Once you are on the Housing Register, and have had your housing needs assessment, you will be allocated a priority band and bedroom category.
It takes around four weeks to register a new application for housing
Priority Bandings
Once you have been assessed, you will be put into one of four priority bandings. Using a banding scheme to allocate properties gives those with the greatest need highest priority. Section 6 of our Allocations Policy shows how we apply the bands.
The bandings are as follows:
- Band A – for households with an urgent need to move.
- Band B – for households with a high priority to move.
- Band C – for households with an identified housing need.
- Band D – for households with no other housing need but interested in affordable social housing and Homebuy.
Bedroom Category
You will also be put into an appropriate bedroom category. The type and size of the property you are allocated depends on the size and make-up of your family. Section 5 of our Allocations Policy explains the different categories and who is eligible for each.
Medical and mobility needs – Medical Priority Banding
Applicants who have an illness or disability which is affected by their current housing situation, or who may be vulnerable on physical or mental health grounds and in need of settled accommodation should complete the ‘Medical Assessment’ section of the Housing Application form.
If someone in your household has an illness or disability, they can complete their own medical assessment form, to accompany your application.
The Housing Options Team considers this form, together with any relevant information from the General Practitioner, Hospital Consultant, or Occupational Therapist as appropriate.
Assessments are made of the effect of present accommodation on the state of health of the applicant or anyone in the household who is to be re-housed with them.
We will consider whether the overall effect of the housing situation on the household or any member of the household is sufficiently severe to warrant inclusion in a higher Band.
More information about medical priority can be found in section 6 of our Allocations Policy
Under the applicants making a contribution to their community may be given priority for some homes if they are working, in training, volunteering or have a good, social tenancy history. Please download, complete and return the Community Contribution Form if you think you qualify for this.
Parish Lettings Policy
The Parish Lettings Policy has changed under the new Allocations Policy. If you have a local connection to a rural parish and wish to be considered for housing in a rural parish, please complete and return Parish Local Connection Form for each Parish you have a local connection to.
What happens when your registration is complete
Once we have assessed your housing need and allocated a priority band and bedroom category, we will write to you. We will provide you with the following information:
- Registration date
- Registration (homemove) number
- Your priority band and reason for allocation
- The priority date (the date the application is received, or for homeless applicants, the date the Council accepts a duty to re-house.)
- The minimum and maximum bedroom size you can bid for
- Your mobility group (physical disability level), if applicable
Bidding for Homes – Sussex Homemove
Once you have the information above, you can begin bidding for homes through Sussex Homemove.