Step 3: Eligibility to join the housing register

Barred from the housing register

Applicants can be excluded (barred) from the housing register under the Housing Act 1996 and the Localism Act 2011. There are many reasons for being barred from our register, which includes the following: 

• Anti-social behaviour
  • Any applicant or member of their household that have caused anti-social behaviour or participated in criminal activities. Those currently serving in prison will be unable to remain on the housing register.
• Debt and arrears 
  • Applicants that have a housing debt to us, any other local authority, housing association and private landlord. This can also include any recharges for damaged or poor conditioned properties. 
• Poor property condition 
  • Applicants that have not kept their home in a satisfactory condition will be ineligible to join until the property is back to a good condition
• Refusal of a suitable offer
  • You can be removed from the housing register if a reasonable offer of accommodation is refused without just cause

All those barred from the housing register do have the right to appeal in accordance with the allocation policy. If you feel you meet the criteria to appeal, you will need to put this in writing to us with any relevant evidence supporting your appeal and send it to housing@swindon.gov.uk. 

We may request further evidence from you however, you will be advised if this is required. 

Keyworker accommodation

Where accommodation has been identified for keyworkers, they must be working in the Borough of Swindon in the public sector.

Although you may have been recognised as a keyworker by the government, you will need to match the criteria for a keyworker under the housing allocations policy.

Priority group

You must be employed and working within Swindon Borough boundaries.

• Police officers
• Fire fighters
• Ambulance drivers and/or paramedics
• Nurses and/or doctors
• Qualified occupational therapists
• Qualified social workers employed within Swindon Borough Council on a permanent full-time contract within adults and children services
• Qualified teachers
• Probation officers 

Non-priority group

Any defined non-priority keyworker that falls within the high rate tax bracket will not be considered to join the scheme.

A non-priority keyworker must have a permanent contract and be employed and working within the Swindon Borough in the public sector. The local connection criteria must be maintained for the duration of the application.

• NHS staff other than those in the priority group
• Police service civilian staff
• Fire service civilian staff
• Ministry of Defence staff
• Prison service staff
• Support workers in health and social care roles
• Nursery staff
• Teaching assistant
• Swindon Borough Council staff in a role that provides essential services to the public within the local community for example, environmental health

Right to review

In accordance to our Allocations Policy, an applicant has the right to request a review of a decision made in respect of their housing application, under the following reasons:

• A decision that you or anyone in your household are ineligible to join the housing register
• The banding awarded
• A decision that a refusal of an offer from SBC or Housing Association property was unreasonable or unsuitable
• The suspension, cancellation or removal of an application
• About any decision made on the facts of their housing application

Applicants wishing to review a decision must advise us in writing within 21 days of the decision date giving their reasons for doing so.

As evidence is taken in written form, it is very important that, when making the request for a review, the applicant, or someone acting on their behalf:

• brings to the Council’s attention any new information that they wish to have considered
• explains why they think the decision is wrong

This must be submitted to housing@swindon.gov.uk quoting the application number and under the heading Right to Review.

If no written representations are received, the matter will be decided on the facts already known.

We will review its original decision taking into account any representations and any other relevant facts. A senior officer, who has not been involved in the original decision, will review and respond to the applicant.

We will determine the review within 56 days. If there is a delay with the review decision, you will be advised in writing of the reason for the delay and a revised timescale.

If a review is undertaken and the original decision is overturned, the application will be re-assessed in line with this allocation policy.

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