The Council uses a banding scheme that shows what priority you may be awarded. Your application will be assessed on your individual circumstances and you will be placed in one of seven bands.
The seven bands are:
Band 1 - People the Council needs to move
any of the following:
- people whose homes the Council is planning to demolish;
- people who are tenants of a family house in the borough, owned by the Council or a housing association, and who will be moving to a flat or one bedroom bungalow;
- people who have to leave a Council tenancy following the death of the tenant;
- people giving up a joint tenancy of a Council or housing association rented property following a relationship breakdown, for the partner with the care of the children to remain there;
- people giving up two Council or housing association rented properties in the borough for one property of similar or lower demand;
- people who are ready to move on from supported housing that is subject to Dudley’s Move On Protocol or to be discharged from hospital subject to a change of accommodation;
- people who have a disability and whose homes cannot reasonably be adapted to meet their needs.
Band 2 - People with urgent needs
any of the following:
- people the Council has accepted as unintentionally homeless and in priority need from a settled address within the borough - this need will be awarded Band 2 for one month and can only be extended if it was not possible for the need to be met in that time;
- people who are severely overcrowded (lacking two or more bedrooms);
- people who need to move urgently from a rented home with a serious hazard that cannot be repaired;
- people with urgent medical, disability, or related support need;
- people with approval for an urgent management move usually because of violence or serious risk of violence;
- people who have to leave armed forces accommodation;
- people who have to leave a tied tenancy because their employment has ended through no fault of their own;
- people with other urgent and exceptional needs not covered elsewhere including those the Council has accepted as referrals from partner agencies.
Band 3 - People with more than one need
you will be in this band if:
- you have more than one reason from the list in Band 4.
Band 4 - People with one need
any of the following:
- people accepted by the Council as needing to move into the borough to work or to give or receive support - this need cannot be combined with other needs to create a Band 3 need;
- people who are homeless but not included in Band 2 because they are non priority or are homeless intentionally - this need cannot be combined with other needs to create a Band 3 need, because the homelessness decision and award of Band 2 or 4 will have taken account of all relevant factors;
- people with moderate medical, disability, or related support needs;
- people who are overcrowded and need one more bedroom than they currently have including - a single person aged 18 or over and having to share a room other than with their partner or a single person having to share a room with more than one person;
- people who are Council or housing association tenants within the borough and will be releasing a family home;
- people who are Council or housing association tenants within the borough who are single or childless couples and will be moving from a home that is not for their age group or household type to one that is;
- people with other exceptional needs not covered elsewhere including those the Council has accepted as referrals from partner agencies.
Band 5 - People with reduced priority (subject to a right of appeal)
any of the following:
- people with one or more housing need but whose present or last settled
- address is not within the borough and who have no particular need to live here;
- people with one or more housing need but who have or have had sufficient equity to afford private rental;
- people with one or more housing need but who have reduced priority because they have failed to pay rent, have caused neighbour nuisance or anti-social behaviour or have breached other conditions of tenancy.
Band 6 - People with no recognised need
for example:
- single people or couples who are lodging and have their own bedroom;
- people who have a tenancy or own a property that is adequate for their
needs.
Band 7 - People with no recognised need who also have reduced
any of the following:
- people who would be in Band 6 (no need) and have reduced priority for reasons such as those described in Band 5;
- People who have a housing need but have had all priority removed due to very serious anti-social behaviour that makes them unsuitable to be a tenant.
How will medical priority be decided?
Any medical needs will be discussed with a Housing Options Advisor and where appropriate a referral will be made to the Housing Occupational Therapy Team who will assess your needs.
Will other exceptional circumstances be considered?
Every situation is different; occasionally there are circumstances that are not adequately recognised in our general policy. If you feel that this applies to you please let us know when you make your application so that your circumstances can be considered and if justified a higher priority may be given.
What are my options if I am in a lower band?
Some properties are less popular than others; for example, if you are over 35 years of age you may be offered a flat in certain areas. There are a range of other housing options which you may wish to consider;
for example, private renting, rent deposit scheme or shared ownership. You do not need to join the waiting list to use our Housing Options service. For further information contact Dudley Council Plus on 0300 555 2345.
I am unsure if I should apply to join the waiting list?
For further information and advice: contact Dudley Council Plus on 0300 555 2345; or visit:
Dudley Council Plus, 259 Castle Street, Dudley or your area housing office.
