Housing

Housing Services

Getting a home from the Council

Housing Register Points Scheme

Description		Points
1.	Bedroom Overcrowding (a) Based on the standard that no more than two males or two females should share a room, providing the age difference is less than 7 years. (b) Applicants with children up to 10 years old sharing their bedroom (for each child). (c) Applicants who do not have their own bedroom.	5
2.	Statutory overcrowding (a) Where two children of opposite sex, one of which is over 10 years, sleep in the same room. (b) Where a child over 10 years of age sleeps in the same bedroom as parent(s) or other relatives. The deficiencies in 1 & 2 will be calculated with regard to the size of the bedrooms in accordance with the standards laid down in the statutory overcrowding provisions of the Housing Act 1985.	20
3.	Shared facilities with family (kitchen, living room, bathroom, WC): Kitchen – 3 points Living room – 3 points Bathroom – 1 points WC – 1 point	8 MAXIMUM
4.	Shared facilities non family (kitchen, living room, bathroom, WC): Kitchen – 4 points Living room – 4 points Bathroom – 2 points WC – 2 points	12 MAXIMUM
5.	Lack of living room, kitchen and bathroom	5 PER ROOM
6.	More than one flight of stairs: Families with children under 5 or applicants with mobility problems.	5
7.	Displacement of a member of the family from their bedroom.	2
8.	Cooking and living in same room. (Bedsit or where the kitchen is not separate).	3
9.	General unsuitability: Access to another room through bedroom High ceilings causing heating difficulties Sloping ceilings Lack of adequate lighting Lack of ventilation Cramped conditions Steep slope (age or medical problem) Not self contained Access from house immediately onto pavement No drying facilities Lack of garden (children under 10) Isolated property External WC (This list is not necessarily exhaustive)	1 point each 10 MAXIMUM
10.	Disrepair and dampness beyond an applicant’s control.	10 MAXIMUM
11.	Medical points awarded by the Council’s Medical Adviser per application. Where necessary the Medical Adviser may require confirmation from health professionals.	10 MAXIMUM
12.	Number of years from date of application: Year 1 – 5 points Year 2 – add 10 points Year 3 – add 15 points	30 MAXIMUM
13.	Residence in the Dover district per application. (Longest residence of either partner with regard to joint applicants). 1-5 years = 5 points 6-10 years = 10 points 11-15 years = 15 points 16-20 years = 20 points	20 MAXIMUM
14.	Under Occupation	5 EACH UNUSED BEDROOM
15.	Residents of Women’s Refuges who have been resident in the scheme for 6 months and have been recommended for rehousing by the Project Worker.	100
16.	Urgent medical/social reasons (at the Head of Housing’s discretion) Additional preference may be given in certain circumstances where people have a particular medical or social welfare need to move, supported by Police, Social Services or medical professional.	100 MAXIMUM
17.	Single Agency Assessment accepted from another professional:
	High priority	100
	Medium priority	50
18.	Occupiers of properties under Closing or Demolition Orders.	100
19.	Farm Workers who need immediate housing under the Rent (Agriculture) Act.	100
20.	Key workers moving into the district by agreement with the employer. Key workers will be assisted where their financial resources restrict their ability to help themselves. It is not usually possible to assist in areas of high demand and the properties offered are likely to be flats or maisonettes.	50
21.	Private tenants who have received Notice to Quit on grounds of end of lease.	20
21.	As above and on the Housing Register 3 years or more.	50
22.	At Summons stage if 3 years on the Housing Register have been completed on grounds of end of lease	30
	At Summons stage if 2 years on Housing Register have been completed on grounds of end of lease	20
	At Summons stage if more than 1 year but less than 2 years on Housing Register have been completed, on grounds of end of lease (Private tenants whose landlord is in default with the mortgage and is subject to Court proceedings will also qualify under 22).	10
23.	Potentially non intentionally homeless applicants who are elderly or disabled, when Notice to Quit has been served.	50
24	Servicemen who have received a Certificate of Impending Homelessness, have been on the Housing Register for 3 years and who have insufficient means to purchase a suitable property.	50
25.	Servicemen who have received a Certificate of Impending Homelessness, have been registered on the waiting list for more than 1 year but less than 3 years and who have insufficient means to purchase a suitable property. Applicants from servicemen will be suspended until three months before end of service. Servicemen will be required to provide details of their financial resources when their service ends. Note: Separated wives in MOD housing given 93 days notice, will be pointed as 24 & 25 .	20
26.	Homeless at home (in priority need and not intentionally homeless, as defined in the Council’s Homelessness Service Booklet). This will be increased by 5 points per month up to a maximum of 50.	20
27.	Roofless (to reflect all other factors except residence, lack of bathroom and toilet facilities, medical need and time on list).	20
28.	Residents of Sanctuary Housing Association Hostel after 6 months of occupation (to reflect all other factors except medical need, lack of bedrooms and time on list). Where a hostel flat is not required for a homeless family, the next highest pointed applicant or transfer case will be given priority.	150
29.	Housing Association Private Sector Leased Schemes (HALS) tenants upon service of Notice to Quit.	100
	Private Sector Leased Scheme (PSL) tenants after 3 years	100
	Rent Deposit Scheme (RDS) tenants upon service of a Notice to Quit These points are inclusive of all other factors (except medical need and lack of bedrooms) for households who are not intentionally homeless.	100
29.	Residents of Southern Housing Group Hostel (to reflect all other factors except medical need, lack of bedrooms and time in hostel). Where a hostel flat is not required for a homeless family, the next highest pointed applicant or transfer case will be given priority.	150
30.	Occupiers of bed and breakfast accommodation for more than 3 months	150
31.	Housing Association Private Sector Leased Schemes (HALS) tenants upon service of Notice to Quit.	100
	Private Sector Leased Scheme (PSL) tenants after 1 year	100
	Rent Deposit Scheme (RDS) tenants upon service of a Notice to Quit	100
	These points are inclusive of all other factors (except medical need and lack of bedrooms) for households who are not intentionally homeless.

Residents of supported schemes that provide accommodation for vulnerable single homeless adults with support needs, will be considered for move-on following recommendation by a Project Worker.

This will be subject to scheme by scheme agreement.

Schemes include:

Fern Court (managed by East Kent Cyrenians)
Oban House (Stonham Housing Association)
Suffolk House (Stonham Housing Association)
St Martin’s House (Stonham Housing Association)
Rainer Kent Housing

E-mail: housing@dover.gov.uk