New housing allocations policy set to launch

The new Allocations Policy has 16 changes from the previous policy. Many of the changes aim to support those in greatest housing needs, including greater support to certain people including care leavers, those at risk of homelessness and families who live in overcrowded properties, for example.

In addition, the local connection residency requirement will increase from two years to five years. However, the law provides exemptions for certain groups, including members of the armed forces, individuals fleeing domestic abuse, and people who were accommodated in Salford when they received their Leave to Remain status.

However, the changes also aim to better manage housing expectations and reflect the significant discrepancy between the extremely high numbers of households in need of housing compared to the relatively small number of properties that become available for let. These changes will result in approximately 1,300 households being removed from the housing register.

Council officers have been in direct and regular contact with all on the register since March this year to make them aware of the upcoming changes and possible implications.

The demand for socially rented homes is much greater than the availability of homes in the city. Currently, prior to the implementation of the new policy, approximately 4,500 people are on the council’s housing register at any one time. However, fewer than 1000 homes are advertised or available for let through the register every year and the council has approximately 800 households in temporary accommodation.

Councillor Tracy Kelly, Lead Member for Housing and Anti-Poverty at Salford City Council said: “The demand for social housing in this city, and across the country, is in great demand. Our updated policy is all about making sure that socially rented homes are allocated on a fair basis and those who are most vulnerable or in need get them first.

“It is transparent, easier to understand and makes the best use of our limited housing stock. Preventing homelessness from happening in the first place is a key priority, alongside reducing the amount of time people have to stay in temporary accommodation. We must also make sure we are undertaking our legal duties as a local authority.

“We are working hard to build more homes in communities across the city. Our own housing company now has  completed 120 new homes this calendar year and local Registered Providers are also working with us to ramp up the delivery. There are currently 348 homes in construction.” 

The policy is based on:

• A fair system for the allocation of housing accommodation, which is transparent and easy to understand.
• Making best use of increasingly scarce social housing stock (homes available for rent below market rate to households whose needs cannot be met by the commercial housing market - Housing and Regeneration Act 2008).
• Preventing homelessness and reduce the usage and length of stay in temporary accommodation.
• Giving priority to applicants with the greatest housing need.
• Managing customer expectations by supporting people to make realistic and informed choices about where they live.
• Creating sustainable tenancies in the light of welfare reform
• Creating balanced and stable communities.
• The housing options available to a household will be dependent upon the level and type of housing need. Each application will be assessed on its own merits and exceptional circumstances will also be taken into consideration.
  
  Housing options and advice aim to achieve:
  
  
• Help and support to remain in current accommodation.
• Advice on securing alternative private rented accommodation.
• Advice on mobility schemes that may help a household move out of the area.
• Advice to current social housing tenants on mutual exchange.
• Advice on low-cost home ownership options.
• Access to the housing register to obtain social housing.

Councillor Brendan Keville, Executive Support Member for Homelessness, Affordable Housing & Housing Standards At Salford City Council, said: “We understand that the route to social housing and allocations process is hard to understand so we have created some frequently asked questions for our residents in Plain English.

“There is also a huge amount of support the council provides to help local people with the cost of living. People can get emergency assistance, essential food provision and we even put on free local activities. I’d encourage anybody who is struggling to visit our support pages and get help from our officers who are doing all they can to make life better and fairer for our residents.”

The cost of living pages are online.

The new approach was approved by councillors in April 2025. A public consultation took place in spring 2024 to review the existing policy and members of the public, local organisations, key stakeholders and partners were invited to take part, including a further consultation on the proposed changes in October 2024. 

Summary of all 16 changes to the policy

1. Family sized wheelchair adapted homes
   All 3+ bedroom wheelchair adapted homes continue to be allocated via a panel
   
   
2. Homelessness prevention
   We are currently piloting an approach where those who are ‘threatened ‘with homelessness and have been awarded a Prevention Duty under homelessness law are awarded the greatest levels of priority, in order to help us prevent homelessness in the City.
   
   
3. Local connection – residency
   The local connection residency criteria increases from 2 years to 5 years in Salford. There are other local connections criteria including employment within the City, people who need to move into the City to give or receive essential care, and there are some people who the law says must be exempt from our local connections criteria including those from the armed forces, people fleeing domestic abuse, and where people were accommodated in Salford when they received their Leave to Remain Status.
   
   
4. Local Connection – Family Association
   This category is being removed (except for essential care/support cases)
   
   
5. Care Leavers
   A change in those care leavers who can receive 20 care leaver points, to include all care leavers up to the age 25 (previously 21) where Salford is the corporate parent.
   
   
6. Non-Physical Health Needs
   Award of 10 points per affected household member with a non-physical health need (i.e. severe mental health, learning disability, neurodivergence) which is negatively impacted by the housing need / problem. Previously this was per household.
   
   
7. Overcrowding
   Points are changing:
   •    5 points per extra bedroom needed
   •    5 points per person needing that bedroom.
   
   
8. Under-Occupancy – Points
   A set25 points are awarded  to an application (regardless of the level of under occupancy). A change from the previous10 points per bedroom under-occupied.
   
   
9. Under-Occupancy – Allocations
   Singles/couples in 3+ bed (larger/family) homes can be considered for a 2-bed (subject to affordability).
   
   
10. Domestic Abuse Perpetrators
    Can join the register if they can demonstrate they are actively engaged in a perpetrator programme.
    
    
11. Disqualification – Eviction from Temporary Accommodation
    A household evicted from suitable temporary accommodation will be excluded rom the housing register.
    
    
12. Savings Threshold
    The amount of savings a household can have has increased from £16,000 to £30,000 Number of Suitable Offers
    
    
13. Notice of Suitable Offers
    Homeless applicants who are owed a Prevention, Relief or Main Housing Duty under homelessness law, will receive one suitable offer after which their application will be closed.
    
    
14. Rent Arrears
    Old £500 rule removed; now based on repayment engagement and time (13–19 weeks).
    
    
15.  Auto-Bidding
    Introduced for all applicants owed homelessness (Prevention, Relief or Main) duties.
    
    
16. Armed Forces
    Continue 5 credits per year of service, but in addition those in urgent need and who have less than 5 years’ service, can receive an extra 10 points.