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Housing Register Bands

We are updating the Housing Register, so it remains fair, consistent and fit for purpose.

Find out more about the Housing Register renewal process.

Housing need is prioritised in the scheme and are called reasonable preference bands. There are 4 bands ranked in order of priority:

  • Band A – Exceptional Housing Need
  • Band B – High Housing Need
  • Band C – Medium Housing Need
  • Band D – Low Housing Need

How housing needs are ranked

The following list shows where different housing needs are ranked:

Band A - Exceptional Housing Need

Band A:

  • exceptional housing need that takes priority over other applicants
  • Statutory Homeless and owed the full Housing Duty by Dorset Council s193 (2)
  • exceptional disrepair need
  • exceptional medical need
  • urgent welfare need
  • Statutory Overcrowding Part X Housing Act 1985

Band B - High Housing Need

Band B:

  • owed a relief duty under s189B (2)
  • under occupying social housing
  • overcrowded by 2 or more bedrooms
  • corporate parenting responsibility
  • proven social need/support delivery of another service
  • severe and/or persistent harassment
  • high disrepair need
  • social tenant living in adapted property
  • high medical need
  • social tenant requiring extensive adaptations
  • corporate duty
  • supported housing and ready to move on
  • efficient management of housing stock
  • owed a relief duty under s189B (2) with no local connection
  • high welfare need

Band C – Medium Housing Need

Band C:

  • owed a Prevention Duty under s195 (2)
  • homeless households
  • medium medical need
  • medium disrepair need
  • accommodation duty following deliberate and unreasonable refusal to cooperate (S193c(4)) duty owed
  • social tenant with right to move for work
  • split families
  • medium welfare need
  • owed a Prevention Duty under s195 (2) with no local connection
  • need to move for critical/essential support to avoid hardship
  • unsatisfactory or unsanitary conditions
  • overcrowded by 1 bedroom
  • affordability
  • service personnel

Band D – Low Housing Need

Band D:

  • low housing need
  • low medical need
  • low disrepair need
  • older people’s housing
  • older peoples housing no local connection
  • supported housing or care leaver not ready to move on
  • low welfare need
  • applicants with other housing related debts