How social housing is allocated

The council uses a fair system to decide who gets social housing. This is called the allocations group quotas policy.

We try to balance three main needs:

• helping people who are homeless or living in temporary housing
• helping people who live in homes that are not suitable for them
• helping current Portsmouth Homes or housing association tenants move, so their homes can be given to others in need

Everyone on the housing register is placed into one of three groups:

1. Homeless households – People who are currently housed by Portsmouth Homes or supported residents who need to move on
2. Transfer registrations – People who already rent from Portsmouth Homes or a housing association in the city
3. Non-transfer registrations – Everyone else who applies

Homes that are not sheltered housing are offered to people in these groups based on a set percentage. This helps us:

• support those with the greatest need
• help existing tenants move
• free up more homes for others

The percentage for each group can change depending on local housing needs. These changes are approved by the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Buildings and are published on the council’s website.

• Transfer registrations – 32%
• Homeless households – 46%
• Non-transfer registrations – 22%