Housing Allocation

Under the housing selection scheme, applicants are assessed and given points in accordance with their needs, and they are ranked in a waiting order. The waiting list is used by social housing landlords and the Executive.

Some persons with special needs, usually referred by social services, are placed on a separate list based on individual needs.

A person who is a full-duty applicant and is accepted as homeless due to intimidation will receive intimidation points. They may be awarded points where their home has been destroyed or seriously damaged as a result of a terrorist, racial, sectarian, or hostility-motivated attack due to disability or sexual orientation.

A party cannot reasonably be expected to live in their home because they would face a serious and imminent risk, or one or more of their household would likely be killed or seriously injured as a result of a terrorist, racial, sectarian, or hostility-motivated attack.

Persons subject to immigration control are not entitled to intimidation points.

A full-duty applicant is a person who has a statutory duty under Article 10 of the Housing (NI) Order 1998, as amended. This includes persons who are unintentionally homeless, eligible for assistance, and in priority need.

Or a person who is awarded full-duty applicant points under subsequent circumstances where a level of point protection is offered if they may suffer a detriment.

Interim accommodation points may be awarded to persons in temporary accommodation and have a statutory duty under Homelessness Legislation and have resided there for six months. This also applies to persons who are self-referred to hostel accommodation and have resided there for six months. These points help persons who are placed in single accommodation in the private rented sector by the Executive and have resided there for six months.

Full-duty applicants who pick up private rented sector housing on a temporary basis do not qualify for interim accommodation points.

Points may also be awarded in various circumstances such as:

• Matrimonial or civil partnership relationship breakdown, with or without children.
• A victim of an unprotected private sector tenancy.
• Financial hardship forcing the sale of a house due to urgent and compelling reasons.
• The end of tied accommodation due to redundancy or retirement.
• The end of accommodation due to termination of service in the armed forces, release from prison, or leaving a hostel where current accommodation is unsuitable.
• Leaving institutional care where the applicant is unable to occupy previous or current accommodation and is in the care of foster care.
• A closing or termination order has been made by a body with compulsory purchasing powers regarding the person’s accommodation.
• Consistent change of address to obtain shelter, leaving hostel accommodation having resided there for more than six months.
• Other circumstances.

To be eligible under each of the above categories, applicants must have no suitable alternative accommodation currently available and must not reasonably be expected to seek such accommodation. The Executive will consider the ready availability of accommodation within the relevant central housing area, taking into account the size, type, features, and conditions of the accommodation. The financial condition and circumstances of the applicant are considered to determine whether they are in a position to seek such accommodation.

Points are awarded for sharing a person’s accommodation.

Points are also awarded to applicants if they require to share any basic facilities in their present accommodation, but only if no one included in the application has a prior right to the facility. The amount of points awarded depends on the nature of the shared facilities and whether the applicant has children. Prior right means exclusive right to the facility.

There are points awarded in respect of overcrowding. Points are awarded for each bedroom short of the standard. They are awarded if the current accommodation does not meet the number and size of bedrooms required by the applicant’s household and others residing in that accommodation. Guidelines specify sizes for single and double bedrooms. Double bedrooms are considered appropriate for two persons living as a couple, two persons of the same gender over 18, or two persons of either gender under seven. Single bedrooms are considered appropriate for two persons of the same gender under 18. A counter section of the size of the rooms must be at least 40 square feet.

Points are awarded for lack of amenities and disrepair in respect to current accommodation. If that accommodation is in serious disrepair and poses a risk to the health or physical safety of occupants, lacks provision for adequate lighting, heating, ventilation, water, sanitary facilities, preparation of food, cooking, or a suitably located toilet for the exclusive use of the occupants, or does not have a suitable location to install a bath or shower or lacks electricity.

If there is an award based on the above basis, the Executive will refer the property to the environmental health department for inspection. The Housing Executive may be obliged to remedy unfitness. This does not apply to properties within redevelopment areas, mobile homes, caravans on district council’s traveler’s halting sites, or participating landlord’s stocks.

Additional points are awarded for the length of time during which a person has been in urgent housing need.

The scheme assesses the ability of the applicant and members of their household to manage their existing home adequately. It distinguishes between functional ability, support needs, and adverse social factors that may relate to housing.

Applicants or household members who have a physical disability that is affecting their current housing are assigned points on a functionality matrix. There are three levels of dependency: independent, needs help, or dependent on others. The functionality matrix references points based on the ability to undertake certain tasks related to mobility, such as climbing stairs, etc., categorizing them as independent, needing help, or dependent on others.

A person with support and care needs is assessed using a support matrix. Points are awarded for self-care or home management needs. The matrix refers to basic everyday activities, including dressing, getting out of bed, getting out of the shower, and going to the toilet. The degree of dependence or assistance required is scored on a scale.

The social needs category assesses needs with reference to adverse social or environmental factors. Points are awarded for the following considerations:

• Where an applicant or member of the household is experiencing violence or is at risk of physical, sexual, emotional domestic violence.
• Where the applicant or a member of the household is experiencing or has experienced racial harassment or fear of actual violence.
• Where the applicant or member of the household is experiencing feared or actual violence for another reason, and the applicant is afraid to remain in the home.
• Where the applicant or a member of the household is experiencing distress or anxiety caused by recent trauma that has occurred in the current accommodation.
• Where, in the opinion of social services, there is a need for re-housing to prevent the applicant or the member of the household from going into care.
• Where Social Services recommend that the Applicant or a member of the household moves to larger and more stable accommodation to enable them to become or continue to be foster parents.
• Where families with dependent children are living apart due to overcrowding or tension in previous accommodation, or where living together would result in children living in unsuitable accommodation.
• In circumstances equivalent to the above, where the exercise of discretion is appropriate.
• There is a photocopy of social need factors where persons experience social difficulties due to their current accommodation. Points are awarded with reference to each factor.

Applicants who fall into any of the above categories, including those:

• Experiencing neighbor disputes that re-housing is likely to resolve.
• Experiencing harassment without fear of actual violence.
• Experiencing burglary or vandalism and are unable to cope in their current accommodation.
• Awarded staying or weekend access to dependent children, and their current accommodation is unsuitable to facilitate access.
• Have current accommodation that is too expensive.
• Are unable to maintain their current accommodation.
• Have a medical condition exacerbated by having the Applicant in the home.
• Have experienced a recent bereavement in their current accommodation and request re-housing.
• Are unable to reside with a partner for reasons beyond their control, and there are no dependent children.
• Are socially isolated in their current accommodation, and re-housing would be of clear benefit.
• Need to take up a new job or a full-time course of study and do not reside within a reasonable traveling distance (20 miles).
• Need to move to be near family for the provision of child care to assist employment.
• Need to move to be near a hospital, day care center, specialized education unit, or other essential facility that is of clear benefit to the Applicant or a household member.
• Where alternative accommodation is recommended by Social Services to meet the specific needs of the Applicant or a member of the household.
• Where the Applicant’s household contains a child of 10 years or less, and they are living in accommodation above the ground floor level.
• In other equivalent circumstances.

Some applicants may have intense care and support needs that require specialized accommodation to enable them to live at home. This may require supported housing with a pre-agreed tailored package for the relevant applicant or household member.

A person so assessed may receive supported accommodation. This is not general needs nor sheltered accommodation. There may be houses without reference to points, but they will only be considered for supported housing with care schemes. This category may include elderly or frail persons, persons with chronic debilitating conditions.

Applicants with complex needs do not require supported housing but may receive general needs accommodation, which will only be suited to applicants receiving an agreed, tailored care package delivered by health and social services. Intense care and support needs are more likely to be met by a partner, other caregiver, or health and social services.

Applicants with complex needs may be considered for a direct referral from health and social services or as a result of a housing needs assessment. The criteria are flexible due to the variety of conditions and circumstances that may arise, such as frailty, learning difficulties, extensive physical difficulties requiring intensive support, and a range of intensity points on the support care matrix or functionality matrix where the applicant or household member has recently been instituted, admitted to a hospital, or another institute for respite care.