Government calls for views on revising social housing allocations guidance

In a letter Becky Perks, Deputy Director of Local Authority Housing, Right to Buy and Social Housing Allocations, said the aim is to ensure the guidance “supports wider social housing and homelessness objectives, while preserving local authority discretion to design schemes within the existing legal framework”.

The review is to focus on four priorities:

• improving access for vulnerable and homeless households;
• making the best use of available homes;
• strengthening cooperation between local authorities and registered providers and;
• consolidating the guidance into a clearer, more usable document.

Perks noted that the current statutory guidance on social housing allocations for local housing authorities in England was first published in 2012 and has since been updated in targeted ways.

“This review will update and consolidate the guidance so it is clearer, more current and more useful for local authorities, registered providers and applicants,” she wrote.

The review will consider qualification rules for social housing and how allocation schemes are framed and managed, Perks said.

The MHCLG is seeking input from local authorities, registered providers of social housing, representative bodies, charities, academics, tenant and resident groups, and others with experience of the allocations system, with an emphasis on:

• allocation policies or practices that are working well;
• barriers that prevent households in need from accessing social housing;
• the impact of qualification criteria, including local connection, affordability, debt and anti-social behaviour criteria;
• how allocation schemes affect households experiencing homelessness, living in temporary accommodation or facing other acute housing pressures;
• the experiences of the armed forces community;
• the experiences of victims of domestic abuse, care leavers and other vulnerable groups;
• nomination agreements and joint working between local authorities and registered providers;
• housing registers, allocations models and how accessibility needs are considered;
• data use and transparency; and
• how the guidance could be made clearer (including consolidating guidance), areas that are not covered, areas that could be expanded or areas that are unclear or outdated.

Those interested in providing input are encouraged to submit evidence by 2 October 2026, before an official consultation on updated guidance due in early 2027.

Harry Rodd