Salford to introduce stricter housing register rules in bid to prioritise those most in need

Salford City Council is launching a new Housing Allocations Policy this week, introducing tougher residency rules and a restructured points system to better target social housing at those facing the greatest need.

From Thursday 27 November, the updated policy applies across the city until 2028 and replaces the current system for managing access to the housing register.

The new policy includes 16 changes in total. These are designed to increase support for groups such as care leavers, overcrowded families and people at risk of homelessness, while also reducing unrealistic expectations of what housing is available in the city.

The most significant shift is a stricter local connection rule. Previously, applicants needed to have lived in Salford for two years to qualify. This has now increased to five years. Exceptions will still apply for armed forces members, domestic abuse survivors, and those granted Leave to Remain while living in the city.

Other changes include giving top priority to people under a formal Prevention Duty under homelessness legislation, extending care leaver eligibility for points up to age 25, and new weighting for overcrowding and under-occupancy.

Council officers have contacted all housing register applicants since March to prepare them for the changes. Around 1,300 households are expected to be removed from the list as part of the policy update.

Salford currently has around 4,500 households on its housing register. Fewer than 1,000 social rent homes become available each year, while 800 households are in temporary accommodation.

Councillor Tracy Kelly, Lead Member for Housing and Anti-Poverty, said:

“We’re being honest with people about what housing is available and ensuring the most vulnerable get the help they need. Social housing demand far outweighs supply, so we’re prioritising those in greatest need and reducing the time spent in temporary accommodation.”

The council said it was working to boost the number of available homes. Its own housing company has completed 120 new builds this year and 348 more are under construction in partnership with local providers.

The revised policy aims to make the allocation process more transparent, make better use of scarce housing, and encourage sustainable tenancies. Each application will be assessed individually, with room for flexibility in exceptional cases.

Key changes also include:

• Automatic bidding for applicants under homelessness duties
• Increased savings threshold from £16,000 to £30,000
• New approach to rent arrears, favouring engagement over fixed thresholds
• Support for domestic abuse perpetrators engaging in rehabilitation
• Revised offers process for homeless applicants, who will receive one suitable offer before closure of their application

Councillor Brendan Keville, Executive Support Member for Homelessness and Housing Standards, added:

“We know housing is a difficult subject and we’re committed to plain English guidance and one-to-one support for those who need it.”

The policy was approved by the council in April 2025 following two rounds of public consultation. A summary of frequently asked questions is available on the council’s housing support pages.