Former tenancy checks when applying for council housing

If you have former tenancies with us, and have applied for housing, you may need to prove if you have any outstanding housing related debt. If you do, your application may be suspended until the debt is paid.

You can request a former tenants arrears check via the form above. This lists all the housing-related debts that you may owe.

Rent arrears

Rent arrears are any housing-related debt owed to us, social landlords or private landlords. Arrears includes non-payment of rent, court costs, water rates, rechargeable repairs, and any money we have paid to a private landlord through our PRS schemes to cover non-payment of rent, or damages caused by a tenant.

This debt applies to current and former tenancies. Debts from former tenancies with private landlords will not affect your application if they are from two or more years ago.

Non-property related debt (such as council tax debt) will not affect your application. This includes any property related debts which are covered by a bankruptcy order.

Criteria for re-housing

If you have arrears and are applying for housing, your case will be considered based on your housing need and banding priority.

The banding scheme is there to ensure the people most in need get housing first, with Band 1 being the highest level of need and Band 3 the lowest level of need.

• Applicants in Band 1 will not be subject to the rent arrears policy, however where there are any arrears it is expected an agreement is made to reduce/clear the arrears
• Applicants in Bands 2 or 3 with former tenancy arrears debt will have their application suspended until the debt is cleared in full
• Applicants in Bands 2 or 3 will be required to have a clear rent account for any current tenancy at the point of offer/sign up
• Applicants who have held their current tenancy for 12 months or more; any former rent arrears will be disregarded and the application will not be suspended, however an agreement must made to reduce/clear the arrears

This relates to any council or housing association tenancies, or any hostel, refuge, supported accommodation or similar temporary accommodation left within the last 6 years, or any private tenancies held within the last two years.

Further details of the housing allocations policy including the rent arrears policy is available at Housing register and finding a home.