Applying for social housing
If you’re considering applying for social housing or homelessness assistance, it’s important to understand the key criteria that councils assess:
- Eligibility for assistance
- Local connection (for example, living, working, or having close family in the area)
- Priority need (especially relevant if you’re applying as homeless)
You should always ask your allocated officer to explain anything you’re unsure about - especially formal letters from the council, which can sometimes be complex or difficult to understand.
Before applying for social housing, make sure you’re familiar with the requirements.
What is eligibility?
If you are an asylum seeker in Warwickshire and need housing or homelessness support, the help available to you will depend on your circumstances, including whether you have access to public funds. Eligibility for housing assistance from your local authority in England depends on several key factors, especially your immigration status, residency, and housing need. Here's a breakdown of what determines eligibility and what you’ll typically need to provide as proof:
- Be a British Citizen, or have the right to live, work and access public funds in the UK
- Be habitually resident in the Common Travel Area
- Be aged 18 or over (in exceptional circumstances a 16- or 17-year-old may qualify if they are statutorily homeless or subject to a Special Agency Referral. They may require an adult or organisation to act as a guarantor for rent payments).
- Have a local connection to Warwick District, or be in an exempt category
What is a local connection?
A local connection means that you have links to the council area because you:
- live or have lived in the area recently
- work in the area
- have close family living there
- get care leavers support in the area
- lived in asylum support housing in the area
Check your local authority area
To apply for housing support, you must usually have a local connection to the council area. Use the Gov.uk postcode finder to identify your local council and check their housing policies.
GOV.UK - Find your local council
What is a priority need?
Priority need is a legal term used by local councils to decide who should receive more urgent help with housing if they are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
You may be considered to have a priority need if:
- You are pregnant
- You have dependent children living with you
- You are at risk of domestic abuse
- You are homeless due to a fire, flood, or other disaster
- You are vulnerable due to serious illness, disability, mental health issues, or other special circumstances
- You are aged 18 to 20 and have previously been in care
- You are under 18 and homeless (usually supported by social services)
In legal terms, being 'vulnerable' means you would be at significantly greater risk of harm than most people if left without housing.
If you’re a single adult without medical conditions and have recourse to public funds
If you are a single person with no known health issues or vulnerabilities, it is unlikely that the council will owe you a housing duty. In this case, you may need to find your own accommodation, such as:
- Renting a room in a shared house
- Staying with friends or family
- Accessing a night shelter or hostel through outreach teams or charities
You can search for emergency accommodation options or contact outreach services via Street Link, which connects people sleeping rough with local support.
StreetLink - Connecting people sleeping rough to local services
If you do not have access to public funds
If you do not have access to public funds because of your visa status or because you haven't been granted leave to remain you will not be eligible to apply for social housing or private rented accommodation, but there is still support available, more information and specific webpages can be found in ‘useful links’.
- Emergency support – Some charities and community organisations can provide emergency accommodation, food, and other essential support, please note that emergency accommodation is likely to be out of the area and will be on a first come first serve basis
- Advice services – There are organisations that can help you understand your rights and explore possible options, including legal advice and support for destitute asylum seekers
- Community networks – Local support groups may be able to offer assistance with food, shelter, and finding a safe place to stay.
- Where to get help – You can contact organisations such as the Refugee Council, Red Cross, Migrant help or local charities for advice and support.