Households may leave social housing for a variety of reasons, including no longer being in need of such support. If circumstances subsequently change, such households may apply for social housing support again at any stage.
If deemed eligible, they will qualify for the suite of social housing supports and will be placed on the housing list to be considered for suitable tenancies in accordance with the relevant local authority’s allocation scheme. Notwithstanding, local authorities will prioritise allocations to those households they consider to be most in need at any moment in time in accordance with their allocation scheme.
Similarly, households in receipt of housing support can submit an application for a transfer, including from one form of support to another, for example from RAS to social housing, or from one local authority dwelling to another. Requests for transfers are considered solely by the relevant local authority concerned in accordance with their allocation scheme.
However, whether reapplying afresh or seeking to transfer from one housing support to another, any time previously spent in receipt of support, such as RAS or HAP, is not taken into account when allocating support.