Changes to our housing register
Contents
- Changes to our housing register
- Changes to our Housing Allocation Policy
Changes to our housing register
From 28 July 2026, the council began a phased transition from the current Housing Register portal to a new housing application portal, HomePoint.
HomePoint is now available to all live Housing Register applicants.
If you have a live application, we have emailed you an invitation. You can only create a HomePoint account using the link in your invitation email.
The HomePoint portal allows customers to:
- manage housing and homelessness applications in one place
- upload documents
- communicate more easily with Housing Officers
If you have an active Housing Register application, you should now access your account through HomePoint. The transition from the previous Housing Register portal was completed on 14 October 2026, and all bidding, nominations and allocations are now managed through HomePoint.
If you have not yet created your HomePoint account, please check your emails for your invitation and follow the instructions to register as soon as possible to ensure you can access your application and bid for suitable properties.
The move to HomePoint and the introduction of the updated Housing Allocation Policy were completed on 14 October 2026. These changes provide a more modern and streamlined service while ensuring we continue to support residents with urgent housing needs and meet our legal duties.
About the transition period
The transition period is still in place for all new housing register applicants. You will need to complete the simplified Housing Need Assessment form which will be used to identify households with priority housing needs.
If you already have applied to the Council’s housing register and have a reference number, and you are waiting for your application to be assessed or it is live and you are able to place bids, you do not need to complete the Housing Needs Assessment form.
Full housing applications will only be accepted from households that meet one or more of the following criteria:
- homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days
- experiencing exceptional welfare circumstances or severe hardship, including domestic abuse or serious threats to safety
- emergency medical need
- living in accommodation containing a Category 1 Hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)
- care leavers for whom we as the Local Authority have a Corporate Parenting responsibility
- living in accommodation that is overcrowded by 2 or more bedrooms
Please complete the Housing Needs Assessment form so we can assess your initial housing need:
If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, please contact the Housing Options Team on 0300 126 7000 or register online for support.
HomePoint Housing Register Portal
All live housing register applicants have been invited to create a portal account, to ensure they have a new active application. This will enable them to place bids from Wednesday 14 October 2026. Emails have been sent to applicants with a link to the HomePoint portal.
Those applicants whose application remains to be assessed will be sent an invitation separately to complete their new HomePoint account.
If you have received an invitation from us, you need to create a HomePoint account using the link provided in your email.
When registering, you must use the same surname, date of birth and housing register reference number currently held on your current housing register application. We use these details to match your new HomePoint account to your existing application.
You will also need access to an email account as part of the registration process, as you'll be asked to verify your email address before your account can be activated.
Anyone wishing to join the housing register during our transition phase will need to follow the arrangements as set out above and complete the housing needs assessment form.
Once your HomePoint account has been matched to your existing housing register application, we will transfer your:
- registration date
- effective date
- priority band
Your bedroom need will be recalculated using the information provided during registration.
If you register for HomePoint and your account is successfully matched to your existing housing register application; your registration date and effective date will transfer to the new system.
Some applicants may receive a different priority band under the new Housing Allocations Policy. If this applies to you, your updated band will be shown in your HomePoint account.
As part of the move to HomePoint, applications are being assessed under the Council's new Housing Allocations Policy.
This means some applicants may receive a different priority band, even where their circumstances have not changed.
Your current priority band is displayed in your HomePoint account.
Bidding for properties through HomePoint opened on 14 October 2026.
Once your HomePoint account has been activated, you can log in, view available properties and place bids for suitable homes.
If you have not yet set up your HomePoint account, please check your email for your invitation and follow the instructions to get started. Setting up your HomePoint account allows you to access your Housing Register application and bid for suitable properties online.
To support the move to HomePoint, customers are currently being asked to complete a short registration process when creating their account. This helps us transfer Housing Register applications to the new system while ensuring customers can continue to access housing services and place bids.
Setting up a HomePoint account does not affect your original registration date or effective date, which will transfer to the new system once your account has been matched to your existing Housing Register application
If you cannot find your invitation email or need help accessing your account, please contact us or speak to your Housing Officer.
Your reference number will be included in your invitation email or letter.
If you cannot find it, please contact us or contact your Housing Officer.
HomePoint includes a range of user guides and help articles to assist you which include:
- Create an account
- Complete your information
- Search for properties
- Place bids
If you need further assistance, please contact us or contact your Housing Officer.
Last updated 13 October 2026