Apply to join the housing register
Find a home faster
Options to find a home faster include:
- renting from a private landlord
- looking in areas outside of London
- downsizing your home if you’re a social housing tenant in Redbridge
- swapping your home if you’re a social housing tenant in Redbridge
If you need help paying rent you may be able to apply for Universal Credit.
Who can join the housing register
Access to the housing register is limited and not everyone can join.
You can join the housing register if:
- You're 16 years or older
- you’ve lived continuously in Redbridge for over five years
- you earn less than £49,000 a year
You cannot join if:
- you broke rules of past tenancies
- you’re in temporary housing in Redbridge that is provided by another council
You do not need to meet all the requirements if you’re looking for sheltered housing.
Applying because you’re homeless
If you’re homeless or threatened with homelessness complete our online form as soon as possible.
If you’re homeless and have nowhere to stay tonight, call 0208 708 4002.
How the social housing register works
Joining the housing register lets you bid for social housing.
Social housing is housing rented from the council or a housing association. It also includes sheltered housing for residents aged 55 or older.
We put everyone who is accepted onto the housing register in a group. This is known as a 'band'. You’ll need to bid on properties that are within your band when they become available.
The housing register is not run on a 'first come, first served' basis.
How long it takes to get a home
Most people on the housing register are never offered a social home even if they’re on the housing register for a long time.
We cannot tell you how long it will take or if you’ll get a council house.
The waiting time can be over two decades.
What you need
Before you start your application, you’ll need:
- proof of identity such as passport, birth certificate, immigration status
- an email address for us to contact you
- names and dates of birth for everyone in your household
- National Insurance numbers for everyone in your household aged 16 or over
- addresses for everywhere you have lived in the past five years
- the names and contact details for any landlords you had in the past five years
- details of any properties in the UK or abroad that you own or have owned
You’ll also need to give:
- information about earnings and benefits for you and everyone in your household
- details of any medical conditions affecting you or anyone in your household
- details of any carers connected to your household
- the name and contact details of anyone helping you complete the form
Make sure you have all the information you need before you start.
Apply to join the housing register
Apply to join the housing register on Redbridge Homes 4 U
We only accept online applications to go on the housing register.
All our libraries offer free computer and internet access. You can also use our free WiFi there. Find your nearest library
You’ll need to add your documents when you apply online.
What happens next
You’ll get a reference number for your application.
We review your application and check if you can join the housing register.
We’ll let you know the decision by letter.
If approved
The letter will tell you:
- your application banding and priority date
- your bidding number
- how to bid on social housing properties
If you are not eligible for social housing
The letter will explain why we have made this decision.
If you disagree with the decision you can ask us to review it.
Ask for a review
You need to ask us for a review within 21 days after getting your decision letter.
If you think our decision is wrong, see our allocation policy (PDF 330KB).
You’ll need to contact us and tell us why you think our decision is wrong. You can include any documents or information to support your decision.
We’ll review your application and let you know our decision within eight weeks.
How we decide what housing band to put you in
Everyone who registers for social housing is put into a band. We usually offer the property to the bidder in the highest band who has been waiting the longest.
Band 1: Emergency
- urgent need to move with a strict deadline
- example: someone living in a building set to be torn down within three months due to a renovation project
Band 2: Urgent
- serious housing problems needing quick help
- examples: a young adult leaving care who is ready to live on their own and is chosen by the council, or someone with very urgent medical needs
Band 3: Moderate
- medium need to move
- examples: someone who is homeless, or someone living in an overcrowded home (not temporary housing)
Band 4: Reduced priority
- applies to people with no housing need but allowed on the waiting list. It also applies to those with housing need but who have not lived in Redbridge for at least five years
- example: someone applying for sheltered housing without housing need
The Community Contribution Award
The Community Contribution Award may give you higher priority within Band 3 when bidding for a property. This is not a priority band. It’ll be ahead of those without the award. You may qualify if, at the time of bidding, you meet one of these criteria:
- paid full-time work for at least six months
- full-time carer for a Redbridge resident for at least six months
- approved foster carer or adoptive parent for Redbridge Council
Contact us if you believe you qualify for the award. You must tell us if you no longer qualify.
Our allocations policy
You can find more details on how we review applications in the allocations policy (PDF 482KB)
Tell us about a change
If you’re on our housing register, you must tell us if anything changes in your household.
This is important as some changes impact the size or type of property that you can bid for or the band you’re given.
You must tell us if:
- your phone number or email address changes
- you get married or have a civil partnership
- you change your name
- your immigration status changes
- you want to add someone to your household, like a child
- you want to remove someone from your household
- you have a new medical condition
- you lose your job or your income changes
- you move to a new home
- your community contribution changes
If we need more information, we’ll email you to let you know.
To tell us about changes, log in to your housing application account.
Before you log in, you’ll need your:
- unique reference number (bidding number)
- memorable date
- password
