People active on the housing register (as of May 2024)
With 8,763 new applications per year, averaging 730 per month
Empty properties from January to May 2024
Average 71 per month
Of properties allocated to people in Platinum and Gold banding
From November 2023 to May 2024
Of available housing allocated to older people.
From November 2023 to April 2024
There is significantly more demand for housing than homes available.
All empty properties are advertised according to Doncaster Council's Housing Policy. Properties are let on a priority basis meaning that properties will be let to people with the highest needs first.
If you are in a non priority band it is unlikely you will be rehoused, unless you are an older person needing a bungalow or flat.
Housing Allocation Policy
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Housing Allocation Policy Guide
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If you are focused on a particular property type or specific location, you can expect the waiting time to be longer, even if you have a priority.
It is a good idea to explore all options available to you.
Some Housing Associations advertise vacant properties through Doncaster HomeChoice and also hold their own waiting list. We would encourage you to contact them to discuss your housing needs.
Private renting is a realistic alternative to social housing. You would have more flexibility on the area you wish to live. There are many resources to try and help you maintain a tenancy. For more information click here.
Eligibility
To apply with Doncaster HomeChoice you must have a local connection to Doncaster, meaning you have at least one of the following:
- Lived in Doncaster for past three years or more
- Worked in Doncaster for past three years or more
- Have close family in Doncaster (parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, spouses and civil partners, brothers and sisters)
Unless you have come to the borough under special circumstances, or have been assessed as homeless.
If you have rent arrears over eight weeks, you might not be successful. You should make re-payment plans before applying.
Some applicants are not eligible or do not qualify to join the housing register. This is if you:
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Are under 16 years of age. 16-18 year olds can apply as long as they have a guarantor
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Have outstanding housing related debt over eight weeks arrears
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Own or have a financial interest with over £120,000 equity in your property or have transferred ownership of a property but have continuing rights to reside in a property
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Have any antisocial behaviour or poor tenancy conduct
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Have been rehoused within the last 12 months into one of our properties and have no priority reason to move
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Are a person from abroad who is subject to immigration control – conditions apply
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Do not have a local connection with Doncaster (excluding Armed Forces leavers and families in the past five years, national witness protection scheme applicants, domestic abuse victims living in refuge accommodation in the borough. See full Housing Allocation Policy for more examples.)
Where we have reason to believe that an applicant has deliberately worsened their circumstances to get housing priority, their application might be suspended whilst we investigate. If our investigation cannot show deliberate intent, we will reinstate their priority from their original effective/registration date.
Any applicant who has deliberately worsened their circumstances will not be awarded additional priority however, we also reserve the right to cancel their application.
Some properties have a Local Letting Policy, meaning there are restrictions on who is eligible to rent them. This might mean you must have no criminal record or be in paid work or have close family member living in a defined area boundary. Each local letting policy differs depending on the area.
If you come on top of the bids but you are ineligible, the officers will move to the next applicant. If you are not eligible, you will not be made an offer for the property.
New build council homes are subject to a local lettings policy on first let and within 12 months of first let.
Below, you can find a list of all local lettings policies in Doncaster.
- The Crescent, Dunscroft
- Coniston Road, Mexborough
- Auckland Road, Mexborough
- The Oval, Conisbrough
- Silverwood House, Balby Bridge Estate, Town Centre
- Jubilee Court, Wheatley
- Park View, Adwick Le Street
- New build council homes
Common reasons for applying
Medical Housing Need
If you have a physical, sensory or mental health condition which means you cannot manage in your home and are unable to resolve your situation, you can apply for medical priority by completing our Medical Self-Assessment.
Alongside the medical form, you will need to provide:
- A patient summary, available from your GP free of charge (confirming conditions and current prescribed medication)
- Proof of disability benefits, if applicable
- Hospital or clinic letters, if applicable
The assessment may be over the telephone, or be a home visit by the Occupational Therapist to further assess your needs. If you are a current St Leger tenant, you will be assessed by our Occupational Therapist. Applicants who are homeowners or tenants of other housing associations or landlords will be referred to City of Doncaster Council for further assessment, as will children.
If you are assessed as needing a certain property type, this might limit your chances of being re-housed as is dependent on availability in your areas of choice.
Adapted properties
We advertise some adapted properties depending on their facilities - please ensure you read the full details page on the advert before you bid to make sure the adaptations will be suitable for you. Please note we will not be able to offer a property to you if it is deemed unsuitable for your assessed needs.
If you are assessed by an Occupational Therapist as needing a property with adaptations you may be placed onto City of Doncaster Council’s Accessible Housing Register (AHR) where you will be considered with other identified applicants for adapted properties, which meet your needs in your area of choice. Adapted properties will be advertised with priority to AHR nominations and have a reserved bidding list. Please note, if you are placed on the AHR, you may be advised that you do not need to bid on properties advertised.
Although both Doncaster HomeChoice and Housing Options work under StLegerHomes, they are two different teams.
HomeChoice deals with advertising and allocating council and housing association properties, whereas Housing Options can offer support for individuals facing homelessness.
If you are at threat, or facing, homelessness you should contact Housing Options first. Please press here for more information.
If you apply to the housing register due to disrepair in your home, e.g. faulty wiring or lack of heating, you will need to provide details which we will send over to the City of Doncaster Council's Housing Enforcement. They will then work with you and your landlord to resolve them.
If the Housing Enforcement Team declares the property as Category 1 Hazard and confirms this with us, only then will Gold banding be awarded. Properties of different category hazards will not be awarded a priority banding.
As part of an overcrowding assessment, you will need to provide proof of residence of all household members and information about the size of your property etc.
After we have completed the assessment, if you are classed as overcrowded only then can we award priority banding. If overcrowding cannot be proven then priority will not be given.
Banding
There are five bands in total: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, General and a separate transfer list.
Platinum, Gold and Silver are priority bands.
You will be placed in the most appropriate band that reflects your assessed housing need, based on the information supplied in your application form and supporting evidence.
If you are in a priority band you will have an effective date, when your priority was awarded, and a registration date. If you are not in a priority band you will have a registration date only.
If you are a serving or former Armed Forces Personnel, we will backdate your registration date to reflect your length of service on receipt of your service record.
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Homeless applicants registered with Housing Options under full duty
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Resettlement pathway persons who do not need the level of support with previous provider. Priority will be backdated to reflect time in pathway.
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Doncaster borough residents whose house has been approved for demolition or clearance
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Tenants vacating adapted properties with high physical needs
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Property has been assessed as uninhabitable, and you cannot resolve your housing need
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Applicants ready for release from hospital, but with medically unsuitable accommodation to go back to
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Armed Forces leavers of five years or less (including bereaved families, wives or civil partners)
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Foster carers, where accommodation is no longer suitable and you cannot resolve this yourself.
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Property overcrowded by two or more bedrooms
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Property has been assessed as category 1 hazard by Environmental Health
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Persons in critical need for re-housing due to medical or welfare reasons
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Requirement to move to a particular area due to care support needs
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In a service or tied tenancy and it is coming to an end
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Doncaster care leavers under 25 years of age
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Homeless applicants who have been assessed as having a priority need.
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City of Doncaster Council tenants under-occupying their current home by one bedroom and requesting to move
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Tenants vacating adapted properties
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Overcrowding by one bedroom
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Taking up a particular employment, education or training opportunity e.g you have been offered a high-needs school, but you are unable to accept it as you have no means to live in the area
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Applicants in substantial need for rehousing due to medical or welfare reasons
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Homeless applicants assessed with no priority need
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City of Doncaster Council tenants vacating adapted properties where the adaptations are no longer needed.
This band is for applicants who need to move but do not have a priority.
This may be because their:
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Need does not fall into the priority bands but still wish to move
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Priority has expired
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Priority has been removed after refused two reasonable offers
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Refused one reasonable offer whilst in platinum band, through the homeless team.
General Band - registration date applies
• Applicants who own, or have a financial interest, a property and have equity of less than £120,000
• This includes applicants pending an assessment
Applicants who are City of Doncaster Council tenants, who have lived in their property for over 12 months and do not have an assessed priority need to move. If there is a housing need, City of Doncaster Council tenants will be assessed in the same way as all customers.
How to apply
What happens next
Bidding
Allocations
Offer of property
Help when moving into a property
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions?
If you can't find the answers here, please call 01302 862862 to speak to a member of our team.
FAQs
Support for veterans
Doncaster is committed to supporting individuals and their families, who are members of the Armed Forces and former service personnel. It is important you let us know if you have ever served in the forces when you approach our service, so we are able to provide guidance and help appropriate to you. We can backdate your registration date to reflect your length of service on receipt of your service record, disregard local connection if you have left the Armed Forces in the past five years and might award Platinum Banding where appropriate.
Find out more