The Housing Register exists to include all people who need re-housing on one register. Our scheme offers choice, while giving reasonable preference to those in the greatest housing need.
Waiting times for a home
In Peterborough, the level of demand for social housing exceeds supply.
It may take several years before an applicant is successful in finding a suitable home through our scheme. We encourage applicants to consider other options such as the private rental sector.
In late 2022, the average waiting times are:
- One bedroom property = two years
- Two bedroom property = two years
- Three bedroom property = three years
- Four bedroom property = five years
- Five+ bedroom property = six years
Your priority on the Housing Register influences how long you must wait for a home. Those in a higher band will wait less time than those in a lower priority band. You may struggle to receive a home if you're in a lower priority band.
For example, in December 2022, of those Housing Register applicants who received a home - 75% were in Band One, 20% were in Band Two and 5% were in Band Three.
Number of Housing Register applicants waiting for a home
As of December 2022, total number of applicants on the Housing Register waiting for a home = 2,283
- Number of applicants waiting for a one bedroom home = 844
- Number of applicants waiting for a two bedroom home = 725
- Number of applicants waiting for a three bedroom home = 523
- Number of applicants waiting for a four bedroom home = 146
- Number of applicants waiting for a five bedroom home = 38
- Number of applicants waiting for a six bedroom home = 7
Number of homes received for the Housing Register during the week ending 20 January 2023 = 10
If you're a landlord who can help us to house families, please visit our Landlord Incentive Scheme page.
Housing Register process
The steps and waiting times between applying for and receiving a home:
- We receive your application to join the Housing Register. After receiving your documents, we assess your application under our Housing Allocations Policy.
- If you meet the eligibility criteria set out in our policy, we will make you a 'live applicant'. You then receive a banding priority and bedroom entitlement.
- You can then search and bid for properties through our Choice Based Lettings Scheme. This part of the process may take between two and six years. It depends on your banding priority, bedroom entitlement and supply and demand for homes. You may find that hundreds of people bid on one home.
What to expect as a social housing tenant
While you consider whether to apply, you should learn what you can expect as a social housing tenant.
If you are successful in finding a home through our scheme, you must pay rent and bills yourself. Most of the homes come unfurnished, uncarpeted and without appliances.
Read more on our social housing pre-tenancy information page, including:
- Costs involved in running a home
- Your rights and responsibilities as a new tenant
- What you can expect from your home
- What could happen if you breach your tenancy
- Budgeting advice
Apply to join the Housing Register
You need to complete our online form to join the Housing Register.
On the form, we list the documents we may ask you to provide during the application process. Please have these documents available.
We are currently processing applications submitted four months ago. Please take this into consideration when contacting us to check if we have processed your application yet.
You will receive a notification once we have processed your application. It will confirm if your application is successful or if we have assessed you as non-qualifying.
