Housing options

To assess an application for the housing register, we require the following supporting information:

Evidence of local connection

To verify your local connection, you will need to provide a complete five-year address history. Please include the following for each address:

• Full postal address
• Dates of residency (moved in and out DD/MM/YY)
• Tenure (owned, rented, staying with family/friends)
• Reasons for leaving

The full name, address, and relationship to the applicant of all immediate family members (parent/brother/sister/child over the age of 18) who live in the borough and have done so verifiably over the past five years if there is an exceptional need to move to give or receive care that could not otherwise be provided. Please provide the following for each person:

• Full name
• Relationship to the applicant
• Full postal address
• Dates of residency (DD/MM/YY)
• Detailed summary of care provided/required

Please note that an exceptional need to move, to give or receive essential care that cannot otherwise be provided, must be evidenced with supporting documentation.

For those serving or previously serving in the Regular Armed Forces within the last 5 years, provide written confirmation of current standing from the Armed Forces.

Any ‘exceptional circumstances’ are considered on a case-by-case basis, provide as much supporting evidence as possible. For further information on exceptional circumstance, see the housing allocation scheme.

Proof of ID

• Current full or provisional UK driving licence (must contain current address).
• Current UK or foreign signed passport or for EEA nationals, a national identity card.
• Birth certificate (for children this should be the full copy that names the parent/s preferably).
• Current armed force’s identity card.

Proof of address

Submit proof of address for every person over the age of 18 listed on the application. Acceptable documents include:

• Utility bills
• Phone bills
• GP registration cards

Please note that documents such as bank or universal credit statements cannot be used as proof of address, as the address can be amended online at any time.

Proof of eligibility (if applicable): 

We need the following for anyone subject to immigration control (unless they are in an exempt group), are not habitually resident in Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands, or because of their right of residence under European Union Law:

EU or EEA nationals only

• A residence permit, registration, certificate, or documentation issued by the Home Office and indicating a permanent right of residence in the UK.
• All documents from the Home Office confirming Settled Status or Pre-Settled Status if this has been granted, including the pin number to access the applicant’s status online.
• A passport or national identity card showing that the applicant is a national of the European Economic Area or Switzerland.

Other persons from abroad

• Biometric immigration document or share code,  issued by the UK Border Agency to the holder that indicates the person named in it is allowed to stay indefinitely or has no time limit on their stay in the United Kingdom

Immigration status documentation

• An Immigration Status Document issued by the Home Office, Border and Immigration Agency or UK Border Agency to the holder with an endorsement indicating that the person named in it is allowed to stay indefinitely or has no time limit on their stay in the United Kingdom, or no restriction on claiming benefits
• Certificate of naturalisation or registration as a British Citizen
• A passport or other travel document stamped or containing a visa to show that the holder is exempt from immigration control, is allowed to stay indefinitely, has the right to live in the United Kingdom, or has no time limit on their stay in the United Kingdom or restrictions on claiming benefit
• Any letter or certificate indicating a time limited right of entry
• Referral letter from NASS for former asylum seekers

Proof of pregnancy

• Submit both sides of the MATB1 certificate

Proof of income

We require the applicable information for every person listed on the application who is over the age of 18 (or 16 if no longer in education):

• Benefit entitlement letters
• Two full copies of the applicants Universal Credit statements
• Payslips covering the last two months or eight weeks
• Proof of private pensions
• Self-employment documents for all applicants over 18

Proof of child benefit

Provide child benefit award letters or Certificates of Entitlement from HMRC, naming all children on the application. To do this please visit: http://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-proof

Evidence should be dated within the last 3 months and must evidence who the child benefit is being paid to and for which children. 

Bank statements and proof of savings

We require two months of up-to-date bank statements for every account held by each household member over 18, including accounts held in other people’s names, such as children’s accounts held by their parents.

Please note screenshots are not accepted, we require the transaction lists in a full statement format.

Notice to leave

• Renters must provide a Form 6, Possession order or warrant of eviction.
• If living with family and friends, a singed and dated letter from the excluder explaining the situation and why they are asking you to leave. This must contain the excluders name, full address, contact number and email address.
• If you are a homeowner, please provide mortgage repossession paperwork.

Homeowners

• If you have previously or currently own/part own a property anywhere in the world, we require proof of ownership. This could be a mortgage statement or land registry. If the property is on the market, we also require a recent valuation.
• If the property you own is not available to you, we require evidence of this, if the property is rented, a copy of the tenancy agreement you issued to your tenants.
• If you do not currently own a property, but have owned one or more in the last seven years, we require a full completion statement for each property.

Additional Information

Applicants may provide any additional supporting information from relevant professionals where appropriate, to demonstrate housing need and any other circumstances that you would like us to consider:

Medical evidence 

• If a member of the household suffers from a medical condition. This would be a detailed letter from a medical professional that confirms the diagnosed conditions, how they are being treated and how the current accommodation is affecting the conditions.
• If a member of the household has a physical disability, which is being affected by their current accommodation, we require a Housing Needs Assessment (HNA).

Please note that GP verification alone will not be sufficient to evidence a high priority/exceptional need. We would require independent verification from a Hospital Consultant, or other health professional.

At risk

If you feel your household is at risk at your current address due to violence, threats of violence and or harassment, please provide one or more of the following:

• Crime reference numbers
• Supporting letters from organisations supporting you
• Confirmation of that your current housing provider has agreed a management move (if applicable)
• Court paperwork

If you have questions, please contact us through the "Send us a message about your current Housing Register Application" available on your portal.