Renting a council or housing association home

Housing Allocation Scheme

There is not enough social housing in Enfield to meet demand. This means that we can only help those with the highest level of need.

There is a considerable wait for social housing and, dependent on individual circumstances, this is likely to be several years.

If you want to apply for social rented housing in Enfield, such as council and housing association tenancies, you must be on the Housing Register. This is also known as the housing waiting list.

The number of people who apply for social housing each year far exceeds the amount of housing available. As a result, most people applying will never be offered housing, and those who are will normally have to wait a very long time.

You can view the Housing Allocation Scheme (PDF, 745.88 KB) for detailed information about the allocation of council and housing association homes in Enfield.

If you have a more urgent need for housing, then there are alternatives that you should consider. See our advice on how to find a property to rent for more information.

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 the outcomes of recently advertised properties.

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, 745.88 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.

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.

Final lettings for 2021 to 2022
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

Social housing allocated in 2022 to 2023

Our Housing Allocation Scheme (PDF, 745.88 KB) sets out who gets offered council and housing association homes based on a points system.

Last year (2022 to 2023), 388 social homes were allocated to households on the council’s housing register (waiting list). You can see the reasons why below.

Final lettings for 2022 to 2023
Reasons for social housing points given	Studio	1 bedroom	2 bedroom	3 bedroom	4 bedroom	5 bedroom	Total
Council tenant tenancy successions	0	2	0	1	0	0	3
Emergency and exceptional need	0	58	31	30	0	0	119
Health and well-being (medical assessment)	0	23	11	18	3	0	55
Keyworkers	0	0	2	0	0	0	2
Care leavers	0	39	1	0	0	0	40
New generation scheme (children of social housing tenants)	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
Overcrowding: social housing tenants	0	0	1	1	0	0	2
Overcrowding: social housing tenants with health and well-being (medical assessment)	0	0	7	4	0	0	11
Overcrowding: private tenant with health and well-being (medical assessment)	0	0	1	0	0	0	1
Post 2012 homeless applicant in private rented sector	0	4	34	0	0	0	38
Post 2012 homeless applicant in temporary accommodation	0	6	5	0	0	0	11
Pre 2012 in private rented sector	0	0	0	11	1	0	12
Pre 2012 in temporary accommodation	0	1	4	16	0	1	22
Regeneration Scheme/decants	0	0	1	0	0	0	1
Rough Sleeper	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
Sheltered scheme applicants	3	41	1	0	0	0	45
Supported housing move on	0	7	0	0	0	0	7
Council housing under-occupiers	0	13	4	0	0	0	17
Total allocations/ property lets	3	196	103	81	4	1	388

Social housing allocated in 2023 to 2024