When you apply for social housing you must choose the areas where you’d like to live. Most people can choose any areas they want but there are restrictions on some people.
Choosing your areas
You can choose as many, or as few, areas of choice as you want. You’ll need to choose one area as your preferred area of choice. Any other areas you choose will all count as a second preference.
Social landlords will consider you for social housing that meets your needs in that area.
There are a few things to think about when choosing your areas. When a property is available the housing officer who is making the offer will look at the list to see:
- who wants property in that area
- who needs this type of property and
- who, of these people, has the most points
When you choose your areas, think about:
- what size of property you need and what areas have a lot of those properties
- whether there are any new builds planned for the area
- how often properties become available in the area
- whether the area is close to any services you use, like schools or clinics
You can also contact the Housing Executive or a housing association and ask them for a rough idea of how many points you’d need to the type of property you need in the area you want.
Changing your areas of choice
You can change your areas of choice. Call or write to the Housing Executive to do this.
Make sure you keep a copy of your letter or take a note of who you spoke to and when you spoke to them. You might want to double check that the change has been noted on your file a week or so later.
Restrictions to your choice of area
If you’ve been intimidated out of your home you may not be allowed to choose certain areas because you wouldn’t be safe living there.
People being supervised under Public Protection Arrangements Northern Ireland (PPANI) might have restrictions placed on their choice of area. If you’re concerned about this, speak to your Designated Risk Manager.
If you’re confused about areas of choice speak to an adviser at Housing Rights.
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