How your priority for social housing is decided

Your application for the housing register is prioritised using a banding system. Your banding confirms where you are on the waiting list.

You will be banded for priority using:

• decisions about who we legally must give priority to
• local policies including supporting vulnerable Redbridge residents

Find out about our priority banding system

We have 4 bandings. Band 1 is the highest priority. Band 4 is the lowest priority.

Band	Description	Examples of who could be in this banding
1 - Emergency	The need to move is very urgent, for example there is a strict time limit. Only a small number of people on the waiting list are in band 1.	Someone living in a property that will be demolished within 3 months because of a regeneration scheme
2 - Urgent	The need to move is urgent. People in this band will be experiencing serious difficulties in their current housing.	Redbridge care leaver who is ready to leave care and has been nominated by the Council Someone in the most urgent medical priority group
3 - Priority	There is a medium level of need to move.	Someone owed a homelessness duty by Redbridge Council  and living in temporary accommodation Someone living in an overcrowded property (not temporary accommodation)
4 - Reduced Priority	People in this band have either: no housing need but are allowed to join the waiting list a housing need but has not lived in Redbridge for at least 5 years	Someone who has applied for sheltered accommodation only and who does not have a housing need

How we assess overcrowded accommodation

You will be assessed as living in an overcrowded property based on:

• how many bedrooms you have
• how many bedrooms we decide you need

Generally, we count the following as 1 bedroom:

• a studio or a property with 1 combined sleeping and living room
• a bedroom in a shared house
• a living room that could be used as a bedroom

How your priority banding is decided

Your priority banding is based on:

• whether you are in a group we must prioritise
• which band we think you should be in based on your priority

You will usually be in band 3 if you are homeless, have a need to move on medical grounds or your home is overcrowded,

If you have more than 1 priority need

You will be put in the highest band for your circumstances if you have more than 1 priority need.

For example, you will usually be in band 3 if you have a moderate medical condition and are in temporary accommodation.

Find out more about how we assess housing priority, in our Housing Allocation Policy (PDF 330KB).