Council Housing: Waiting Lists – Parliamentary Written Answer

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether local authorities prioritise housing applications from homeless people who reside in sheltered housing or residential homes.

Grant Shapps: Local authorities deal with homelessness applications on a case by case basis. If a household is homeless through no fault of their own, eligible (certain categories of persons from abroad are ineligible) and in priority need then the local authority has a duty to ensure that suitable accommodation is available for them. The priority need categories include someone who is vulnerable because of old age, or physical or mental disability.  Certain people must be given ‘reasonable preference' (i.e. priority) if they apply for social housing. This includes people who are homeless or owed certain duties under the homelessness legislation.