- Housing Allocation Scheme
- Information for bidders
- How we assess and allocate homes
- Social housing allocated in 2021 to 2022
Housing Allocation Scheme
Apply to join the Housing Register
You can view the Housing Allocation Scheme (PDF, 420.14 KB) for detailed information about allocating council and housing association homes in Enfield.
Enfield has seen a 246% increase in the rate of homelessness over 7 years. This compares with 35% across the rest of London.
The scale of this challenge means that a radical change in direction is needed to meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents. We are determined to help everyone access a stable, secure and decent home regardless of tenure.
To do this, our strategy is to:
- step in to prevent people from becoming homeless at the earliest possible stage, rather than waiting until they have a crisis
- equip people with the skills to manage a tenancy in the private rented sector through training and support
- reshape the housing market to improve access to housing in the private rented sector for residents, whilst improving quality
The reason for our strategy
We’re introducing this strategy because we want everyone to have a safe and secure home.
Enfield has the second highest level of temporary accommodation in the country, with 3600 households living in temporary accommodation. Each year around 550 social housing properties become available to let, and around 4000 people approach us for help. This means that people spend many years in temporary accommodation whilst they wait for a property to become available – often more than a decade. Every year the number of people in temporary accommodation increases.
Outline of the changes
People who move out of temporary accommodation and into the private rented sector will get increased priority for social housing. You will get an extra 50 points when you move, and 50 more points after six months. Each year your points will go up by 10%.
People who became homeless before November 2012 will also benefit if they move into the private rented sector, and will receive 100 extra points.
What help is on offer?
The type of help we offer depends on your circumstances and the property you are currently living in.
Homefinder
All residents have access to the council’s Homefinder scheme. This works in 2 ways. Our staff will help you to find a home, and help with deposits. If you find your own property, the team may also be able to help you with negotiating with the landlord. The team works with a wide range of landlords and Capital Letters (a joint project with 14 other London boroughs).
Single Homelessness Prevention Service
The Single Homelessness Prevention Service works with residents who do not have children, or need supported housing. The service works with a range of private landlords to help people to find a home.
Leased properties
We already lease properties from private landlords to use as temporary accommodation. We’re in the process of transferring some of these properties to the council’s housing company, Housing Gateway. This will mean that residents in the properties transferred will automatically benefit from the changes. You will be asked to sign a new tenancy agreement as part of this process.
If your property is not being transferred you can still find your own property, to benefit from the changes to the Housing Allocation Scheme.
Nightly paid accommodation
If you live in nightly paid accommodation, the council will either find you a suitable privately rented home or try to change your existing property to a privately rented tenancy. You can also find your own property so that you can benefit from the changes.
Moving out of Enfield
If you move to a property outside the borough of Enfield, you will be able to stay on the Housing Register for 5 years. You will still get the annual increase in points, and be able to bid for properties through Home Connections.
Staying in temporary accommodation
Homeless after November 2012
For people who became homeless after November 2012, we will usually find you a suitable privately rented home. If you reject this offer, this will end our duty towards you and you will no longer be entitled to temporary accommodation or to be on the Housing Register.
Homeless before November 2012
For people who became homeless before November 2012, we will help to find you a suitable privately rented home. If you reject this offer, you will still be entitled to temporary accommodation but you won’t get the increase in points or be able to bid for properties through Home Connections. We will make you one offer of a suitable social rented home, but you won’t be able to choose.
If your benefits have been capped so you cannot afford to move
There are 2 ways to become entitled to full benefits:
- If you receive any form of disability benefit, the cap does not apply. If you have any health or medical issues, this may mean that you’re entitled to an increase in benefits. Find out more about benefits and how to claim.
- If you’re in employment. We have partnered with online crowdfunding platform Beam to help homeless people access employment support and training.
How to benefit from the changes
Temporary accommodation is not meant to be a long-term home. For most people, this means that you should find a privately rented home to benefit from the changes. We can help, but you will have a much better choice if you can find your own home. You can find advice on our how to find a property page.
People groups who cannot bid for properties
Under the new Allocations Scheme, there are several groups of people who won’t be able to bid:
- If your need is extremely urgent, you will have been awarded very high points. In this case, we will find a suitable property for you and, because of the urgency, we will offer you the first suitable property that becomes available.
- If you’re hoping to move to a smaller property, we will search for a suitable property for you
- If you applied as homeless before November 2012 and are in temporary accommodation, we will search for a suitable property for you. You can increase your points to 750 by moving to the private rented sector. This would also allow you to continue to bid for properties.
- If your application has been assessed at less than 100 points, you will not be able to bid for properties because there are other households who have much greater levels of need. Because of the shortage of social housing we need to make sure that properties go to those who need them most.
Will medical/ASB/DV/overcrowding criteria affect a transfer?
Points are calculated by the needs that you have. Many people will have increased their points, but there will be some people with lower levels of need who will have a lower number of points. We have written to everyone on the Housing Register to let them know their new points.
Appealing your points award
If you do not agree with the points that have been awarded, you can appeal by contacting us via email at housing.assessment.team@enfield.gov.uk. You will need to set out why you do not agree with the assessment.
Information for bidders
If you want to be considered for one of the properties advertised on Home Connections, you will need to place a bid.
Before placing a bid
Before placing a bid, you must read the full property description on the Home Connections website. If you refuse a property, this will affect your housing application.
For information on the number of offers you are entitled to, please refer to the Housing Allocation Scheme, or letter we sent to you about your housing application since 7 December 2020.
You should also check:
- you can afford the rent
- if the property has a lift or stairs
- it will meet your health needs
- the location of the property
- distances from schools and transport links - you can use Transport for London or Google Maps to check distances
You must make sure you pay your rent. Arrears will lead to your bidding account being suspended, preventing you from placing future bids.
Housing Benefit and Universal Credit does not cover water and heating charges, so make sure you can afford these additional costs.
Updating contact details
It is important to keep us updated of any changes to your contact details, including mobile numbers and email addresses, in case you are successful with a bid. You can update these details through the customer portal.
Change of circumstances
If your circumstances have changed because someone has moved out, or you have had another child, you must update this information through the customer portal and upload evidence (for example your child’s birth certificate).
How to place a bid
- Go to Home Connections
- Click on ‘Login’
- Within ‘Registered users login here’, enter your user ID and password, and click ‘Sign in’
- Click on ‘See all properties’ to view available properties - this page will display the number of bedrooms you are entitled to
- Scroll down to view available properties - you must click on ‘Full property info’ to check additional information, such as landlord, property type, floor level and rent
- Only if you’re interested in the property should you select ‘Click here to bid’ - if you’re offered the property, you must be prepared to accept it
How to withdraw a bid
If you place a bid and then change your mind, you can only withdraw a bid before the bidding ends. If you withdraw after the bid cycle ends, this will still count as an offer.
To withdraw a bid:
- Select ‘Return to my details’
- Click on ‘Withdraw bid’
- Click on ‘Click here to withdraw bid’
To check if the bid has been withdrawn, email hsgallocations@enfield.gov.uk before the bidding closes.
Bid information
Estimate bid position is not a final position and should not be used as a guide to see where you are, as further shortlisting will take place. If you’re successfully shortlisted, you will be contacted by email within 7 working days.
The bidding cycle normally runs from Tuesday midnight to Sunday midnight.
It is not first come, first served. You have until the bid closes to place a bid.
You can bid on a council owned property which is one bedroom smaller than your actual need, but remember you may be overcrowding yourself and will not qualify for a transfer to a larger property at a later date.
Most council properties are in Edmonton, Ponders End, Enfield Highway, Enfield Freezywater and Enfield Lock.
You can place up to a maximum of 3 bids per week, but you do not have to if there are no suitable properties.
Choice based lettings results
See below the outcomes of properties advertised over the last 6 months:
- March 2023 (PDF, 209.53 KB)
- February 2023 (PDF, 182.99 KB)
- January 2023 (PDF, 295.24 KB)
- December 2022 (PDF, 325.73 KB)
- November 2022 (PDF, 642.52 KB)
- October 2022 (PDF, 701.97 KB)
For information on how points are allocated, see Housing Allocation Scheme.
How we assess and allocate homes
Our Housing Allocation Scheme gives information on how we assess and allocate council and housing association homes.
If you do not agree with our decision about your housing application, you can request a review of your housing register application.
Social housing allocated in 2021 to 2022
By law we must publish how we make sure social housing goes to those who need it most.
Our Housing Allocation Scheme (PDF, 420.14 KB) sets out who gets offered council and housing association homes based on a points system. Points are awarded according to housing need. For full details, see the points summary table on page 25 (Appendix A) of our Housing Allocation Scheme.
Last year (2021 to 2022), 411 social homes were allocated to households on the council’s housing register (waiting list). You can see the reasons why below.
Reasons for social housing points given | Studio | 1-bedroom | 2-bedroom | 3-bedroom | 4-bedroom | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Approved foster carers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Emergency and exceptional need | 0 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 28 |
Health and well-being (medical assessment) | 0 | 18 | 7 | 24 | 3 | 52 |
Keyworkers | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Care leavers | 0 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 |
New generation scheme (children of social housing tenants) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Overcrowding: social housing tenants | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Overcrowding: social housing tenants with health and well being (medical assessment) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 13 |
Post 2012 homeless applicant in private rented sector | 0 | 13 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 65 |
Post 2012 homeless applicant in temporary accommodation | 0 | 23 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
Pre 2012 homeless applicant in private rented sector | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Pre 2012 homeless applicant in temporary accommodation | 0 | 2 | 11 | 16 | 1 | 30 |
Regeneration scheme/decants | 0 | 3 | 10 | 18 | 1 | 32 |
Sheltered scheme applicants | 7 | 37 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
Supported housing move on | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
Council housing under-occupiers | 0 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
Total allocations/property lets | 7 | 197 | 119 | 82 | 6 | 411 |