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When everyone has a home

Housing advice for Northern Ireland

Waiting time and offers

Because of the shortage of social housing some people will wait a very long time before they get offered a property.  You could have a long wait, even if you passed the 4 homeless tests and are legally homeless.

Waiting for an offer

The best way to increase your chance of getting an offer is to either:

Getting an offer of housing

You are entitled to two reasonable offers of accommodation. When you get an offer you'll have an opportunity to view the property. Your offer letter should explain how much you'll have to pay for the property.

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Getting an offer when your points are low

You'll probably wait a long time for an offer if your points are low. There are a couple of things you can try to speed up the process. You could change your areas of choice to an area with less demand or you could look at the properties available on the Housing Executive's Choice Based Lettings scheme.

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Dealing with an offer you don't want

You're only entitled to two reasonable offers. If you're offered a property that you don't want you'll lose one of these offers unless you can show the Housing Executive or housing association that the offer wasn't reasonable. How you challenge the decision depends on whether you've passed the 4 homelessness tests of not.

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Problems on the waiting list

You'll have to renew your application every year and if you don't do this, you'll be removed from the waiting list. It's important that you keep your details up to date.

A change in your circumstances could mean you're entitled to more points. You can also lose points if your circumstances change.

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Purchasing a home for someone with very specific housing needs

In extremely limited circumstances the Housing Executive may work with a housing association to purchase a property for a person if they have complex needs and have spent a long time on the waiting list without receiving offers. This is known as the Special Acquisition of Dwellings.

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