Step 3: Eligibility to join the housing register

There are certain reasons you may not be eligible to be included on the housing register. Some examples are shown below.

Adequately housed

If you are residing in a property that meets your household size, you will be deemed to be adequately housed. 

Different examples of what different households are eligible for are shown below.

• Single person
  • Studio flat
  • 1 bedroom flat
  • 1 bedroom cottage
• Couple 
  • 1 bedroom flat
  • 1 bedroom cottage
• Single person or couple with live-in carer. You must provide proof your carer currently resides with you and proof you need care overnight. 
  • 2 bedroom flat
  • 2 bedroom cottage
  • 2 bedroom house (only if you are a transfer applicant)
• Parent/couple with one child
  • 2 bedroom flat
  • 2 bedroom maisonette
  • 2 bedroom cottage
  • 2 bedroom house (only if you are a transfer applicant)
• Parent/couple with two children of different sex (eldest under ten years)
  • 2 bedroom flat
  • 2 bedroom maisonette 
  • 2 bedroom cottage 
  • 2 bedroom house (only if you are a transfer applicant)
• Parent/couple with two children of the same sex (under the age of 21 years)
  •  2 bedroom flat
  • 2 bedroom maisonette 
  • 2 bedroom cottage 
  • 2 bedroom house (only if you are a transfer applicant) 
• Parent/couple with two children of different sex (eldest ten years or over)
  • 3 bedroom flat
  • 3 bedroom maisonette
  • 3 bedroom house
• Parent/couple with two children of the same sex (eldest 21 years or over)
  • 3 bedroom flat
  • 3 bedroom maisonette
  • 3 bedroom house
• Parent/couple with three or four children (eldest under 21 years)
  • 3 bedroom flat
  • 3 bedroom maisonette
  • 3 bedroom house 
• Parent/couple with four children (eldest 21 years or over) or five children
  • 4 bedroom house
• Parent/couple with five children (eldest 21 years of over)
  • 4 or 5 bedroom house. 
• Parent/couple with more than five children     
  • 5+ bedroom house. 

Given the low supply of larger homes and vacancies being rare, applicants may, with the households agreement , be considered for smaller than their bedroom entitlement so long as this does not make them overcrowded by 2+ rooms.

For larger property sizes of more than 4 bedrooms, we will consider all members of the household. Unless there is a medical or welfare need, we will not be able to consider occupants over 25 years of age. They will be required to submit an application for housing on their own, if eligible.

Housing related debt

If the applicant/s have any current or former housing related debt owed to a council, housing association or private landlord rent arrears, they will be excluded from the allocation policy.

Barred from the housing register

Those that have been evicted from a council-owned property for anti-social behaviour and/or for rent arrears will be barred from the housing register. Before you are eligible to re-join the housing register, all current and former debts must be cleared in full.  

An appeal must be submitted by email to housing@swindon.gov.uk. This can be made through an advocate if you wish.

Your request for a review will only be considered if you can provide:

• reference from your host, parent, resident landlord or other family member where you are currently living to provide evidence that you are able to sustain a tenancy. Your landlord must supply an up to date rent account statement. 
• any exceptional circumstances you feel we should take into consideration

Homeowner

If you are a homeowner, you will be unable to join. However, if you are aged 60 years or over and meet the local connection criteria, you can request a move to a sheltered accommodation flat. 

Sufficient income or savings

If your household has an annual income of more than the maximum amount for its household, or have more than £16,000 in assets or savings, you will be ineligible. 

• Bedsit or studio and one bedroom (single applicant) - £30,000
• One bedroom (joint applicants) - £40,000
• Two bedrooms (all over 18 years) - £50,000
• Three or more bedrooms (all over 18 years) - £60,000

Immigration status

You will be ineligible to qualify for the housing register if:

• you are not eligible for an allocation of housing and/or 
• you are not entitled to recourse to public funds due to your immigration status

The housing allocation policy cannot give full details of who is eligible and who is not as immigration law can change rapidly. Swindon will give effect to the law as it stands at any material time. You are advised to obtain independent legal advice should you be unsure as to your immigration status.

Applicants not bidding

If applicants have not placed a bid within 12 months, this can affect the following bands:

• Band A: Bids will be placed on their behalf to the next available property that is deemed as a reasonable offer. If the property is refused and deemed a reasonable offer of accommodation, then the application will be cancelled and/or homeless duty will be discharged. This will be with the exception of existing tenants, who are wishing to downsize, who will be downgraded to a lesser priority band after a period of 18 months without a successful bid.
• Band B: Your application will be cancelled. If accommodated by our Homeless team, you will be made a direct offer, as outlined in the housing allocation policy.

Refusal of reasonable offer of accommodation

Where an applicant refuses two reasonable offers of accommodation, the application will be suspended for 12 months.  

Please note: You will be advised in full detail in your eligibility letter as to why you are ineligible for our housing register in accordance with our housing allocation policy.