Property Pool Plus

After completing an application and providing supporting documents, applications are reviewed by the team and customers are then placed into a Band based on their priority. This can take up to 40 days and customers cannot make bids on properties until this is done.  A bid is an expression of interest in a vacant property being advertised. Applicants will only be considered for properties if they actively bid. This is where Property Pool Plus is different from traditional waiting lists where you apply and wait to receive an offer. 

If a customer misses any documentation, they will be contacted to provide it, and the 40 day timeframe will start again.

Customer will be placed into either band A, B, C, or D.

Band A

Applications are put in this band when rehousing is urgently needed this is called Additional Preference and includes:

• The applicant is homeless and in situations when councils must help.  
• There is a risk to life.
• Sudden loss of home because of a disaster.
• Overcrowded by two or more bedrooms.
• Under occupying social rented housing by two or more bedrooms.
• Life threatening or terminal medical issue.
• Leaving a stay in hospital.
• Local Council Care Leavers.
• Local Council approved Foster Carers who need to move to a larger home.
• Armed Forces with a housing need.
• Bereaved partners of Armed Forces personnel who need to leave accommodation that is only for those who work in the Armed Services.
• When the applicant’s current home is needed for Regeneration, Compulsory Purchase Order, Local Council approved decant.
• Housing First programme which gives support and housing to those who are homeless or with health and care needs.

Band B

Applications are put in this band when rehousing is needed this is called Reasonable Preference and includes:

• When an applicant is Homeless for other reasons than included in Band A.
• Stopping people becoming homeless.
• When people are living in unhealthy housing.
• Overcrowded by one bedroom.
• Under occupying social rented housing by one bedroom.
• Medical or welfare reasons.
• Hardship.

Band C

Other applicants who do not meet the criteria for Bands A or B this is called the General Band.

Band D

Applicants who have refused an allocation of social rented housing the maximum number of times. This includes applicants who have not put a bid on a suitable property on more than three times in 12-months.

Allocation document 

You can read more about allocation in the document below.