Council Tenancies/Social Housing

There is a severe shortage of affordable housing in Hackney. Almost 8,000 households are waiting for social housing in the borough, but only around 600 social tenancies become available each year. The waiting list is growing all the time. This means it is only possible now to allocate social housing to those in greatest need. The circumstances of residents deemed to be those in greatest need include:

• Households with emergency need, such as people who have lost homes due to fire or flooding or who have had to move due to witness protection;

• Households suffering severe overcrowding (more than two rooms short, with living spaces counted as a potential bedroom space);

• Households with a significant medical need;

• People with a significant social need, such as facing a threat to life;

• Families who are statutorily homeless.

However, in April 2024, the Council’s Social Housing Allocation Policy was amended to allow care leavers without a housing need to register on the Council’s housing register when they turn 18, in recognition of the Council’s Corporate Parenting responsibilities. 

Hackney care leaver who wishes to join the Hackney Housing Register can do so, provided that they:

• Are safe to live in Hackney;

• Have recourse to public funds;

• Have no or low level of rent arrears;

• Have no history of antisocial behaviour (ASB);

• Is not registered as owning a property.

Leaving Care practitioners will proactively speak to all care leavers from the age of 18 about whether they wish to access the housing register. For those that do, their practitioner will liaise with the Benefits and Homeless Prevention Service to confirm their eligibility and arrange for them to be added to the register. All care leavers applying to the register will have their application date backdated to their 18th birthday. 

Going forward, we are working on a system that will enable Hackney care leavers aged 18-25 to join the Housing Register, independently of the Leaving Care Service, in order to offer their own agency in this process.

The average waiting time to secure a social tenancy in Hackney is very significant: it is estimated to be 3+ years for a one bedroom and 12+ years for a two bedroom home. The Leaving Care Service will therefore always advise and support care leavers wishing to bid for a social tenancy to make parallel plans for their accommodation, including searching for private rented sector tenancy. It is important to ensure that care leavers understand that being on the housing register and bidding is not a guaranteed route into social housing.