Apply for social housing

You can join the housing register if you:

• are 16 years old or over
• are considered suitable to be a tenant
• are not living in temporary accommodation in Redbridge provided by another council housing department
• have lived in Redbridge for 5 years or more when you make your application to us
• have a housing need or reasonable preference

This does not apply if you are:

• currently a serving member of the armed forces or have left the armed forces in the last 5 years
• applying for sheltered housing only; or if you have been placed by us in temporary accommodation outside of Redbridge

You may not be able to join the housing register if you:

• have no access to public funds
• are a European national who is not currently working
• are a British citizen who has returned to the UK after living abroad for more than 2 years

For full details about how we decide if you can join the Housing Register, view the Housing Allocation Policy (PDF 317KB)

To apply to join the housing waiting list, you must complete an online application form. Before starting your online application, please carefully read our guide to online registration (PDF 270KB)

Complete your housing application 

After registration

Once you have submitted your application, you will need to provide documents to confirm your circumstances within 7 days.

View the list for what you need to provide as evidence (PDF 35KB)

Bring your documents to the:

The Redbridge Customer Centre, Ground Floor, Lynton House, 255-259 High Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 1NY

The centre is open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 4pm and 1pm to 4pm on Wednesdays. 

Time to process the application

We will aim to complete the assessment of your application within 28 days. You may be contacted to provide further information about your circumstances. If you are successful with your registration, you will then be entitled to bid for a property based on your priority level. 

Once you have been accepted onto the housing register, you can bid for any suitable properties that are advertised.

Updating your details on the housing waiting list 

Each year you will have to update your application details to remain on the housing waiting list.  If you do not, your application to remain on the waiting list will be cancelled.

Change of circumstances

If there is change in your household circumstances please update your housing application, if you don't you could end up waiting longer for an offer on a property.

update your housing application