The council and its registered social landlord partners have created a common housing register for applicants who are eligible and qualify for social housing. There is a limited supply of social housing in the borough, with over 23,000 applications currently on the housing register.
Unfortunately, most who apply will have little or no chance of being offered a home as only 1 in 10 applicants stand a chance of being made an offer. Even those applicants who qualify to be on the housing register may have to wait a long time.
The table below provides the average wait times based on the priority and size of property you may require.
| Studio | 1 Bed | 2 Bed | 3 Bed | 4 Bed | 5+ Beds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Band 2 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 13 | no lets |
| Band 3 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 2 * *(based on 3 actual lets) | no lets | no lets |
*Based on the actual lets for the financial year 2022/2023.
You can see what other housing options may be suitable for you on our Ask Mo page.
Normally, you can join the housing register as long as you:
Everyone must apply online.
If you do not have access to a computer at home, our Idea Stores and libraries have free computer usage and internet access. You can also complete this application on your mobile phone.
Your address history for the past three years from the date of your application confirming any dates that you moved in or out. We will need proof of residence for the last three years;
These are the documents we will accept:
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2020 – 30 June 2021 | 1 July 2021 – 30 June 2022 | 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023 |
| 2 documents to show continuous residency | 2 documents to show continuous residency | 3 documents to show continuous residency One of these must be a full bank statement that is dated within the last 3 months of this year |
| Council tax bill Rent book | Insurance documents Credit card bill | Full bank account statement Tenancy agreement Polling card |
If you are unable to finish the form in one go, you can save your application and finish it later. Make sure the details you enter into the form are true and accurate. We will assess your application based on the information you give us. Please read our obligation to be truthful statement before you make an application. The information you provide may be shared with internal departments or with external partners and agencies involved in delivering services on our behalf. The council has a duty to protect public funds and may use personal information and data-matching techniques to detect and prevent fraud, and ensure public money is targeted and spent in the most appropriate and cost-effective way. Information may be shared with internal services and external bodies like the Audit Commission, Department for Work and Pensions, other local authorities, HM Revenue and Customs, and the Police. This activity is carried out under social protection law. We may also check your details with credit scoring companies such as Experian.
You can either scan your photographs using a scanner, or photograph them using your phone’s camera. The best format to upload documents in is PDF. Read our tips on how to use your phone to create PDFs of your documents. If you do not have access to a scanner or camera phone at home, you may be able to use a scanner at your local Idea Store. Save the documents on your computer or phone that you will be using to make your application. Make sure you keep the originals of all your documents safe as these may need to be seen at a later date (maybe years later) before an offer of accommodation can be made to you.
You have the right to ask for a review within 28 days of our decision and won’t normally be allowed after this time unless there are extenuating reasons why you couldn’t submit your request on time.
We will consider the facts of your application and representations made as they stand at the time of the review decision.
We have 40 days to make a new decision or uphold the decision we originally made, and give you our reasons. After this time you will not be able to ask for a review of the same decision, which will be our final decision.
Until you are rehoused or application is withdrawn or cancelled you must inform us immediately of any change of circumstances, for example:
You must give the full details of the type of property you live in. Make sure there is no gap or overlap between the start date and the last date you were in your previous home.
You can add and remove household members on your application. Our housing allocations scheme document /Change of Circumstances Form will tell you who you can add to your application.
If you are already a Tower Hamlets tenant you will not be able to add or remove any household members without first speaking to your housing officer.
You must tell us about any changes to your phone number or email address.
If we find that any of your details are incorrect or not true, we may close your application, remove any priority given, or withdraw an offer or even prosecute you for fraud.
Please see our Privacy Notice about how we handle your data and how it is processed.