Haringey Council is changing the way it decides how it homes should be given out, to give places fairly and to those in greatest need.
On January 21, 2025 , its cabinet agreed to launch a consultation on a new housing allocations policy, which includes changes called for by residents.
Under the proposals, higher priority would be given to young families over those with adult non-dependent children, reflecting the outcome of workshops with applicants to help shape the revised scheme.
One group – Band B – would be renamed ‘High Priority’ and split into two, with a higher priority for those with dependent children and young people aged 22 and below, as well as those who receive or give significant care.
The council also wants to support residents to move into new, suitable council homes as quickly as possible by introducing auto-bidding for those who are near the top of the housing register but have not bid for a new home directly themselves.
Other recommendations include releasing more family homes by boosting the priority of under-occupiers who decide to move to a smaller property.
Councillor Sarah Williams, deputy leader and cabinet member for housing and planning, said: “We are responding to a worsening housing crisis that has led to record homelessness applications and a waiting list for a council home reaching more than 13,000.
“While we have one of the biggest housebuilding efforts in London, delivering hundreds of new social homes each year, we must ensure these as well as our existing stock are allocated fairly and to those who need them most.”
The cabinet report states there are more than 13,000 households on Haringey’s housing register, but only 300 general needs re-lets available each year.
As part of the consultation, the council is seeking views on several key issues, including maximum income and savings limits for applicants, the Neighbourhood Moves Scheme, and reserving a proportion of lets for those in High Priority and/or temporary accommodation.
The full list of changes and recommendations can be found in the cabinet report at haringey.gov.uk.
The consultation is expected to launch in the spring and last for six weeks.
