Flat for single person. Questions

Hey

Firstly you would need to contact your council and register to go onto their housing list, This can take several weeks if they accept you onto the list, you will be given a default banding once the account is activated and will then be able to bid on properties(you can place 2-3 bids per week).

You will also need to apply for an occupational health assessment with your council, this can take several months so it’s best to sign up asap, Someone will come out to your home and talk through your health conditions and how they affect you in your current home, if they decide your current housing is suitable they might not be able to help but this is an important step as they are able to increase your banding if they find your current housing to be unsuitable.

Once your able to bid on properties you will login to the website and place bids on the property your interested in, bare in mind a bid is only to tell them you wish to be considered for the property, if someone has waited longer or has a higher priority than yourself the offer will go to them even if your showing as 1st.

The council won’t stick you in a bad area as you are responsible for placing the bids, keep in mind the more desirable an area the lower the chance you have of been made an offer as people who have waited longer or higher priority/need will be offered first.

Even with a higher banding you may still be waiting several years as there’s a chronic shortage on council housing across all of England.

Also keep in mind what you bid on as you aren’t able to refuse a property without a very good reason(for example you use a wheelchair full time and the doorways in the property aren’t able to accommodate a wheelchair etc)

Banding is pretty much the same at all councils they just use different terms

A/Platinum - Urgent need for immediate housing(you won’t get this as it’s got extreme situations)

B/Gold - High priority due to medical needs, current home is unsuitable/risk to health

C/Silver - High need but not urgent due to medical or health conditions

D/Bronze - Low priority, no medical/health risk, standard banding.

They will only come out to do that assessment if you refer yourself for a needs assessment. You don't have to do that. Though it may help you to move out a little quicker but that will depend on your current housing situation.