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Prioritising Applications
All housing and transfer applications received for rented accommodation will be assessed and placed in one of 5 bands. The table below sets out the banding scheme and gives examples of those applicants who would be eligible to be placed in each band.
| Band | Criteria |
| Band 1 |
An applicant will be placed in Band 1 if: They need to be moved by the Council or Housing Association within three months for redevelopment or major repairs. They need to move to larger accommodation to become a foster carer (as recommended by Children and Young People's Services). They are a Council or Housing Association tenant and are underoccupying accommodation by at least three rooms. They are severely overcrowded in that they are at least three bedrooms short. HN (Housing need - see what if I have more than one need) They are owed a statutory duty by the Council and have been in temporary accommodation for more than 12 months (pursuant to this duty). HN They do not come within any of the above categories, but have an exceptional and urgent need to be rehoused within three months. HN |
| Band 2 |
An applicant will be placed in band 2 if: An applicant and/or member of his/her household has a serious and/or life threatening physical and mental health problem which is directly linked to their current housing. The priority is to reflect an urgent need to move to a different type of housing or area to enable the applicant to function independently and safely and/or to carry out normal activities of daily living and to reach essential facilities. Their current property cannot be reasonably adapted to meet their needs. HN They are a Council or Housing Association tenant and are underoccupying accommodation by two rooms. They are severely overcrowded in that they are at least two rooms short of their bedroom entitlement. HN They qualify under the move-on procedure. |
| Band 3 |
An applicant will be placed in band 3 if: They or a member of their household requires urgent rehousing by the council in order to avoid serious harassment or credible threat of harm. HN They or a member of their household requires urgent rehousing by the Council in order to live near a relative to give or receive support that will significantly benefit their welfare. HN They are owed a statutory duty by the Council. HN An applicant is occupying unsanitary or unsatisfactory housing conditions that are so serious, in terms of the threat posed to health and welfare, as to require rehousing. These are cases where an Environmental Health Officer has provided written evidence that the property should not be occupied due to a category 1 hazard where an emergency prohibition notice or prohibition notice has been or would be made. HN |
| Band 4 |
An applicant will be placed in band 4 if: They are a Council or Housing Association tenant and are under occupying accommodation by one room. They are overcrowded in that they are one bedroom short of their bedroom entitlement. HN They are homeless, but the Council do not owe a full statutory duty. HN An applicant and/or member of his/her household has a physical or mental health problem that is in part related to their current housing and could be helped by rehousing to a different type of accommodation or area. Their current property cannot be reasonably adapted and the problem does not meet the criteria for band 2. HN They or a member of their household, needs to move to a particular locality of the city, where failure to meet that need would cause hardship to themselves or to others. HN They are owed a statutory duty by the Council and have been in temporary accommodation for less than 12 months (pursuant to this duty). HN |
| Band 5 | If an application does not meet any of the criteria set out in bands 1 - 4 it will be placed in band 5. |
From what date will my application be considered?
Applications will be considered in date order within each band. This will be the date an application is received or priority/banding was awarded.
What if I have more than one need?
If an application falls into two or more band categories indicated by HN (Housing need), the effective date will be backdated by six months. This is to ensure those with the greatest housing need have preference.
Can I be put down a band?
An application may be put into a lower band, 'relegated', if an applicant:
- Has no local connection with Bristol.
- Is a family with a combined income or savings above £30,000, or has no dependents and a combined income or savings above £25,000.
- Is a home owner with equity above £30,000 for families or over £25,000with no dependents.
- Has been guilty of unacceptable behaviour.
- Has over £300 of outstanding debt to Bristol City Council or a Housing Association.
- If an offer of accommodation has been refused within the last six months.
You can appeal against our decision if you feel we have unreasonably reduced your priority or if you disagree with the band you have been placed in.