When we assess your application we will put you into a priority band. We base this on your housing circumstances and needs.

The time you spend in a band can affect your place on a housing shortlist. 

We may also consider your social needs. These are negative factors that moving could fix. We may ask for supporting evidence before we can award social needs. We will review any social needs after three months or if you refuse a suitable offer of housing. 

More information can be found in our Housing Allocation Policy on our Housing strategy, performance and policy Downloads section

Emergency+ Band
  • Applicants who are homeless and are owed the Main Duty including when they have become homeless, or the Relief Duty has come to an end, and they have been assessed as being in priority need and unintentionally homeless 
  • A substantially adapted or purpose-built property is required. This category includes those applicants covered by regulations which apply to members and former members of the Armed Forces and having regard for those injured or disabled in action 
  • Armed Forces personnel with families upon the provision of a Certificate of Cessation of Entitlement to Occupy Service Living Accommodation 
  • For children leaving care who were under the care of CWC up to the age of 25 
  • There has been a Multi-Agency Panel review and immediate rehousing is required. Immediate rehousing need is when there is a significant threat to life 
Emergency Band
  • Applicants who are homeless and are owed the Main Duty including when they have become homeless, or the Relief Duty has come to an end, and they have been assessed as being in priority need and unintentionally homeless 
  • There has been a Multi-Agency Panel review and immediate rehousing is required 
  • A substantially adapted or purpose-built property is required. This category includes those applicants covered by regulations which apply to members and former members of the Armed Forces and having regard for those injured or disabled in action 
  • An appointed Occupational Therapist has decided the applicant’s property is unsuitable for the applicant or a member of their household needs and where adaptations would cost more than £5,000 or cannot be carried out due to the construction of the property 
  • A substantially adapted (£3000 or more in value, through floor lift substantially adapted bathroom etc) or purpose-built property is being freed 
  • An appointed Occupational Therapist has decided the applicant’s property is unsuitable for the applicant or a dependent member of the households needs, or where adaptations would cost more than £5,000 cannot be carried out due to the construction of the property, or the applicant is deemed to be prevented from leaving hospital without suitable accommodation 
  • A family is freeing a placement in a specialist housing scheme, or subject to a single referral forum decision, and has been assessed as ready to move on 
  • Short of three or more bedrooms 
  • Short of two or more bedrooms whilst living in a one-bedroom property 
  • City of Wolverhampton Council or Registered Provider tenant releasing two or more bedrooms 
Band One
  • There is an urgent need to move on medical or social grounds 
  • There is a young person leaving care 
  • Foster Carers and those approved to adopt who require a larger property 
  • Applicants who are homeless and are owed the Relief Duty and would be owed or likely to be owed the main duty when the relief duty came to an end, because they are or are likely to be in priority need and homeless 
  • The applicant is freeing a placement in a specialist housing scheme, or subject to a single referral forum decision, and has been assessed as ready to move on 
  • A tenant of City of Wolverhampton Council or a Registered Provider wishes to leave a house and move to a flat, maisonette or bungalow 
  • The applicant’s home is subject to a Compulsory Purchase Order/Closing Order 
  • The applicant has an urgent need to move to a particular area in the city, and where not to do so would cause hardship to themselves or to others 
  • Armed Forces personnel with families upon the provision of a Certificate of Cessation of Entitlement to Occupy Service Living Accommodation; or 
  • Where a council service tenant occupying tied accommodation whose contract states that accommodation must be occupied and their employment is terminated, the service tenant retires or tied accommodation is no longer available. This will not apply to employees leaving because of dismissal 
  • Short of two bedrooms 
  • Children of opposite sex sharing a bedroom over the age of 10 (where there are three or more children, those of the same sex will be expected to share a bedroom) 
  • Short of one bedroom whilst living in a one-bedroom property 

Band One Social Priority

  • Category: A move is necessary to enable a disabled/mentally ill/elderly person to be closer to a carer. The move prevents immediate admission to a hospital or a home providing essential support. This only applies where the applicant is looking to move to the same estate as the carer.

    Supporting Information: A letter or email from a medical professional working with the applicant. The letter confirms that the care provided will prevent immediate admission to a hospital or a home. 

  • Category: Risk of violent injury/death, suicide, rape, or attempted rape in or near the home. The risk affects the applicant or a member of the applicant’s household.

    Supporting Information: A letter or email from the police confirming what has happened. Stating that the police support the move and that they feel there is an ongoing risk. 

  • Category: Where a neighbourhood dispute/racial harassment/hate crime results in court action. Requiring the applicant to move away from an area.

    Supporting Information: A letter or email from the police confirming what has occurred. Stating that the police support the move and that they feel there is an ongoing risk. There is also confirmation that court action is ongoing. 

  • Category: Life-threatening violence has happened or is likely to happen.

    Supporting Information: A letter or email from the police confirming what has occurred. Stating that the police support the move and that they feel there is an ongoing risk. 

  • Category: Children returning from care, but it is dependent on changing accommodation.

    Supporting Information: Letter from social care confirming the above situation. 

  • Category: Freeing a hospital bed or residential home placement. With professional advice that current accommodation is unsuitable. 

    Supporting Information: Letter from a medical or social care professional confirming the above. 

  • Category: Move needed for exceptional social/medical factors. The move would enable the delivery/monitoring of essential support services. Awarded when Housing Support confirms the applicant is engaging with supporting agencies. 

    Supporting Information: Letters from Social care confirming exceptions factors and engagement with support. 
Band Two
  • The applicant is freeing a placement in a supported housing scheme e.g. hostel/foyer etc and has been assessed as ready to move on 
  • Applicants who are threatened with homelessness and are owed the Prevention Duty and would be likely to be owed the Main Duty if both the Prevention Duty and any Relief Duty that followed on were to end unsuccessfully and they would be, or would likely to be, found to be in priority need and unintentionally homeless 
  • There is a significant need to move on medical or social grounds 
  • A family, or pensioner (someone aged 66 or older) is sharing or lacking a kitchen, bathroom, or toilet. Does not apply to owner occupiers or tenants, excluding those living in a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) 
  • Short of one bedroom 
  • City of Wolverhampton Council or Registered Provider tenant releasing one bedroom 

Social Priority - Band Two

  • Category: The applicant is vulnerable and is the target of repeat burglary attempts.

    Supporting Information: A letter or email from the Police confirming what has happened. Stating that the Police support the move and that they feel there is an ongoing risk. 

  • Category: Neighbourhood disputes/racial harassment incidents/hate crime. Issues result in frequent intimidation, serious threats, or damage to property.

    Supporting Information: A letter or email from the police confirming what has occurred. Stating that the police support the move and that they feel there is an ongoing risk. 

  • Category: To move away from criminal activity and/or drug problems. The applicant would be vulnerable to returning to previous criminal activity.

    Supporting Information: A letter or email from social care, police or probation confirming the customer needs to move away. 

  • Category: Couples/Families/Single people looking to downsize to a smaller home. They are in financial hardship. Their circumstances are currently assessed as band 2.

    Supporting Information: A letter or email from social care, social landlord or another support agency. It confirms financial hardship. The customer must be downsizing to a smaller property.  

  • Category: Applicant is a current or former member of the armed forces, injured serviceman or woman, bereaved spouse, or civil partner or existing or former member of the reserved forces who is suffering from a serious injury, illness, or disability due to their service (families).

    Supporting Information: Confirmation of service from the Ministry of Defence or a support agency that the applicant has suffered from a serious injury, illness, or disability due to their service. 
Band Three
  • here is a need to move on medical or welfare grounds, but which is less than that required for Bands 1 and 2 
  • Applicants owed a Prevention Duty, or Relief Duty for as long as that duty is owed but would not be or are unlikely to be owed the Main duty when any relief duty came to an end and intentionally homeless 
  • Any applicant owed the Prevention, Relief or Main Duty and are or are likely to be in priority need and unintentionally homeless but are refusing to cooperate on task(s) specified within their personal housing plan 
  • An individual living in Supported/Specialist housing but is not yet ready to move on 
  • The applicant is a tenant of City of Wolverhampton Council or a Registered Provider who has children under 12 years of age but does not have access to a private garden. This does not apply to a like for like property 

Social Priority - Band Three

  • Category: Accident or bereavement in or near the home. It is having a serious effect on the applicant or a member of their family.

    Supporting Information: A letter or email from police, social care, or a support agency. 

  • Category: Neighbourhood disputes/racial harassment resulting in graffiti, gestures, letters.

    Supporting Information: A letter or email from the ASB Team, Victim Support or the Police. It confirms what has happened, that they support the move and that they feel there is an ongoing risk. 

  • Category: Following the breakup, former partners continue to live in the same house. This could be the end of a marriage, civil partnership or established common-law relationship.

    Supporting Information: A letter or email from both parties confirming the end of the relationship. Includes evidence of joint benefit claims ending and now claiming separate benefits. Supporting letters or emails from support agencies confirming the end of the relationship. 

  • Category: Couples/Families/Single people looking to downsize to a smaller home. They are in financial hardship. Their circumstances are currently assessed as band 3.

    Supporting Information: A letter or email from social care, social landlord or another support agency. It confirms financial hardship. The customer must be downsizing to a smaller property.  

  • Category: Applicant is a current or former member of the armed forces, injured serviceman or woman, bereaved spouse, or civil partner or existing or former member of the reserved forces who are suffering from a serious injury, illness, or disability due to their service (singles).

    Supporting Information: Supporting information from the Ministry of Defence or support agency. It confirms service and that the applicant has suffered from a serious injury, illness, or disability due to their service. 

Medical Priority

If you have completed a medical priority form your application will be placed under review whilst we assess if a medical priority can be awarded.

18275