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Prioritising Applications
We use three sets of criteria to prioritise applications. These are:
-
your band
-
your local connection if you have one
-
your registration date.
Your band
All application forms received are assessed for housing need and applicants placed in one of four bands. These bands are in order of priority:
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5.
Types of applicant
We also categorise all applicants as follows:
-
general register - an applicant who lives in the private sector
-
transfer - an applicant who is a council or housing association tenant
-
homeless - an applicant who has been accepted as homeless.
We may sometimes give preference to transfer or homeless applicants to meet annual lettings targets.
Banding reasons
The table below sets out how we classify applicant type and band with banding reasons. If you are assessed as having two or more banding reasons in either the High Band or the Medium Band you are moved up one band.
|
Band |
Banding reasons |
|
Band 1 |
Exceptional circumstances |
|
Under occupation by two or more bedrooms - Social landlord tenants only |
|
|
Housing management moves including decants |
|
|
Succession - Social landlord tenants only |
|
|
Prohibition / demolition notices |
|
|
Statutory Overcrowding |
|
Band 2 |
Urgent social or welfare |
|
Urgent health or disability |
|
|
Under occupation by one bedroom - Social landlord tenants only |
|
|
Move on from supported accommodation |
|
|
Priority homeless |
|
|
Overcrowded because 2 or more bedrooms short |
|
|
Compound needs from Band 3 |
|
|
Band 3 |
Significant social or welfare |
|
Significant health or disability |
|
|
Unsatisfactory Housing - Category 1 |
|
|
Overcrowded because 1 bedroom short |
|
|
Insecure tied accommodation |
|
|
Insecure private rented accommodation |
|
|
Non-priority homeless/no fixed abode |
|
|
Compound needs from Band 4 |
|
|
Band 4 |
Moderate social or welfare |
|
Moderate health or disability |
|
|
Unsatisfactory housing – Category 2 |
|
|
Band 5 |
Adequately housed |
|
Sufficient financial resources |
|
|
Nil priority |
What is a local connection?
A local connection with Cherwell, gives you some priority over applicants without a local connection. You have a local connection if you have:
-
lived in the District for a continuous period of at least 6 months preceding the date of the offer of accommodation, or;
-
permanent employment within the District, or;
-
previously lived in the District for a period of at least 5 years, or;
-
close relatives living in the District for a period of at least 5 years. Close relatives are defined as parents, children, siblings, grandparents or grandchildren (including step relatives).
Your registration date
Your registration date is the date your application form was received by us. Each form received is date stamped.