Housing Allocation Scheme 2026 - Key Changes

In April 2026, we introduced a new Allocation Scheme. This has replaced the Housing Lettings Policy.

You can view the Allocation Scheme at the top of this page. This gives full details about how we assess housing register application. 

The main changes are outlined below.

Updated Banding

Our 5 band system (A-E) has been replaced with 4 new bands:

• Band H – Homeless 
• Band A – Urgent Housing Need
• Band B – Significant Housing Need
• Band C – Ongoing Housing Need

People who are owed homeless duties are always placed into band H.

Band A is for those with the most need, going down to band C for people who still have a housing need, but which is less severe. 

Most people go into band C. 

New Local Connection Criteria

The scheme introduces new rules. This is to make sure that local homes go to local people first. 

Our criteria includes:

• Residence: At least 3 years living in the borough
• Family: Close family (parent, adult child or sibling) living in the borough for 5 years and you need to give, or get, care and support from them
• Employment: Working in the borough 16+ hours per week
• Armed Forces: Includes bereaved spouses, reservists, and adult children
• Domestic abuse: Need to leave home as it is not safe
• Care leavers: Young people leaving care up to the age of 24

Tenants already in social homes in Ashford do not have to prove they have a local connection. 

Updated Savings Threshold

People who have the means to pay for a home through savings cannot usually join the housing register. Applicants may not qualify if they have:

• £16,000 or more in savings
• £23,500 or more in savings if assessed by Kent County Council as needing care
• £60,000 or more in taxable household income

These changes ensure the policy supports households in housing need while maintaining fairness.

Bedroom Rules

We have changed our bedroom award rules to move in line with welfare benefits systems. It now sets out that:

• Children of the same sex can share, with an age gap of up to 8 years
• Children of the opposite-sex can share, up to the age of 10
• Extra bedrooms will only be awarded where specific criteria are met (e.g. medical need)

Bidding system

We have changed a number of aspects regarding bidding. This includes:

• Unless you are in band H, you can refuse 3 properties. On the third refusal, your effective date will be reset. 
• People will only bid against others in the same band. This may be different for some types of homes (e.g. rural sites, or adapted homes). 
• More homes will go to people in band A, with slightly less going to band B and the fewest going to band C.

These updates create a fairer process.

Review Process

The review process has been made simpler:

• Reviews should be requested in 21 days of a decision being made
• We must complete reviews in 56 days
• People may provide written or verbal representations
• Reviews will be carried out by an officer not dealing with the initial decision.