housing lists question

[sotired1234]

I was reading a thread and asked a question but as it's a very long thread in the classics section I thought maybe it wouldn't get noticed so I'll ask it in chat too.

The poster in that thread had moved to a new area and said - "I added myself to open housing lists all over the UK".

Can anyone tell me how to do this please? I don't really know how housing lists work, I'm not on any list in my own area, it's one of those with high demand and no available places. I don't have a high priority need so would never get one.

I thought you had to have family or connection to the area to be able to apply for council housing in a different area? How do you find which areas have open lists?

Were they looking to buy through a housing association? That seems much more likely than renting. As you say, renting usually requires a local connection and the lists are usually ma y years long.

Buying (part buy, part rent) in my area seems to be different.

As far as I’m aware most areas will need you to have a local connection either by how long you’ve lived there, having family there or work there.

For example my daughter can apply for housing in the local
villages around where we live and around the town where she works. I’d imagine potentially she could even go on the list where her grandad lives as he would be a family connection and has lived there most of his life however she doesn’t want to move to that area so hasn’t.

She’s on the list but it’s unlikely she’ll get housed quick as she still has a room here but at 24 she’s desperate for her own place. Prices for a one bed are out of her reach even on a full time wage for private rental market and with no money in the family she hasn’t got a deposit for a house.

Some housing associations will take direct applications if they maintain their own waiting list and manage their own allocations - although the majority nowadays only accept nominations through the local authority. You’re correct that to join the local authority waiting list you need a direct connection or to have been resident in the area for a number of years.

Anybody can apply to my LA as we manage our own register however, if there is no local connection then you can not have a priority banding. You will remain on the lowest band.

Therefore, whilst you can in theory apply realistically you will never be housed

That's what I thought, thanks for replying.