Southwark Council has approved a significant overhaul of its Housing Allocations Scheme, aiming to simplify the process, enhance clarity for applicants, and ensure a fairer distribution of social housing. The new scheme, set to be implemented following the Executive meeting on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, introduces several key changes to the existing 2013 framework.
Key among the revisions is the removal of working in the borough
as an automatic qualification criterion for housing applications. This change aims to focus prioritisation solely on housing need. The council has stated that while this criterion is being removed for general applications, there are safeguards for essential workers who need to move to Southwark for their jobs. Applicants who work in Southwark may qualify if they have a genuine intention to take up the offer of work, provided it is not short-term, marginal, ancillary to work elsewhere, or voluntary. This also applies to transfers from other local authorities in England. Additionally, key workers in specified professions may qualify for accommodation within designated key worker housing schemes. The decision to remove this criterion was supported by a majority of respondents on the housing register, according to a council chart.
A new five-band structure (A-E) has been introduced to better reflect reasonable preference and local priorities. Band A includes households with severe property conditions posing a significant risk to health and safety, those who are statutorily overcrowded by three or more bedrooms, urgent medical or welfare grounds for rehousing, care leavers, Housing First participants, and specific armed forces community members with urgent needs. Band B covers those needing rehousing due to domestic abuse, violence, threats, serious anti-social behaviour, hate incidents, harassment, insanitary or unsatisfactory housing conditions, medical or welfare grounds (including disability, mental illness, learning disability, chronic conditions, infirmity, need for care, recovery from abuse, racist incidents, vulnerability, or need for adapted housing), foster carers/adopters needing larger homes, and those needing to move for specialised medical treatment. Band C is for households owed a homelessness duty by Southwark Council (s193(2)), those housed in the private rented sector by the council to prevent or relieve homelessness, those overcrowded by one bedroom (unless statutorily overcrowded), certain armed forces community members, those in temporary/insecure housing without other options, and former care leavers with unmet housing needs.
Homeless households owed a main homelessness duty by Southwark Council are placed in Band C. Those who are homeless but not owed a main duty, or whose duty has ended, are placed in Band D. Additional preference that would move them out of Band D into higher priority bands (A or B) would be based on specific criteria within those bands, such as severe property conditions posing a significant risk to health and safety (Band A), or needing to move due to domestic abuse, violence, or hate incidents (Band B).
Band E has been created for households with low housing need, allowing them to bid on advertised properties but acknowledging their lower priority. This band is for any other person who is eligible for an allocation of social rented housing and who qualifies to join the housing register
and secure tenants of Southwark Council seeking a transfer, who are not entitled to a reasonable preference for an allocation of social rented housing (i.e. they would not be placed in any of the above bands)
. Applicants in Band E will be able to bid on advertised homes, though it is unlikely they will be rehoused due to their low priority.
To further simplify the system, the scheme will remove priority stars
and the Good Tenant Award,
concentrating on assessed housing need. Priority for Southwark care leavers has been increased, and the age ceiling for same-sex siblings sharing a bedroom has been raised to 20.
The scheme will also incorporate Local Lettings Plans (LLPs) and an Annual Lettings Plan (ALP) to manage allocations effectively. LLPs will be used on a site-by-site basis for new build schemes, with a flexible quota system (0-100%) for allocations to current tenants. ALPs will be integrated into the scheme to respond to changing housing needs within the borough. Lettings outcomes for both ALPs and LLPs will be monitored, analysed, and published annually.
Additionally, a separate Management Transfer Policy has been approved to provide a clear framework for urgent and essential management moves. This policy sets out criteria for managing urgent transfers where a move is required to address serious housing management, safety, or welfare concerns, including significant risk to household members or severe property-related issues. Requests are subject to assessment by a Resident Officer and consideration by a panel of senior officers, with the final decision made by an authorized officer. The policy aims to prevent misuse through managed expectations, reduced unsuitable referrals, improved information quality, and individual case assessment.
The new scheme will be reviewed after 12 months of operation, with findings reported to the relevant Executive member. The council has undertaken extensive engagement and consultation over a two-year period, involving tenants, housing applicants, and residents, to shape the new scheme.
Councillor Reginald Popoola, Executive Member for Council Homes, stated that the overhaul was necessary due to intensified housing pressures, increased homelessness, and the need for greater transparency and regulatory compliance. He added, The adoption of a new Housing Allocations Scheme is therefore a necessary and significant step in rebuilding confidence in how Southwark allocates its scarce social housing, ensuring that the Council meets its legal duties, and providing a clearer, fairer and more transparent framework for some of the borough's most vulnerable residents.
Public reports pack Tuesday 15-Sep-2026 11.00 Executive.pdf contains further details on the scheme.
