This guide aims to help those working with Tower Hamlets residents with housing issues to steer them towards the right sources of support in the context of a national housing shortage. It was developed with the Tower Hamlets Health and Housing Task and Finish Group with health professionals in mind, but may be useful for a range of services.
NB much of the information in this guide is specific to Tower Hamlets. It is correct as of July 2024 but details may change with legislation expected from the new Government.
Key points:
- There is a national shortage of housing. Social housing – housing rented from the council or a housing association which offers lower rents and security of tenure, is in exceptionally high demand in Tower Hamlets.
- Residents can apply to join the waiting list for social housing (the ‘Common Housing Register’) and if they quality, be placed into a band, dependent on their circumstances. However, there are @25,000 households on the Tower Hamlets housing waiting list. Even those in top priority band face waiting times of many years for social housing. Some will never be successful.
- Highest priority (Band 1) is awarded to households in emergency situations, as well as those with priority medical need (such as a severe and long-term limiting illness or permanent disability) which is worsened by their housing situation.
- High priority is also given to those who are under occupying homes that could be freed up to relieve overcrowding.
- Many households in Tower Hamlets live in overcrowded conditions. Over-crowded households are awarded Band 2 priority, along with those who are homeless or who have other priority needs but no connection to the Borough.
- In the current housing situation, the average waiting time for a two bed property for those in priority Band 1 is five years. It is much longer for bigger properties. Many households in lower bands will never be offered social housing.
- More details of the allocations scheme can be found here: The Common Housing Register Partnership Allocations Scheme (towerhamlets.gov.uk)
- Problems with housing conditions such as damp and mould are a concern in Tower Hamlets as elsewhere. All rented accommodation should be fit for human habitation and tenants should have a means of redress against landlords if not.
- Environmental Health departments are responsible for ensuring homes are safe.
- This guide contains the pathways which tenants should follow when there are hazards in the home, such as damp and mould, and the point at which to involve others.
- It also contains links to other organisations which may be able to provide advice and support to Tower Hamlets residents.
How to support residents with medical needs who want rehousing
If a residents would like to apply for medical priority and already have an active housing application, they should contact their lettings officer or the council’s Housing Options service by calling 0800 376 1637 or 0207 364 7474. They will be sent a questionnaire which they should fill in themselves. Form filling support can be provided by the Tower Hamlets advice services.
Those who have a severe and long-term limiting illness or permanent disability, which is worsened by their housing situation may qualify for Band 1 on the housing register, but still wait a long time for rehousing.
If a resident is struggling with activities of daily living, they may be suitable for an Occupational Therapy assessment. Referrals can be made by health and social care professionals, or residents can self-refer on the council website by clicking here or by searching ‘occupational therapy assessment’ on the council website.
What information should healthcare professionals provide about health?
If the council needs information from a healthcare professional about a resident who is applying for medical priority, the council will request and pay for the letter directly. There is no benefit in sending a letter before one is requested. It is more effective to support residents to self-advocate, ensuring they explain their health issues thoroughly and include a list of medications they take (which can be obtained free from their GP.)
How to support residents facing damp, mould and other problems with the condition of rented housing
Both private and social landlords must adhere to legislation in relation to damp and mould or face prosecution or financial penalties. The Council website contains a great deal of advice on preventing and dealing with damp and mould to prevent this spreading and becoming hazardous to health.
The process for reporting hazards for council tenants, housing association tenants and tenants of private landlords are different and are summarised in the diagram overleaf. If a health or social care professional is concerned that the time frames listed would put the resident at risk, or that appropriate action has not been taken in relation to a health and safety hazard in the home, they can write a letter for the tenant, stating their concerns.
For council tenants, the tenant should upload this to the myhome portal (by searching on ‘report a repair’ on the council website.) The letter would form part of the information used to prioritise repairs. Housing association tenants should give the letter to their housing association or to Environmental Health. For private tenants the letter should go to environmental.health@towerhamlets.gov.uk. Letter to Environmental Health should include the resident’s name and address, who they pay their rent to, how many people occupy the property and landlord details. Letters are added to case files and could influence the support offered to the tenant.
How to support residents to find alternative accommodation
- If there has been a change in circumstances since the housing application was made, such as a new medical condition or a change in household size, encourage the resident to inform the council (Change of circumstances (towerhamlets.gov.uk) or search ‘change of circumstance’ on the Council website.
- Pass on these top tips for successful bidding:
– Do bid for homes actively and regularly; use your three bids for all suitable homes
– Don’t just bid for a particular property type
– Only bid for ground floor properties if there is a medical need these are high demand
– Do widen your search to different areas and landlords
– Don’t forget to bid on new build homes – these are sometimes grouped as a single advert and classed as one of your three bids.
– Residents can be set up to auto bid, which may be particularly useful for those unable to regularly bid for themselves and needing support - Encourage residents to be realistic about the housing they need now in the context of a national and local housing shortage. To assess if social housing is realistic and look at other options such as shared ownership or mutual exchanges, residents may wish to search Ways to move – Homeseekers (thhs.org.uk).
- Signpost residents to other agencies may be useful. Some are listed below.
Housing Advice Team (private sector) Housing.Advice@towerhamlets.gov.uk 0207 364 7474
Tower Hamlets Community Advice Network
Citizens Advice Tower Hamlets – Citizens Advice East End (eastendcab.org.uk)
Local and national advice services
Home – Shelter England
Non-Profit Free Advice and Representation For Tenants (justicefortenants.org)
Tower Hamlets Renters Union – community of renters, campaigning for better housing
Search approved local affordable housing providers on the Council website for a full list of housing associations
Information on damp and mould
Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Citizens advice: Damp and mould guidance
Tower Hamlets Council damp and mould advice
Other
Social prescribers | Tower Hamlets Connect
Tower Hamlets support with the cost of living, including food and fuel poverty and benefits advice
Real: Disabled People’s Charity – independent, confidential service, offering one-to-one and group support for disabled people living and working in Tower Hamlets
Reporting a rogue landlord to the Greater London Authority – reporting form for landlords who do not have a property licence, may be holding an incorrect licence or breaching the terms of their licence
This guide was produced by the Health and Housing Task and Finish group
We are interested in any feedback you have about to inform the next version of this guide. Please email matthew.quin@towerhamlets.gov.uk