A household applying for social housing support is assessed for eligibility and need by the relevant local authority in accordance with criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 (as amended).
The 2009 Act defines a household as a person living alone, or two or more persons, who the relevant local authority considers have a reasonable requirement to live together. In line with the Regulations, applicant households are assessed for eligibility in the first instance. Then, if deemed eligible, their accommodation needs are assessed taking account, for example, of the number of persons in the household, the age and gender of household members, and their inter-relationships.
Ultimately, decisions on the qualification of households for social housing support, the most appropriate form of such support, and the allocation of that support are a matter solely for the local authority concerned.