Welcome to the Leicester City Council Housing Allocations Policy Manual

Updated 23 June 2023

Leicester City Council

Housing Allocations Policy

  Updated 23 June 2023 
INDEX 
 
Part 1   INTRODUCTION 
 
1  Introduction 
3  The Legal Framework 
7  Statement on Choice 
10  Equalities Statement 
11  Confidentiality Statement 
 
 
Part 2   THE HOUSING REGISTER 
 
1  Who Can Apply? 
2  Eligibility 
3  Qualifying Persons 
3.1  Age Qualification 
3.2  Leicester City Requirement 
3.3  Banding Priority Qualification 
4  Non Qualifying Persons 
4.1  Unacceptable Behaviour 
4.2  Financial Resources 
4.3  Owner-Occupiers 
4.4  False Statements or Withheld Information 
4.5  Deliberately Worsening Housing Circumstances 
 
 
Part 3   REGISTRATION AND ASSESSMENT 
 
1  How to Apply 
5  Who You Can Include on Your Application 
9  Bedroom Entitlement 
10  Size of Accommodation 
12  Downsizing Bedrooms 
16  Change in Circumstances 
19  Applications from People who have have Overnight Staying Access to 
  Children 
25  Applications from People in Prison 
 
 
Part 4   THE BANDING SCHEME 
 
1  The Banding Scheme 
9  Banding Scheme Summary 
13  People in need of urgent re-housing and referred by Adult Social Care or 
Children’s Services 
14  People in need of urgent re-housing whose properties are directly 
  affected by public redevelopment programmes 
15  Council and housing association tenants who are currently under-
occupying their home by 2 or more bedrooms or moving to 1 bedroom 
accommodation 

  Updated 23 June 2023 
4.16  Council and housing association tenants occupying a purpose built 
wheelchair adapted property who no longer require it 
4.17  People suffering from any form of harassment 
4.18  Council and housing association tenants who need to move for 
management reasons 
4.19  People whose current housing conditions are having a seriously adverse 
effect on the physical or mental health of either the applicant or a 
member of their household 
4.20  Children leaving the care of Leicester City Council’s Children’s Service 
4.21  People who are owed a statutory homeless duty under the Housing Act 
  1996 (Part VII) as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act and 
  meet additional criteria 
4.22  Tenants whose homes are assessed to be statutorily or critically 
  overcrowded 
4.23  People who are owed a statutory homeless duty under the Housing Act 
1996 (Part VII) as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 
homeless 
4.24  Tenants whose homes are deemed to be severely overcrowded (two 
bedrooms or more short of their assessed need) 
4.25  People living in designated temporary accommodation in the city 
4.26  Families who are overcrowded and living in one bedroom 
accommodation 
4.27  Council and housing association tenants who are currently under-
occupying a three bedroom property by one bedroom and need two 
bedrooms 
4.28  People ready to leave residential care supported by Leicester City 
Council and/or NHS 
4.29  People with a care package where Adult Social Care (LCC) assess that 
a move will assist independent living 
4.30  People whose current housing conditions are having a negative effect on 
the physical or mental health of the applicant or a member of their 
household 
4.31  People who have been assessed as living in insanitary or unsatisfactory 
accommodation 
4.32  People leaving the armed forces who have applied for housing within 5 
years of their discharge but do not have a home to return to 
4.33  People identified by Adult Social Care as ready to leave the care of 
family or carer 
4.34  Families needing to move to a particular area of Leicester where 
hardship would be caused if they do not move 
4.35  Tenants who are living in overcrowded conditions under Leicester City 
Council’s overcrowding standard (one bedroom short of their assessed 
need) 
4.36  Non-Tenants who are living in overcrowding conditions 
4.37  People over the age of 50 years requesting 1 bedroom sheltered 
accommodation only 
4.38  Working households or those in local training schemes who need to 
move closer to their job/training scheme 
  
 
Part 5   ALLOCATION CRITERIA 
 

  Updated 23 June 2023 
1  Allocation Criteria 
3  Houses and Maisonettes of any size 
4  2 and 3 Bedroom Flats 
5  Bedsits and 1 Bedroom Flats 
6  Ground Floor Bedroom Flats 
7  Sheltered Accommodation 
8  1 Bedroom Bungalows 
9  2 and 3 Bedroom Bungalows 
10  Age Designated Accommodation 
11  Adapted Accommodation 
12  Pet Restrictions 
 
 
Part 6   SUSPENSIONS, CANCELLATIONS & REVIEWS 
 
1  Suspensions 
2  Rent Arrears 
5  Rehousing with Rent Arrears 
9  Former Rent Arrears 
11  Exceptional Circumstances 
14  3 Offer Policy  
16  Property Condition 
19  Cancelled Applications 
21  Review of Applications 
22  Right of Review 
 
 
Part 7   LEICESTER HOMECHOICE 
 
1  Leicester HomeChoice 
8  Direct Lets 
9  Local Lettings Policies 
 
 
APPENDICES 
 
Appendix 1  Age designated flats 
Appendix 2  Designated temporary accommodation schemes 
 
   

Updated 23 June 2023

PART 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 This is Leicester City Council’s Choice Based Lettings and Housing

Allocations Policy. It explains the rules, criteria and procedure that

determine how Leicester City Council allocates social housing properties

to Qualifying Registered Persons.

1.2 This Allocation Policy guides the principles of how these homes will be

allocated in a fair and transparent manner, taking account of both the

Council’s duty to take account of housing need and its wish to offer as

much choice as possible.

The Legal Framework

1.3 The Housing Act 1996 (Part 6), as amended by the Homelessness Act

2002 and Localism Act 2011 requires local authorities to have an

allocations policy for determining priorities and for defining the

procedure to be followed in allocating housing accommodation.

1.4 This Housing Allocations Policy has been framed to address these

requirements and gives due regard to the ‘Allocation of accommodation:

Code of guidance for local housing authorities in England’.

1.5 An allocation of accommodation within the Housing Act 1996 (Part 6) is

when the local authority selects a person to be either:

• a secure or introductory tenant of accommodation held by the

authority

• nominates a person to be a secure or introductory tenant of

accommodation held by another housing authority

• nominates a person to be an assured tenant of accommodation

held by a Private Registered Provider (or Registered Social

Landlord in Wales) (s.159(2))

1.6 This Policy does not apply to assignments, mutual exchanges, succession

of tenancies or temporary decants. In each of these instances, neither the

Council nor any of the other Housing Association Landlords are required

to identify a new tenant for the relevant property or properties from

Leicester City Council’s Housing Register.

Statement on Choice

1.7 Leicester City Council and Housing Association Partners are fully

committed to enabling applicants to play an active role in choosing

where and in what type of property and tenure they want to live, whilst

continuing to house those people in the greatest need, making the best

use of the available housing stock and complying with all relevant

legislation.

Updated 23 June 2023

1.8 It is important to realise that the demand for accommodation is higher for

some types of property and for some areas than others. In deciding about

the choices available, applicants need to consider their housing need

priority against the availability of properties in any given area.

1.9 Applicants can determine whether they are likely to be successful before

placing a bid as they will be informed of their relative position on the

shortlist for that vacancy at the time of making the bid. This enables an

applicant to make an informed choice when deciding which property to

apply for and whether social housing is a realistic option in their

circumstances.

Equalities Statement

1.10 We are strongly committed to fairness and equal treatment for all. We

aim to treat all people equally no matter what their race, ethnic origin,

nationality, religion, cultural and social background, refugee status, sex,

sexuality, marital status, age, disability (including learning disability)

health (including mental health) or HIV status. We aim to prevent

unlawful discrimination and take positive action to promote equal

opportunities for all.

Confidentiality Statement

1.11 All applications for housing accommodation will be dealt with in a

confidential manner. Information held under the scheme will not be

disclosed to any third party, except where:

• Leicester City Council is satisfied that the applicant has given

consent for any information held on an application to be shared with

other social housing landlords, such as (but not limited to)

Registered Social Landlords, and other agencies

• Leicester City Council is permitted to disclose the information under

data protection Legislation; and/or

• There is another lawful requirement in law to make such

disclosures.

For more information regarding how the Council uses personal data,

please see the privacy notice at: https://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-

council/how-we-work/our-website/privacy/

Updated 23 June 2023

PART 2 THE HOUSING REGISTER

Who Can Apply?

2.1 Any person aged 18 and over can apply to join the Housing Register

provided they are:

1. Eligible for an allocation of accommodation

2. A qualifying person

Eligibility

2.2 Under s160ZA of the 1996 Housing Act as amended by the Localism Act

2011, local authorities must consider whether applicants are eligible for an

allocation of accommodation. This relates to some people who may have

been living abroad or who do not have permanent permission to remain in

the UK.

Only applicants that are eligible can be included on the Housing Register.

The following people will be eligible for an allocation of accommodation:

1. Applicants that are subject to Immigration Control

A person that is subject to immigration Control will be eligible for an

allocation of accommodation if they fall within a category of persons that

have been prescribed as eligible by regulations made by the Secretary of

State.

2. Applicants that are not subject to immigration control

A person that is not subject to Immigration Control will be eligible for an

allocation of Accommodation unless:

a. Their only right of residence is one which has been prescribed

as not resulting in eligibility by Regulations made by the

Secretary of State; or

b. They are not habitually resident in the Common Travel Area or

excluded from the requirements of the Habitual Residence Test

by Regulation 6(2) of the Allocation of Housing and

Homelessness (Eligibility) (England) (Regulations 2006).

Qualifying Persons

2.3 The Council will only allocate accommodation to those who it defines as

being ‘qualifying persons’ within the parameters of s160ZA of the Housing

Act 1996. An applicant must qualify under each of the requirements set

out below.

Updated 23 June 2023

1. Age Qualification

Applicants must be 18 years or more to join the Housing Register, unless

they meet one of the criteria for exceptional circumstances as follows:

• Where a young person has been accepted as being owed a

statutory homelessness duty

• Where a request has been made by Leicester City Council’s

Children’s Services for one of their care leavers

Any applicant who is under 18 cannot by law be granted a tenancy but the

legal estate can be held in trust until they reach the age of 18. A trustee

will therefore be required to sign the tenancy agreement on their behalf

until they are 18.

2. Leicester City Requirement

Applicants to the Housing Register must meet the Leicester City

Requirement (local connection) by satisfying at least one of the following

criteria:

• Applicants living within the city of Leicester must be able to produce

documentary evidence that they have used a residential address

within the City as their settled home for 2 consecutive years

immediately prior to their housing application*

• Applicants that have previously lived in settled accommodation in

the city of Leicester for 3 consecutive years or more out of the last

5 years *

• Applicants currently working within the city of Leicester and have

been for the last 12 months

• People who are aged over 18 and approved as a homeless person

under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996

• Applicants who need to give or receive support to direct family

members who have been living in the city for the past 5 years.

Direct family members include husbands, wives, civil partners,

parents, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters.

• Asylum seekers who have been dispersed to the City by the

National Asylum Support service (NASS) and whose status

changes to that of refugee, or asylum seekers who have been

awarded exceptional or indefinite leave to remain whilst living in the

city

• Persons who have previously served in the armed forces and they

make an application for housing within 5 years of their discharge

• Bereaved / Divorced / Separated spouses or civil partners of

Service personnel who are required to move out of accommodation

provided by the Ministry of Defence

• Prisoners released from prison who meet one of the above criteria

prior to them entering prison

• Applicants currently living in unsettled accommodation (e.g. a

hostel) within Leicester City who can demonstrate they had

previously lived in permanent/settled accommodation in Leicester

Updated 23 June 2023

City for 3 consecutive years or more out of the last 5 years from the

last date of their last settled accommodation

• Council or Housing Association tenants who need to move for work

related reasons

• Victims of domestic abuse that have fled to a refuge in the city from

another local authority area

* Hostels, Nightshelters, ‘Care of Addresses’ & No Fixed Abode do not

meet the requirement, as they are not classified as settled

accommodation.

3. Banding Priority

Applicants must fall within the provisions for one of the priority Bands 1 –

3 (see sections 4.9 – 4.11).

Non Qualifying Persons

2.4 An applicant is not a qualifying person to join the Housing Register in any

of the following circumstances:

1. Unacceptable Behaviour

An applicant is not a qualifying person if they have been guilty of

unacceptable behaviour or the subject of an anti-social behaviour order.

The Council may consider the following people to be ineligible; any

member of a household who in the previous 3 years has been convicted

of or has had legal action (legal action refers to a conviction, or the serving

of an injunction, a notice of intention to seek possession, a notice to

terminate, a court order or the revocation of a licence) taken against them

in connection with:

• violence, harassment, racial harassment, threatening behaviour

or any other forms of anti-social behaviour (ASB)

The decision that an applicant is not a qualifying person for an allocation

may occur at the time of joining the Housing Register, at any time during

the life of the application, at the time the applicant is allocated a property,

or when the applicant has bid and has been short-listed for a property.

The Housing Options Service will make the decision.

New applications from people above will usually be unopposed after 5

years have elapsed from the date when the ineligible decision was made.

Applications received within 5 years will only be considered if there has

been a factual change in the applicant’s circumstances and the applicant

can prove a change in their behaviour. In instances where there has been

no factual change, Leicester City Council will rely on its previous decision.

Updated 23 June 2023

Family Intervention Project

Families who have previously been made ineligible due to ASB and

placed in the Family Intervention Project Scheme by Leicester City

Council Housing Services can be made eligible once approval has been

given by the Head of Service - Housing Division.

A fresh application must be submitted supported by written evidence of

modified behaviour from the agency involved that will continue to provide

support to the applicant in the new tenancy.

2. Financial Resources

An applicant is not a qualifying person if their family household’s gross

taxable income is more than £34,000 per annum or £25,000 per annum

for a single person household or has savings or assets totalling more than

£50,000. This is because the Council considers this to be a sufficient

financial resource to buy a home or pay market rent in the city.

This qualification criteria do not apply to existing Leicester City Council

tenants.

Applicants who formerly owned a property within the last 5 years will be

asked to provide evidence of the sale and details of any capital gained

from the sale to determine their qualification. If applicants disposed of

capital without making adequate housing arrangements; for example,

gifting the capital to relatives or friends, they will not qualify.

3. Home Owners

An applicant is not a qualifying person if they own a freehold or leasehold

interest in a residential property in the UK or abroad, or part-owns a

property under the Shared Ownership Scheme.

The Housing Options Service, at the discretion of the Service Manager

may allow a home owner to join the Housing Register in exceptional

circumstances, for example, where a disabled owner occupier is unable

to meet their housing needs from their own resources and require an

adapted property.

4. False Statements or Withheld Information

Section 171 of the Housing Act 1996 makes it a criminal offence for

anyone, in connection with the exercise by a local housing authority of

their functions under Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996, to:

• Knowingly or recklessly give false information

Updated 23 June 2023

• Knowingly withhold information which the authority has reasonably

required the applicant to give in connection with the exercise of

those functions

The circumstances in which an offence is committed could include:

• Any false information given on an application form for alternative

housing/accommodation

• Any false information given in response to subsequent review

letters

• Any false information given or submitted by customers during the

proceedings of a review

Where it has been established that an applicant directly, or through a

person acting on his or her behalf, has deliberately withheld or

misrepresented any information which would be relevant to the

assessment of their housing circumstances and priority on the Housing

Ground 5 in schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1985 (as amended by section

146 of the 1996 Housing Act) enables Leicester City Council to seek

possession of a tenancy granted as a result of a false statement by the

customer or a person acting on behalf of the customer.

5. Deliberately Worsening Housing Circumstances

Where the Housing Options Service is satisfied that a housing applicant

has either acted unreasonably or has deliberately worsened their housing

circumstances, in order to improve their chances of being re-housed, then

the applicant will not qualify to join the Housing Register for a period of 12

months. Examples of this include:

• Selling a property that is affordable and suitable for the applicant‘s

needs

• Moving from a secure tenancy or settled accommodation to

insecure or less settled or overcrowded accommodation

• Requesting or colluding with a landlord or family member to issue

them with a Notice to Quit

Updated 23 June 2023

PART 3 REGISTRATION AND ASSESSMENT

How to Apply

3.1 To apply, applicants are required to complete the online pre-assessment

and those who may be eligible and qualify to join the Housing Register

can complete the online application form at

www.leicesterhomechoice.co.uk

3.2 In all circumstances the Council will require proof of identity along with

other supporting proofs as detailed on the application for the application

to be fully registered.

3.3 Applicants who apply with partners are treated as making a joint

application and partners are subject to the same tests as applicants

3.4 The registration of applicants on the housing register is not an acceptance

by the Council that they are considered eligible for an allocation of

accommodation. If an applicant makes a successful bid for

accommodation and they are unable to provide documentation to prove

their eligibility or their household’s eligibility they will not be allocated the

accommodation and will be removed from the housing register.

Who You Can Include on Your Application

3.5 You can only include:

• You and your partner

• Children under 18 who are dependent on you or your partner *

• Your non-dependent children or parents who have lived with you

for the past 12 months

• Those household members who were listed on the previous

application that led to rehousing with the City Council

* For the purposes of the Housing Allocations Policy, a dependent child is

defined as being under 18 years and being the natural or adopted child of

the applicant or his/her partner, under 18 and subject to a legal residence

order or under 18 and in the care of the Local Authority.

3.6 Where there are extenuating circumstances for people who are not part

of your immediate family but have an exceptional need to live with you as

part of the household to give or to receive care or support, consideration

will be given to individual cases by the Housing Options Service.

3.7 You cannot include on your application family members who are not

resident in the UK at the time an application is submitted. These

household members will only be considered once the family have been

reunited in the UK and can clearly demonstrate that the family member

added to the application for housing has leave to remain and or, recourse

to public funds within the UK.

Updated 23 June 2023

3.8 A person can only be registered on one application for housing at any one

time.

Bedroom Entitlement

3.9 The Council has rules which determine the size of accommodation for

which applicant households are eligible. This takes the general approach

of maximising occupancy and makes best use of an otherwise limited

stock of properties.

Size of Accommodation

3.10 When determining how many bedrooms a family is eligible for, the

following criteria will be used:

A separate bedroom is allocated to:

• Each married or cohabiting couple or single parent

• Any other person aged 21 years or more

• Each pair of children of either sex under 10 years

• Each pair of children of the same sex under 21 years

• Any person who cannot be paired

Exceptions

• Families with foster children will be allocated the number of

bedrooms as recommended by Children’s Services

• Individual Housing Associations will have their own arrangements

• Where there is a recommendation from an appropriate professional

that a separate bedroom is required e.g. a person currently sharing

who requires their own bedroom due to mental health problem as

confirmed by a Consultant Psychiatrist

3.11 If the applicant or a member of their household is pregnant, bedroom

requirements will only be reviewed following the birth of the baby.

Downsizing Bedrooms

3.12 Applicants can choose to select one less bedroom than the policy deems

is required.

3.13 Where an applicant chooses one less bedroom the following will apply:

• They remain eligible for the size of property dictated by the policy

and the one with fewer bedrooms requested.

• Applicants can downsize by 1 bedroom providing they have not

been given overcrowding priority or create statutory overcrowding.

Updated 23 June 2023

3.14 Families with 1 child aged 2 years and under can choose to apply for 1

and 2 bedroom accommodation.

3.15 Applicants cannot downsize to accommodation where they would have

the same banding priority following the move, as they had before the

move. For example, a family requiring 2 or more bedrooms who have been

given severe overcrowding priority cannot move to a property where they

would still require 2 or more bedrooms to meet their need.

Change in Circumstances

3.16 All applicants are required to notify Leicester City Council immediately of

any significant change to their circumstances which may affect their

priority for housing.

Change in circumstances includes:

• A change of address for the applicant or any other person on their

application

• Any additions to the family or any other person joining the

application

• Any member of the family or any other person on the application

who has left the accommodation

• Any change in your income, assets or savings

• Any change to your immigration status

• Any change in your residential status, for example you become a

home owner and were previously a tenant

3.17 Applicants should notify any change in their circumstances by completing

the online forms available on Leicester City Council’s Housing webpage.

3.18 Where the Council believes that information about the applicant’s

personal circumstances have been withheld or misleadingly presented,

the Council reserves the right to withdraw any offer of accommodation

made and may act as described in section 2.4.4.

Applications from People who have Overnight Staying Access to

Children

3.19 Where a parent does not provide the principal home but have access

arrangements that include overnight stays, they will be eligible for a 2

bedroom flat only. In exceptional cases involving many children

consideration may be given for a 3 bedroom flat. This will be considered

on a case by case basis.

3.20 Where an applicant has overnight access arrangements, evidence of the

arrangement will be required in the form of a Solicitor’s letter, Court

documents or a Social Worker’s letter detailing the arrangement.

Updated 23 June 2023

3.21 Where there is an amicable agreement between parents, a letter from

each party concerned will be sufficient if no other form of confirmation is

available. Proof of Child Benefit would need to be provided with the

confirmation of the overnight access arrangements and a copy of the Full

Birth Certificate of the child.

3.22 Where an applicant claims an equal amount of access, which would

result in two potential claims of family accommodation (Note that two

applications do not necessarily have to be made, e.g. where the

matrimonial home was owner occupied), consideration will only be given

to allocate family accommodation to one of the parents. The decision will

be made on a case-by-case basis considering the circumstances of each

parent.

3.23 Access to children will only be considered where the person is a parent

whether natural or by adoption or has legal residence order of a child(ren).

This policy does not apply to informal arrangements.

3.24 For the purposes of the Housing Allocations Policy, a child is defined as

being under 18 years and being the natural or adopted child of the

applicant or his/her partner, under 18 and subject to a legal residence

order or under 18 and in the care of the Local Authority.

Applications from People in Prison

3.25 As applicants detained in prison are unable to take up occupation,

applications will only be considered within 4 months of their release.

Updated 23 June 2023

PART 4 THE BANDING SCHEME

4.1 The Housing Act 1996, as amended, states that when determining

priorities under the allocations policy, the council must give reasonable

preference to certain categories of people. This currently includes those:

• who are homeless

• who the local authority has a duty to accommodate

• occupying insanitary, overcrowded or unsatisfactory housing

conditions

• who need to move on medical or welfare grounds

• who need to move to a particular locality to reduce hardship

4.2 To ensure that the Council fulfils its statutory duties and strategic

commitments (as they relate to housing), this policy is structured to ensure

that households in certain specific types of housing need have a degree

of priority over others. This is achieved by operating a banding system

based on the level of urgency of their respective housing need.

4.3 All qualifying households are placed into one of three bands. Those

households placed into Band One have the most urgent housing need.

Those in Band Two have a higher need than those in Band Three.

4.4 Within a Band, priority is determined by the date the application was

placed in that Band, with the person who has been waiting the longest

within that Band having the highest priority.

4.5 If circumstances change which results in an applicant moving to a higher

priority band, the Band date applies from the date the application is

given the higher priority, not the original date of the application.

4.6 If circumstances change which results in an applicant moving to a lower

priority Band, the date for the lower Band will be treated as either: the

date the application first went into that Band, or the date the application

first went to a higher Band whichever is earlier.

4.7 A household will be placed in the highest band that any member of that

household qualifies for. There is no additional recognition of multiple

needs within a household.

4.8 The banding scheme is outlined in summary form below. Priority is

awarded in recognition of an applicant’s current housing circumstances

and is intended to provide a reasonable preference within the housing

scheme and a ranked position relative to other applicants.

Updated 23 June 2023

Banding Scheme Summary

4.9 Band One

• People in need of urgent re-housing and referred by Adult Social

Care or Children’s Services

• People in need of urgent re-housing whose properties are directly

affected by public redevelopment programmes

• Council and housing association tenants who are currently under-

occupying their home by 2 or more bedrooms or moving to 1

bedroom accommodation.

• Council and housing association tenants occupying a purpose built

wheelchair adapted property who no longer require it

• People suffering from any form of harassment

• Council and housing association tenants who need to move for

management reasons

• People whose current housing conditions are having a seriously

adverse effect on the physical or mental health of either the

applicant or a member of their household

• Children leaving the care of Leicester City Council’s Children’s

Service

• People who are owed a statutory homeless duty under the Housing

Act 1996 (Part VII) as amended by the Homelessness Reduction

Act and meet additional criteria (see 4.21)

• Tenants whose homes are assessed as being statutorily or

critically overcrowded

4.10 Band Two

• People who are owed a statutory homeless duty under the Housing

Act 1996 (Part VII) as amended by the Homelessness Reduction

Act

• Tenants whose homes are deemed to be severely overcrowded

(two bedrooms or more short of their assessed need)

• People living in designated temporary accommodation in the city

• Families with children 3 years and over who are overcrowded and

living in one bedroom accommodation

• Council and housing association tenants who are currently under-

occupying a three or more bedroom property by one bedroom

• People ready to leave residential care supported by Leicester City

Council and/or NHS

• People with a care package where Adult Social Care (LCC) assess

that a move will assist independent living

• People whose current housing conditions are having a negative

effect on the physical or mental health of the applicant or a member

of their household

• People who have been assessed as living in insanitary or

unsatisfactory accommodation

• People leaving the armed forces who have applied for housing

within 5 years of their discharge but do not have a home to return

Updated 23 June 2023

4.11 Band Three

• People identified by Adult Social Care as ready to leave the care

of family or carer

• People needing to move to a particular area of Leicester where

hardship would be caused if they do not move

• Tenants who are living in overcrowded conditions under Leicester

City Council’s overcrowding standard (one bedroom short of their

assessed need)

• Non-tenants living in overcrowded circumstances

• People over the age of 50 years requesting 1 bedroom sheltered

accommodation only

• Working households or those in local training schemes who need

to move closer to their job/training scheme

4.12 Applicants placed into Bands 1 & 2 have been assessed as having high

priority and therefore having an urgent need to move. Leicester City

Council will endeavour to review these cases every 12 months or in the

case of some priorities more often to ensure there is still an urgent need

to move.

BAND ONE

4.13 PEOPLE IN NEED OF URGENT RE-HOUSING AND REFERRED BY

ADULT SOCIAL CARE OR CHILDREN’S SERVICES

Outcome

This is to enable priority rehousing where the City Council has legal duties

to certain vulnerable people under the Children Act 1996 and Community

Care Act 1990.

Criteria and Evidence Required

A household will be placed in Band One under this criteria at the discretion

of the Director of Housing where Leicester City Council’s Adult Social

Care and Children’s Services have confirmed a) and b) below.

Referrals will only be considered from Leicester City Council’s Director of

Adult Social Care or Children’s Services.

a) It is essential to secure a suitable offer of accommodation as soon

as possible.

b) The referring body has agreed to provide any necessary services

to enable the applicant to maintain the tenancy that will be created.

Other Information

Updated 23 June 2023

The Director of Housing will also have the discretion to extend property

type and size over normal eligibility.

Priority is not awarded to enable an applicant with sufficient priority (under

other banding categories) which will generate a suitable offer in a

reasonable timescale, to enhance their level of priority to obtain an offer

in a specific area.

4.14 PEOPLE IN NEED OF URGENT RE-HOUSING WHOSE PROPERTIES

ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY PUBLIC REDEVELOPMENT

PROGRAMMES

Outcome

This is to enable priority rehousing for households whose properties will

be directly affected by public redevelopment programmes resulting in the

loss of their property through demolition, major refurbishment or

compulsory purchase.

Criteria and Evidence Required

Only schemes approved and listed in the recorded minutes of the

Executive Notice of Decision will be considered. Households in the private

rented sector will need to demonstrate they have lived in the property for

a minimum period of 12 months immediately prior to the order being

served.

Other Information

Qualifying tenants can be considered for a property which is identical in

type and size to their current home in addition to the normal eligibility

rules concerning property type and size, except in exceptional

circumstances.

This priority can be extended to include other homes lost in an event of

an emergency at the discretion of the Director of Housing.

4.15 COUNCIL AND HOUSING ASSOCIATION TENANTS WHO ARE

CURRENTLY UNDER-OCCUPYING THEIR HOME BY 2 OR MORE

BEDROOMS OR MOVING TO 1 BEDROOM ACCOMMODATION

Outcome

This is to enable priority rehousing for social tenants who are under-

occupying their home by 2 or more bedrooms or moving to 1 bedroom

accommodation.

Criteria and Evidence Required

Updated 23 June 2023

Information will be taken from the housing application form to establish

which social tenants are under-occupying their current homes.

Other Information

Housing Association tenants will be considered if their current home is

within the city and their Housing Association has agreed to advertise the

vacated home through Leicester HomeChoice. HomeCome tenants are

also eligible for this priority as their homes are managed by Leicester City

Council.

4.16 COUNCIL AND HOUSING ASSOCIATION TENANTS OCCUPYING A

PURPOSE BUILT WHEELCHAIR ADAPTED PROPERTY WHO NO

LONGER REQUIRE IT

Outcome

Priority will be given to social tenants living in Leicester who are living in

purpose built wheelchair adapted accommodation and who no longer

require the use of such accommodation.

Criteria and Evidence Required

The Property Lettings Team or an occupational therapist in Leicester City

Council’s Adult Social Care will submit a report to the Housing Options

Service confirming the property is a purpose built fully wheelchair adapted

accommodation and the tenants no longer require the use of such

facilities.

Other Information

Housing Association tenants will be considered if their current purpose

built wheelchair adapted accommodation is within the city and their

Housing Association has agreed to advertise the vacant home through

Leicester HomeChoice.

This priority can be extended to include other properties which have been

extensively adapted and there is clear evidential need for this type of

accommodation.

4.17 PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM ANY FORM OF HARASSMENT

Outcome

This is to enable priority rehousing for people suffering from any form of

harassment to move to more suitable accommodation after establishing it

is unreasonable to stay in their current accommodation.

Updated 23 June 2023

The Council’s aim is to tackle the perpetrator of harassment and support

the victim to remain in their home wherever possible. However, in certain

cases re-housing will be considered as an option.

Criteria and Evidence Required

Housing Services Division will investigate all reported claims of

harassment by Leicester City Council tenants. For Housing Association

tenants, the investigation must be carried out by the relevant landlord and

referred to the Housing Options Service for approval if harassment priority

is requested. For all other tenures Housing Options Service will

investigate reports of harassment.

Priority will only be conferred where severe harassment has been

established and it is unreasonable to stay in the current accommodation.

Other Information

There is a distinction between anti-social behaviour / nuisance and

harassment. Harassment is defined as:

“Personalised, deliberate, unwanted acts of violence (verbal or physical)

or other behaviour that is designed to cause harm or damage to people or

property which is suffered by individuals or groups of people because of

their race, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexuality, HIV status, religious

beliefs, disability, age or family circumstances”.

(Housing Committee, 3rd February 1999)

Applicants approved under this criteria will only be entitled to one suitable

offer of accommodation in line with their eligible property types with their

Harassment priority. Applicants cannot be re-housed in the area they

received harassment unless there are exceptional circumstances that

warrants the applicant remaining in the locality.

All approved harassment cases will be put on auto-bid citywide, if there

has been no suitable offer made within the first 4 advertising cycles of

Leicester HomeChoice when priority was given.

If an applicant refuses an offer of accommodation which is deemed

suitable by Housing Services (LCC) or Housing Options Service (all other

tenants) the harassment priority will be removed.

4.18 SOCIAL TENANTS WHO NEED TO MOVE FOR MANAGEMENT

REASONS

Outcome

This is to assist the Council and Housing Associations* to meet the needs

of their tenants in specific circumstances and to make best use of their

housing stock.

Updated 23 June 2023

Criteria and Evidence Required

Management priority may be awarded in the specific circumstances

described below:

1. Where a non-dependent is living with an OAP that needs to move

to more suitable accommodation but is prevented from doing so

because of the presence of the non-dependent. Here, the non-

dependent may be given Management priority to get independent

accommodation. To qualify for this priority, the non-dependent

must have lived with the OAP at the address in question for at least

12 months.

2. Where a single person(s) or couple is left in family accommodation

following the death of the tenant and there is no right to succession

to the tenancy. Management priority will be awarded in order that

the applicant may be offered any appropriate size accommodation.

To qualify for this priority, the single person / couple would have

succeeded to the tenancy anyway had there not already been a

succession on that tenancy (i.e. 12 months residence etc.).

3. Where a single person or couple is left in family accommodation

following the death of the tenant and a right of succession exists.

Management priority may be awarded where the applicant agrees

to move to a more suitable accommodation rather than sign for the

existing tenancy.

4. Employees of Leicester City Council who occupy accommodation

which is linked to their employment and who are retiring through

age or ill health or willing to give up that accommodation.

5. Where a Leicester City Council or Housing Association tenant has

previously been awarded harassment priority and then must leave

the property for reasons connected with the approval. To avoid

accruing large rent arrears when Housing Benefit stops, the

tenancy can be terminated and the applicant reapply as a general

applicant and awarded management priority.

6. Where a referral is made by staff from the Family Intervention

Project confirming the family are ready for rehousing as their

behaviour has changed to enable them to be considered as

suitable tenants.

7. Where there would be undue hardship arising from the costs of

district heating to allow a move to a property with independent

heating supply.

8. Where a HomeCome or Leicester Lease tenant has been given

notice to leave due to the end of the leasing arrangement and the

property owner does not wish to renew the lease. Tenants

approved under this criteria will only be entitled to one suitable offer

Updated 23 June 2023

of accommodation in line with their eligible property types.

Approved cases will be put on auto-bid citywide, if there has been

no suitable offer made within the first 4 advertising cycles of

Leicester HomeChoice when priority was given.

9. Where Management have undertaken a Personal Emergency

Evacuation Plan (PEEP) or have been made aware because of a

Fire Risk Assessment (FRA), there are concerns about the

evacuation of a tenant or members of the household in an

emergency and a move to more appropriate accommodation would

assist to minimise the risk.

10. Where a HomeCome or Leicester Lease tenant resides in

accommodation that has become unsuitable due to affordability

issues which cannot be resolved through evidenced budgeting

advice. Tenants approved under this criterion will only be entitled

to one suitable offer of accommodation in line with their eligible

property types. Approved cases will be put on auto-bid citywide, if

there has been no suitable offer made within the first 4 advertising

cycles of Leicester HomeChoice when priority was given.

11. Where a family member has been left in accommodation and

become an unlawful occupier. To qualify for this priority, the family

member must have lived at the property for at least 6 months prior

to becoming an unlawful occupier and a mesne profit account

created.

12. Where a Leicester City Council or Housing Association tenant has

previously been awarded management case priority and it has

been identified that the applicant cannot return to the property. To

avoid accruing large rent arrears when Housing Benefit stops, the

tenancy can be terminated, and the applicant maintains their

awarded management priority under a new housing application.

This must be approved prior to the tenancy being terminated.

Other Information

The above list may be extended at the discretion of the Director of

Housing.

* Tenants of Housing Associations will only be considered where there are

exceptional circumstances.

4.19 PEOPLE WHOSE CURRENT HOUSING CONDITIONS ARE HAVING A

SERIOUSLY ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE PHYSICAL OR MENTAL

HEALTH

Outcome

This is to enable priority rehousing for households who are living in

accommodation which is having a seriously adverse effect on their

Updated 23 June 2023

physical or mental health and moving to more suitable accommodation

would solve or alleviate the medical condition.

Criteria and Evidence Required

Assessment of circumstances and the verification source required will be

done using the criteria listed below:

Access &

Mobility

Housing Need

Current

Housing

Circumstances

Verification

Source

Applicant or

member of

household has an

acute deterioration

of mobility or

progressive

mobility problems

Where an

Occupational

Therapist has said

the applicant

requires either:

1. Fully wheelchair

accessible home

2. Fully accessible

home with a level

access shower

3. Fully accessible

home on the

ground floor or

accessible by a lift

The bedroom,

bathroom and toilet

are all not

accessible in their

current

accommodation

Leicester City

Council’s

Occupational

Therapist

Mental Health

Housing Need

Current

Housing

Circumstances

Verification

Source

Applicant or

member of

household has a

serious mental

health condition

Where a

Consultant

Psychiatrist has

stated it is

impossible to

remain in their

current home due

to the impact on

their mental health

The home is

seriously impacting

on person’s mental

health

Consultant

Psychiatrist

Updated 23 June 2023

Applicant or

member of

household has an

underlying mental

health condition

Where it can be

evidenced that a

recent traumatic

event within the

past two years (i.e.

murder, serious

assault, abuse,

death etc.) in the

associated home

or adjacent area is

causing the

applicant

significant mental

distress

A recent traumatic

event in the

associated home

or adjacent area is

causing the

applicant

significant mental

distress

Details of the

traumatic event

and appropriate

health professional

confirming the

significant mental

distress caused

General Health

Housing Need

Current

Housing

Circumstances

Verification

Source

Applicant or

member of

household has

severely lifestyle

restricting or

terminal illness,

e.g. AIDS, Cancer,

Where a Specialist

has stated or GP

confirms that

applicant’s current

home increases

the severity of the

illness or has

adverse impact on

their lifestyle

A person’s general

lifestyle is

adversely affected

in the home due to

their severely

lifestyle restricting

illness

Specialist (or GP

confirms specialist

report)

Other Information

Priority will only be considered if rehousing is needed to solve or alleviate

the medical condition from their current settled accommodation. Priority

will not be considered where the current accommodation is not regarded

as being settled i.e. living in temporary accommodation or no fixed abode

as the circumstances would be considered under homelessness.

Supporting information must detail how the applicant’s current

accommodation is adversely affecting their medical condition.

Priority will not be awarded for a medical condition, however severe, if the

present housing does not affect the medical condition or their ability to live

there.

4.20 CHILDREN LEAVING THE CARE OF LEICESTER CITY COUNCIL’S

CHILDREN’S SERVICE

Outcome

Updated 23 June 2023

This is to enable priority rehousing for young people leaving the care of

Leicester City Council’s Children’s Services.

Criteria and Evidence Required

A person will be placed in Band One under this criteria where Leicester

City Council’s Children’s Services has confirmed the young person is

leaving their care and is ready for independent living.

A young person who is not yet 18 will require a guarantor/trustee to be

identified before they can apply for properties on Leicester HomeChoice.

Other Information

This priority can only be awarded on one occasion to secure independent

living.

4.21 PEOPLE WHO ARE OWED A STATUTORY HOMELESS DUTY UNDER

THE HOUSING ACT 1996 (PART VII) AS AMENDED BY THE

HOMELESSNESS REDUCTION ACT AND MEET ADDITIONAL

CRITERIA

Outcome

This is to enable priority rehousing to certain applicants who are

accepted by the Housing Options Service as being owed one of the

following duties under Part VII of the Housing Act:

• Duty to prevent homelessness (s.195)

• Duty to relieve homelessness (s.189B(2))

• Main homelessness duty (s.193)

Criteria and Evidence Required

1. Duty to prevent homelessness

i. The applicant is an eligible person and

ii. The applicant is threatened with homelessness within 56 days

and

iii. The applicant has a current homeless person’s application and

been assessed under s.189A and

iv. The Authority has accepted a duty to prevent homelessness

under s.195 and

v. The duty has not come to an end for any reason stated in the

act

2. Duty to relieve homelessness

i. The applicant is an eligible person and

ii. The applicant is homeless and

Updated 23 June 2023

iii. The applicant has a local connection with the City of Leicester

and

iv. The applicant has a current homeless person’s application and

been assessed under s.189A and

v. The Authority has accepted a duty to relieve homelessness

under s.189B(2) and

vi. The duty has not come to an end for any reason stated in the

act

3. Main homelessness duty

i. The applicant is an eligible person and

ii. The applicant is homeless and

iii. The applicant is in priority need and

iv. The applicant did not become homeless intentionally and

v. The applicant has a local connection with the City of Leicester

and

vi. The Authority’s duty to relieve homelessness under s.189B(2)

has ended and

vii. s.193 has not been disapplied because the applicant refused

a final accommodation offer or a final part VI offer and

viii. The Authority has not given final notice to the applicant under

s.193B(2) on the grounds deliberately and unreasonably

refused to co-operate (see s.189A(4)-(6)) and

ix. The Authority has not sought to refer the case to another local

authority under s.198

In addition to the one of the above duties owed, households must also

meet the following rules:

• Household contains dependent child(ren), a pregnant woman,

and/or a vulnerable adult, and,

• Household have not worsened their own circumstances, and,

• Household has a live Housing Application, and no rent arrears,

and,

• Household has exhausted sustainment options and requires a new

accommodation solution.

Other Information

Applicants owed the main homelessness duty can be offered

accommodation either in the private rented sector or through the Housing

Eligible applicants will be subject to a one offer policy with their application

placed on auto-bid citywide. Refusal of a suitable offer is likely to result in

ceasing of the owed homeless duty, and therefore ineligibility for the

banding.

Updated 23 June 2023

The priority award will be time-limited whilst owed a homeless priority. As

soon as the household’s homeless duty is ceased, eligibility for the award

ceases.

Cases where households do not get an offer of accommodation within the

defined period will result in removal of the band and reversion to the next

highest eligible award.

4.22 TENANTS WHOSE HOMES ARE ASSESSED TO BE STATUTORILY

OR CRITICALLY OVERCROWDED

Outcome

This is to give priority to those tenants living in accommodation where they

have been assessed as being statutorily or critically overcrowded and

have not caused this by a deliberate act.

Criteria and Evidence Required

For Housing Association and Private tenants, statutory overcrowding will

need to be confirmed by a Private Sector Housing Officer.

For Leicester City Council tenants, information will be taken from property

records to determine if the permitted occupancy levels have been

exceeded.

Other Information

In determining the number of bedrooms required where a member of the

tenant’s household is expecting another baby, this will only be taken into

consideration after the baby is born and the birth is registered.

For the purposes of establishing how many current bedrooms a tenant

has the use of, only bedrooms with a minimum of 50 square feet (4.65

square metres) of floor space will be considered as a bedroom.

This priority can also be awarded to families with dependent children living

in critically overcrowded accommodation who are supported by Children’s

Services.

Households living in accommodation where they are not the tenants are

not eligible for this priority.

Where there are children living in the property on a part week

overnight access basis and it is not considered to be their principal

home, they will be omitted for the purposes of statutory overcrowding

assessments.

BAND TWO

Updated 23 June 2023

4.23 PEOPLE WHO ARE OWED A STATUTORY HOMELESS DUTY UNDER

THE HOUSING ACT 1996 (PART VII) AS AMENDED BY THE

HOMELESSNESS REDUCTION ACT

Outcome

This band is to enable rehousing to applicants who are accepted by the

Housing Options Service as being owed one of the following duties

under Part VII of the Housing Act:

• Duty to prevent homelessness (s.195)

• Duty to relieve homelessness (s.189B(2))

• Main homelessness duty (s.193)

Criteria and Evidence Required

4. Duty to prevent homelessness

vi. The applicant is an eligible person and

vii. The applicant is threatened with homelessness within 56 days

and

viii. The applicant has a current homeless person’s application and

been assessed under s.189A and

ix. The Authority has accepted a duty to prevent homelessness

under s.195 and

x. The duty has not come to an end for any reason stated in the

act

5. Duty to relieve homelessness

vii. The applicant is an eligible person and

viii. The applicant is homeless and

ix. The applicant has a local connection with the City of Leicester

and

x. The applicant has a current homeless person’s application and

been assessed under s.189A and

xi. The Authority has accepted a duty to relieve homelessness

under s.189B(2) and

xii. The duty has not come to an end for any reason stated in the

act

6. Main homelessness duty

x. The applicant is an eligible person and

xi. The applicant is homeless and

xii. The applicant is in priority need and

xiii. The applicant did not become homeless intentionally and

xiv. The applicant has a local connection with the City of Leicester

and

xv. The Authority’s duty to relieve homelessness under s.189B(2)

has ended and

Updated 23 June 2023

xvi. s.193 has not been disapplied because the applicant refused

a final accommodation offer or a final part VI offer and

xvii. The Authority has not given final notice to the applicant under

s.193B(2) on the grounds deliberately and unreasonably

refused to co-operate (see s.189A(4)-(6)) and

xviii. The Authority has not sought to refer the case to another local

authority under s.198

Other Information

Applicants owed the main homelessness duty can be offered

accommodation either in the private rented sector or through the Housing

Applicants owed a duty to prevent or relieve will only retain this priority

whilst said duties are owed and have not been ended by legal notification.

All applicants awarded this priority will only be entitled to one suitable

offer of accommodation.

4.24 TENANTS WHOSE HOMES ARE DEEMED TO BE SEVERELY

OVERCROWDED

Outcome

This is to give priority to those tenants living in accommodation where they

are severely overcrowded. That is tenants who need a minimum two

additional bedrooms to meet their needs.

Criteria and Evidence Required

Information will be taken from the housing application form to establish

which tenants require a minimum of two additional bedrooms using the

bedroom standard outlined in section 3.10 against the number of

bedrooms the household currently have exclusive use of.

Other Information

In determining the number of bedrooms required where a member of the

tenant’s household is expecting another baby, this will only be taken into

consideration after the baby is born and the birth is registered.

For the purposes of establishing how many current bedrooms a tenant

has the use of, only bedrooms with a minimum of 50 square feet (4.65

square metres) of floor space will be considered as a bedroom.

Households living in accommodation where they are not the tenants are

not eligible for this priority.

Updated 23 June 2023

4.25 PEOPLE LIVING IN DESIGNATED TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION

IN THE CITY

Outcome

This is to give priority to people living in designated temporary

accommodation and who met the Leicester City Requirement immediately

prior to entry to the designated accommodation.

Criteria and Evidence Required

1. Confirmation the referral to the designated temporary accommodation

was made by the Housing Options Service and

2. Applicant is not owed a statutory homelessness duty.

Other Information

Designated temporary accommodation is a homeless hostel or short term

temporary supported accommodation commissioned by Leicester City

Council.

Priority will only be awarded to those service users who have been

referred by the Housing Options Service because they meet the Council’s

published criteria for temporary accommodation. The schemes that are

currently funded by Leicester City Council to take referrals are listed in

Appendix 2. If a referral is accepted by another suitable temporary

accommodation provider, then priority can be awarded to that individual.

Victims of domestic abuse that have fled to a refuge or other designated

temporary accommodation schemes in the city from another local

authority area can be given this priority.

Applicants who have been made an offer of accommodation but then

leave their temporary accommodation can retain their offer if they have

moved to other insecure accommodation. If they decline the offer or the

offer is withdrawn their priority will be re-assessed from their new

accommodation.

4.26 FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGED 3 YEARS AND OVER WHO ARE

OVERCROWDED AND LIVING IN ONE BEDROOM

ACCOMMODATION

Outcome

This is to give priority to families with dependent children aged 3 years or

over living with them on a full time basis who are currently living in one

bedroom accommodation and need an additional bedroom to address this

situation.

Criteria and Evidence Required

Updated 23 June 2023

Information will be taken from the housing application form to establish

which households require an additional bedroom using the bedroom

standard outlined in section 3.10 and currently living in one bedroom

accommodation.

Other Information

In determining the number of bedrooms required where a household is

expecting another baby this will only be taken into consideration after the

baby is born and the birth is registered.

This priority can also be given where there are two or more dependent

children living in the accommodation regardless of their age.

This priority is not available to households who are not tenants or only

have part week overnight access of their children.

4.27 COUNCIL AND HOUSING ASSOCIATION TENANTS WHO ARE

CURRENTLY UNDER-OCCUPYING A THREE OR MORE BEDROOM

PROPERTY BY ONE BEDROOM

Outcome

This is to enable priority rehousing for social tenants who are currently

under-occupying a three or more bedroom property by one bedroom to

move to a more suitable home.

Criteria and Evidence Required

Information will be taken from the housing application form to establish

which social tenants are under-occupying their current homes.

Other Information

Housing Association tenants will be considered if their current home is

within the city and their Housing Association has agreed to advertise the

vacated home through Leicester HomeChoice.

HomeCome tenants are also eligible for this priority as their homes are

managed by Leicester City Council.

4.28 PEOPLE READY TO LEAVE RESIDENTIAL CARE SUPPORTED BY

LEICESTER CITY COUNCIL AND/OR NHS

Outcome

This is to give priority to people ready to leave residential care and live

independently. This is supported by Leicester City Council’s Adult Social

Care and/or the NHS.

Updated 23 June 2023

Criteria and Evidence Required

Confirmation from Leicester City Council’s Adult Social Care or the NHS

that the person is ready to leave residential care and move into

independent living.

4.29 PEOPLE WITH A CARE PACKAGE WHERE ADULT SOCIAL CARE

(LCC) ASSESS THAT A MOVE WILL ASSIST INDEPENDENT LIVING

Outcome

This is to support the Adult Social Care independent living policy.

Criteria and Evidence Required

Confirmation from Leicester City Council’s Adult Social Care that the

person needs a move to maintain independent living and they have a care

package in place.

4.30 PEOPLE WHOSE CURRENT HOUSING CONDITIONS ARE HAVING A

NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH OF

THE APPLICANT OR A MEMBER OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD

Outcome

This is to give priority to people living in accommodation that has a

negative effect on their physical or mental health, to enable them to live in

more appropriate accommodation.

Criteria and Evidence Required

Assessment of circumstances and the verification source required will be

done using the criteria listed below:

Access &

Mobility

Housing Need

Current

Housing

Circumstances

Verification

Source

Applicant or

member of

household has a

housing need

linked to a

disability or

medical condition,

which means the

present housing is

hazardous or

Where an

Occupational

Therapist has said

the applicant

requires either:

1. Fully wheelchair

accessible home

The current

accommodation is

partially suitable for

their needs as can

access the

bedroom,

bathroom or toilet

but not all the

facilities

Leicester City

Council’s

Occupational

Therapist

Updated 23 June 2023

extremely difficult

to cope with

2. Fully accessible

home with a level

access shower

3. Fully accessible

home on the

ground floor or

accessible by a lift

4. Accessible toilet

on both the ground

floor and upper

floor in a multi

storey home

There is currently

only one toilet in

their multi storey

home

5. Accessible

home with only one

flight of internal

stairs

The current home

is over two floors

and only

accessible by

external/communal

stairs

Mental Health

Housing Need

Current

Housing

Circumstances

Verification

Source

Applicant or

member of

household has a

mental health

condition

Where a

Consultant

Psychiatrist or a

CPN has stated

the current home is

having a significant

detrimental impact

on your mental

health

The current home

is adversely

impacting on the

person’s mental

health

Consultant

Psychiatrist /

Mental Health

Specialist

General Health

Housing Need

Current

Housing

Circumstances

Verification

Source

Updated 23 June 2023

Applicant or

member of

household has a

chronic illness

such as severe

asthma,

emphysema or

severe eczema.

Where a Specialist

has indicated that

the condition of the

home and

immediate

environment is

affecting health

subject to

confirmation by an

Environmental

Health Officer

(EHO)

The condition of

the current home is

impacting on the

person’s health

1. Specialist

2. Leicester City

Council’s EHO

Additional

Bedrooms

Housing Need

Current

Housing

Circumstances

Verification

Source

Applicants or

member of

household who

have a severe

disease or

disability, and

require extra space

for major items of

life sustaining

equipment or

equipment to

promote

independence in

the home e.g.

severe kidney

disease (with self

dialysis at home or

use of kidney

machines), severe

respiratory disease

(with use of oxygen

machine at home),

etc.

Where a Specialist

has indicated that

there is insufficient

space for

essential/life

sustaining

equipment

The current home

has insufficient

space for storage

of essential/life

sustaining

equipment

Specialist

Extra bedroom for

full-time carer: a

need for care that

is so great that

residential or

hospital care would

be necessary

without a full-time

carer

Where a

community care

assessment

identified there is

insufficient space

for a residential

carer but otherwise

home is

appropriate

The current home

has insufficient

number of

bedrooms for an

overnight carer

Leicester City

Council’s

Community Care

Assessment (Adult

or Children

Services)

Updated 23 June 2023

Applicants or

member of

household who

have severe

behavioural

problems

Where a Specialist

has confirmed a

separate bedroom

is required to

remedy severe

behaviour

problems

The current home

has insufficient

number of

bedrooms for

someone who

requires their own

bedroom

Specialist

Applicants who are

unable to share a

bedroom due to a

chronic medical

condition

Where a Specialist

has confirmed a

separate bedroom

is required due to a