FAQs

In relation to the proposed changes, please review the consultation documents and let us know your thoughts. At the point the new policy goes live, you will not need to reapply.

Your current application remains live and you can continue to bid on properties as you have been doing until now.

The Council is required to review its Housing Allocations Policy regularly to ensure it meets legal requirements, reflects local housing need and operates fairly and transparently. The consultation provides residents and applicants with an opportunity to comment on proposed changes before the policy is finalised.

No. There is no right of complaint about proposals that are still being consulted on. However, you can and should tell us what you do not like and why through the consultation survey. Your feedback will help inform the final version of the policy.

No - housing will be allocated in line with the existing policy until the new policy comes into effect. The "go live" date will be communicated in advance and will not affect any allocations which have been made.

Like most housing registers, in East Herts there are more people on the housing register than there are homes available. This means that depending on your points, the type and location of properties you are bidding on and the type and size of your household, it is possible you could face waiting for a considerable time before you successfully bid. Due to demand outstripping supply, some applicants may never be made an offer of social housing.

It is possible there may be some change, but we expect this to be minimal for most applicants.  The current points system already prioritises the same groups prioritised under the proposed banding system but it will be clearer to applicants what priority their application has in terms of the whole register.

No, we are not proposing any changes to the bedroom entitlement criteria

The current points used for medical priority are to be transferred into the corresponding bands.   The only difference is for applicants who do not live in East Herts who are currently on the housing register.   For these applicants their priority band will be Band 4, regardless of their medical need.  This is because as a resident of another area they are owed housing duties by the area they live in and prioritising applications from those without a local connection is not fair to residents of East Herts who are unable to join other housing registers.

No - the policy will work alongside any s106 criteria. For some properties, there are restrictions in place which mean that homes are prioritised for local people. This means that when the Council nominates someone to a Registered Provider, it will be the highest banded applicant with a local connection to that area. This does sometimes mean that where someone has a local connection to a village, they are successful in their bid for the property against other applicants with a higher priority banding but without a local connection.

The consultation outlines the types of local connection needed to join the register (for example, residence, employment, or close family links) and sets out any exceptions, such as for people fleeing domestic abuse. Please review the proposed criteria carefully and share your views

Yes. Your application will continue as normal under the current policy until the new policy is approved, and a go-live date is confirmed. You should continue to place bids each week if you are eligible.

The homelessness legislation remains unchanged. If you are owed a statutory homelessness duty, we will continue to support you in line with legal requirements. However, your housing register application will still need to be reassessed under the new allocations policy when it goes live, so please take part in the consultation.

All current applicants will be written to before the new policy goes live. The communication will explain the policy changes, the date the new system will start, and what you need to do.

The new policy is expected to be approved in Autumn 2026 and implemented early 2027. Applicants will receive advance notice of the exact date.

You can apply to join the register now - your application will be assessed in line with the existing policy.

You must continue to report changes in circumstances as usual. We will reassess your application under the current policy until the new policy is implemented.