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The Greater London Herald logoThe Greater London Herald

Wandsworth Council Reviews Social Housing Allocation Scheme

Residents invited to comment on proposed changes to housing register priority and allocation rules.

Generic image of a housing register document with a pen.
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Generic image of a housing register document with a pen.

The Wandsworth Council is reviewing its Housing Allocation Scheme to make social housing allocation fairer and reduce reliance on temporary accommodation, with residents invited to share their views.

The rules governing priority for social housing are under review by Wandsworth Council in an effort to create a more equitable system and decrease the need for temporary accommodation. Residents are now being given the opportunity to comment on the proposed modifications.
Currently, homeless individuals residing in temporary accommodation risk losing their place on the Housing Register if they move into certain privately rented homes. The proposed changes aim to alter this, which is expected to reduce demand on temporary accommodation, leading to better outcomes for residents and savings for Council Taxpayers.
Further proposed changes include extending the local residency requirement from three continuous years to five years out of the last seven, with applicants needing to reside in the borough at the time of application. Additionally, some households may be offered choice-based letting, allowing them to bid on suitable properties rather than being assigned the first available one.
The review also suggests offering one-bedroom homes to some single homeless individuals, who are currently primarily considered for studio flats unless specific circumstances necessitate larger accommodation. Furthermore, tenants downsizing to a smaller home would receive Band A priority, irrespective of the number of bedrooms freed up, a change from the current rule requiring at least two bedrooms to be vacated.

Our spending on temporary accommodation has soared by around 700% since the start of the decade. This spending uses Council Taxpayers money that can otherwise be spent on services residents value. It is vital that we act. Reducing the need for temporary accommodation is better for our residents, improves life chances, and will help us deliver better services for all residents. We would like to hear from as many people as possible who are affected by this issue, including Housing Register applicants, homeless households and social housing tenants.

In-person information sessions are also being held for those who wish to learn more and provide comments.
Based on information from the official source: London Borough of Wandsworth (26/10/2026)

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