with, confirming your involvement. This person must not be related to you in any way.

Medical and welfare needs

Reasonable preference on the housing register should be given to applicants who have a need to move on medical or welfare grounds (Housing Act 1996). This category includes an applicant, or member of the applicant’s household, whose health is being affected by their current property. It will need to be shown that another move to a suitable property should help their condition or make it easier to manage.

Medical and welfare needs

Applicants applying to the Housing Register on medical or welfare grounds will need to demonstrate how their health or situation is affected by the current accommodation and how a move to alternative accommodation would make it significantly easier to manage.

A severe medical or welfare award where it can be demonstrated that it is unacceptable to remain in your current accommodation, or;

A moderate medical or welfare award where it can be demonstrated that you find living in your current home difficult and a move to alternative accommodation would be beneficial.

The award given will determine the banding priority. Where two or more members of a household qualify for a medical or welfare award, the highest priority will be awarded.

Medical and welfare awards will be reviewed periodically to ensure the award is still appropriate.