Council housing: who can apply and how allocation works

Council housing, i.e. social housing, is an option for people who cannot afford to rent from a private landlord. Here is a reminder of how applying for such a home works. We have based this on a guide from the Polish Express website dated 19 October 2026 and on information from the government's GOV.UK service.

Who can apply

You submit your application to your local council. According to Polish Express, people who can apply for housing include those who are homeless, those who cannot afford private renting, those whose health has worsened because of poor housing conditions, and those who have lived for years in cramped accommodation or shared it with many other occupants.

Applicants must be at least 18, although some councils accept applications from the age of 16. According to GOV.UK, you can sometimes apply even if you do not live in the area of the council in question. However, each council has its own rules.

Waiting list and points

People who apply are placed on a waiting list. Councils decide who to offer a home to on the basis of a points system or categories (banding) that takes housing needs into account. The higher you are on the list, the greater the chance that the council will contact you. You can sometimes wait a long time for an allocation, and there is no guarantee that you will receive one.

When the council makes an offer, there is usually little time to decide. After a refusal, the applicant usually stays on the list (they may also bid for other properties if the council uses a choice-based lettings system), but they often drop down the list. If you repeatedly turn down offers, you may be removed from the list, although you have the right to appeal.

Types of tenancy

• Introductory tenancy – for new tenants, usually for 12 months, as a probationary period. After that, the tenant moves on to a secure or flexible tenancy. During this time they cannot, for example, apply for Right to Buy or swap homes.
• Secure tenancy – in theory open-ended, as long as the tenant keeps to the terms of the agreement. It allows, among other things, subletting rooms (not the whole property) and buying the home under Right to Buy.
• Flexible tenancy – a fixed-term agreement, usually of at least 5 years, although it can be from 2 to 5 years. At the end, the council may offer another fixed-term or a secure tenancy, or it may decide not to renew it, but it must give reasons.
• Joint tenancy – all tenants share equal responsibility; married couples and people in a civil partnership can apply for one.

Ending a tenancy and repairs

A tenancy ends when the tenant gives the council four weeks' notice in writing, when the council carries out an eviction, or when it has to move the tenant, for example because of building renovation work.

Both parties are responsible for repairs. The tenant deals with minor matters, such as putting up a curtain rail, replacing lost keys or repairing damage caused by themselves or their guests. The council is responsible for the condition of the walls, ceiling, roof and windows, for the gas and electrical installations being in working order, and for the communal areas.

What this means for you

Each council sets its own allocation rules, so before you apply it is worth checking the requirements on your local council's website. They may relate, for example, to how long you have lived in the borough or to your immigration status. For example, Waltham Forest council requires at least 5 years' residence in the borough and legal residence in the UK with recourse to public funds, and it asks about immigration status on its form. The Polish source does not discuss residence status, so people with limited rights should seek advice before applying.