A change to Havering’s housing allocation rules will protect working households from losing priority on the social housing register after concerns were raised about the impact of last year’s reforms.
The Havering Council has introduced a new “Working Community Adjustment” following a review of its updated Housing Allocation Scheme, which launched in September 2025.
Fixing an Unintended Consequence
The new points-based system was designed to prioritise those in greatest need – including families facing overcrowding, serious health issues or homelessness. But during a routine review, officers identified an unintended flaw.
Some applicants who had previously received priority for being in employment risked losing their place on the register when transferred to the new scheme – even though their housing circumstances had not changed.
Many of those affected had been waiting for several years.
The new adjustment ensures that working households will not be disadvantaged simply because of the shift from the old system to the new one. Their priority will now properly reflect both their time on the housing register and their status as economically active residents.
Fairness and Legal Duties Maintained
The council says the change has been made without affecting its legal responsibility to prioritise homeless households.
The adjustment will be applied automatically to relevant applications, and affected residents have been contacted directly. No further action is required from those on the register.
Councillor Natasha Summers, Cabinet Lead for Housing Need and Climate Change, said the move reinforces the council’s commitment to fairness.
“The introduction of the new Working Community Adjustment ensures that our allocations scheme continues to be fair, transparent and balanced,” she said.
She added that while the scheme’s central aim remains to prioritise those with the greatest housing need, the council had acted swiftly after feedback showed some long-standing working households were being unintentionally disadvantaged.
Balancing Need and Contribution
With demand for social housing continuing to outstrip supply, councils face difficult decisions over how limited homes are allocated. Havering’s latest revision signals an attempt to strike a balance – recognising acute housing need while also acknowledging long-term contribution to the local community.
For working families who feared slipping backwards on the waiting list, the adjustment offers reassurance that their place in the system has been restored.
