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In Spring 2026 Warrington Borough Council will be introducing their new Allocations Policy and will be re-introducing choice based lettings 

 

Changes to the Rule of Under One Roof - Warrington

1.  Why are these changes happening?

Warrington Borough Council has reviewed and updated its Housing Allocations Policy. This was so the policy could better reflect people’s circumstances locally, give priority to local people in housing need and change the scheme to a ‘choice based lettings’ service where eligible applicants can bid for suitable properties advertised online each week.

 

2.  What is Changing?

There is a new Allocations Policy for Warrington along with changes to the priority bandings. Eligible applicants will be able to go online to see what properties are advertised and bid on up to 3 suitable properties each week.

It will mean changes to how the Under One Roof service works in Warrington, including:

Who can apply for housing with Under One Roof -  There will be some people who will no longer qualify to register if they do not meet the new criteria or have a qualifying local connection.

Existing Applicants  currently registered will  be reassessed in accordance with the criteria in the new policy and their circumstances.  This may result in some applicants no longer qualifying to go onto the list.

The number of priority bands are changing:

• The council puts an application for social housing in a priority band, based on housing need and circumstances.
• The priority bands will increase to 7 bands, ranging from the highest priority band A* to a non urgent priority band C.
• Band D will be for people who have exhausted the limit on refusals or have not made bids in the time period allowed.

 

Providing proofs at point of application

Existing applicants will be contacted to:

• update/confirm the details on their application
• provide proofs for all household members needing to be rehoused as part of the application
• provide proof of any medical/health conditions and housing circumstances, if not already done so
• provide proofs from supporting agencies

You will be given 28 days to provide the evidence needed.  If you do not provide the proofs your banding may be reduced.

New applicants will need to provide proof of local connection, their household, and evidence current housing circumstances before an application is assessed and made active. This is to allow U1R to assess your eligibility and housing needs in accordance with the new housing allocations policy criteria.

Changes to how properties are advertised – You can now bid

The system is changing  to a ‘choice based lettings’ service where applicants can bid (express an interest) on a maximum of 3 suitable properties advertised online each week.

Available properties will be advertised on the U1R website on a weekly cycle from 00.01am on a Thursday to 11:59pm the following Monday.

Property adverts include eligibility criteria   e.g. bedroom needs, sheltered accommodation, accessible accommodation.

There are consequences for applicants in Band A and B who do not bid within the required timescales.

Occasionally properties may be restricted to specific groups, such as properties with an age restriction or in line with a Local Letting Plan that has been approved by the local authority – these criteria/restrictions will be shown in the detail of an advert

 

3.  Renewing Applications.

Applicants will have 56 days to respond to the annual request to renew/update application details online.

• applicants will be given 28 days initially to complete renewal, which will start from the date the renewal notification is sent.
• If a renewal is not completed within 28 days, a further notice will be given and if there is not response after a further 28 days, the application for housing will be closed.

NB: It will no longer be possible to reopen or backdate housing applications once they have been closed apart from in exceptional circumstances. Applicants failling to renew or update their application annually (as stated above) will lose their priority banding and effective date of application and will need to re-apply afresh. 

 

Changes to the Under One Roof website:

Updates are being made to the computer system which will enable applicants to:

• View properties advertised each week and bid (express an interest) on up to 3 suitable properties each week.
• View information about the availability of properties in each area and average waiting times.

 

4.  How has the qualification criteria changed?

Qualification Criteria means there are new rules we will use to decide if people can apply for social housing in Warrington. 

The main changes to the qualification criteria are:

• Applicants will need to prove a local connection to join the scheme – this means applicants will need to:
  • Have lived in the Warrington Borough Council area for at least two years or;
  • have close family that have lived in the Warrington Borough Council area for a minimum 5 years
  • have a job in the Warrington area for a minimum of 2 years. The applicant has been in settled paid employment in Warrington for more than 12 months and for over 16 hours per week (Proof will be required)
• Any 16- or 17-year-olds who want to join the scheme must have a “trustee” (a professional who is responsible for you).
• Applicants or their household members who have rent arrears or other housing related charges of over 2 months rent will not qualify unless they have a payment arrangement in place and have made 3 months payments and these are ongoing. 
  Certain exemptions may apply to applicants involved with MARAC or where there are under-occupation /bedroom cost exemptions
• If the applicant, or anyone who usually lives with them, or might reasonably be expected to live with them, are homeowners they will not qualify unless they meet the exceptional circumstances.
• If you have savings of more than £16,000 then you will not be able to join the scheme from now on. There are times when this does not apply, and more details can be found in the policy.
• There are some changes to criteria for unacceptable behaviour and breaking tenancy terms. More details about this can be found in the policy.

 

5.  What are the criteria for the priority bands?

The banding system and detailed criteria can be found in Section 4 of the new policy. ( need hyperlink here )

An overview of the new bands is given below. Full details can be viewed in the Housing Allocations Policy.

The more detailed criteria that is in the policy will be used when assessing applications.

 

Band A* – Applications are put in this band when rehousing is extremely urgent.

• Owed the main duty under Housing Act 1996, part 7. Not intentionally homeless and have a priority need for accommodation. Applicants will need to be assessed by Housing Needs Service at Warrington Borough Council.
• Care Leavers who are leaving care of Local Authority’s children services and taking up their first tenancy.

Band A - Applications are put in this band when rehousing is urgently needed this is called Additional Preference and includes:

• The application is because the applicant is homeless and in situations when councils must help.  This is called owed duty. Assessment will be made by the Housing Needs Service at Warrington Borough Council
• Victims of domestic abuse confirmed by MARAC
• Victims or Witnesses of crime amounting to violence or threats of violence. Confirmation from criminal justice agencies will be required
• Sudden loss of home because of a disaster.
• Severely overcrowded by three or more bedrooms.
• Life threatening or terminal medical issue.
• Leaving a stay in hospital and unable to return home.
• Former Care Leavers of Warrington Borough Council who are aged up to 25 years old and are in urgent housing need
• Warrington Council approved Foster Carers who need to move to a larger home.
• Applicant who are serving or have served in the UK Armed Forces
• Bereaved partners of UK Armed Forces personnel who need to leave accommodation that is only for those who work in the UK Armed Services.
• Serving or former members of the UK Reserve Forces who need to move because of a serious injury, medical condition or disability which is wholly or partially attributable to their service.
• When the applicant’s current home is needed for Compulsory Purchase Order and /or is subject to a Warrington Borough Council approved regeneration policy

 

Band B* - Homelessness prevention, threatened with homelessness owed the prevention section 195 duty. Assessment will be completed by the Housing Needs Service at Warrington Borough Council.

Band B - Applications are put in this band when rehousing is needed this is called Reasonable Preference and includes:

• When an applicant is Homeless for other reasons than included in the above priority bands.
• Moving on from Warrington Borough council commissioned supported accommodation
• Victims of Domestic Abuse (except MARAC cases)
• Occupying insanitary or unsatisfactory housing conditions as identified by Environmental Health.
• Overcrowded by two bedrooms.
• Property in Disrepair as verified by Environmental Health
• Under-occupying social rented housing.
• Needing to move on medical or welfare grounds
• Needing to move to a particular locality within the borough of Warrington where failure to meet this need,
• Access specialised medical treatment in the borough as the treatment is not available elsewhere.
• Give or receive personal care where current geographic circumstances limit the ability to do this. Evidenced through a personal care plan or supporting information from social care.
• Escaping anti social behaviour. Confirmation will be required from Criminal Justice agencies
• Victim of racial harassment or hate crime.  Confirmation will be required from Criminal Justice agencies
• Victims or Witnesses of Crime who would be at risk of intimidation if they remained in their current home. Confirmation will be required from Criminal Justice agencies.

Band C * - Overcrowded  - lacking 1 bedroom.

Band C - All applicants will be in band C if they are adequately housed and don’t meet any criteria above under the allocation scheme.

Band C will also be applied to applicants who have been found to deliberately worsen their circumstances to improve their opportunities of rehousing.

 

Band D – Applicants from A or B who have exhausted their right to refuse an allocation of social rented housing

• Applicants who have failed to bid as follows where a suitable property would have been available.
• Band B*/B – failed to bid after a period of 12 weeks
• Band A*/A  - failed to bid after a period of 6 weeks

Applicants will remain in Band D for a period of 12 months from date of final refusal and then they may be reassessed

 

6.  When will the change happen?

The new Policy is due to be introduced in Spring 2026

 

7.   Will the Under One Roof service continue to run during the change?

There will be a short period (estimated to be during March 2026) when the Under One Roof website will not be available to new applicants whilst the new system is implemented.

 

8.  While the scheme is closed how can I get advice and support? What if I am in an emergency housing situation such as if I become homeless or at risk of being homeless?

If you need emergency housing, you should contact the Warrington Borough Council’s Housing Needs Service online at: https://www.warrington.gov.uk/homelessness or for emergency assistance, please call the Housing Needs Service 01925 443 322, Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm.

WBC’s Housing Needs Service hours 5pm to 8:30am Monday to Friday, all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays is for emergency calls only.

If you do not have access to a computer or mobile device, you can use the self-service computers at council offices e.g. 1 Time Square, or public libraries.

 

9.  Do I need to make a new application?

If you have an active application you will not need to do anything until we contact you - We will assess your eligibility to remain on the waiting list and request you provide the relevant proofs required to assess and award your correct priority band under the new allocations policy.  

If your application is still being processed when the new scheme is introduced, then it will follow the new scheme rules and you will not be made active until all the proofs requested have been received and verified.

U1R will be contacting all active applicants in order to confirm or update household and housing circumstances, based on the criteria changes in the new allocations policy. This is so that we can assess your application under the new rules

Please ensure you reply to any contacts within the time you are asked to. If you fail to response, your application may be closed. 

 

10.  Will anything on my application change?

All existing and new applications will be assessed using the new allocations policy criteria. This could affect whether applicants continue to qualify for the scheme, and/or there could be a change to an applicant’s priority band.

Some people will not meet the new qualification criteria - In this situation, their application will be closed.

If there is any change to your eligibility or qualification , we will contact you to advise accordingly.

If you do not agree with any decision made you will have the right to request a review. 

 

11.  How will my priority band be affected?

Please refer to the Band change table for information on how the bands will change in the new scheme. 

 

12.   Will my effective date change when the new scheme is introduced?

For some applicants, the date of entry into the priority band or “effective date” will remain the same.

If the new policy means an applicant receives a higher priority band, then the effective date will change to the date the application is assessed as qualifying for the new higher priority band.  

 

13.  Will my registration date change if I’m an existing applicant?

No, registration date remains the same - This is the date applicants originally registered on the scheme and may not necessarily be the same as the ‘effective date’ if, for example, priority banding has increased since original registration. 

 

14.  How will I know if my application has been affected by the change?

Everyone will be affected by the changes and their band will  change to reflect the priority in the new policy  (see the priority band table)

U1R will write to applicants to explain any change to banding, due to the changes in the policy. 

Most of our correspondence is sent by online message board or  email, please regularly check your emails, including your spam or junk folder. 

 

15.  What if I disagree with any change made to my status or banding?

You will be sent a decision letter to tell you about any changes.

The letter will explain how to ask for a review of the decision to be considered again if you disagree.

You must contact us to ask for a review within 21 days of receiving the decision letter which tells you about any change.

For more details about reviews please click here

 

16.  Do I need to do anything at this stage?

You should continue to follow the current scheme rules until they change in Spring of 2026.

In the meantime, it is still important that you:

• Tell us about any change in your circumstances that might affect your application
• Complete any requests to renew your application details and
• Reply to any communications we send to you
• Regularly check our website www.u-1-r.warrington.co.uk for further updates.

 

17.  Is the website changing?

The main website address will remain as www.u-1-r.co.uk

Information provided on the website shows additional details, such as average waiting times in each area.

 

18.   Will my account login details be affected?

No, your login details should not change.

 

19.  Can I get help with bidding on advertised properties?

Yes – applicants can select ‘auto-bidding’, so as the system can place an automatic bid on suitable properties in your selected areas. It is important to be aware that auto-bids are made immediately prior to the advert closure time. The system will automatically place bids on up to 3 adverts weekly, where the applicants is likely to appear in the highest position on any shortlist in the areas of choice i.e. if a bid  was to appear in position 40 on a shortlist but position 20 on another shortlist, the system will automatically place the applicants bid on the shortlist which gives the higher position.  

 

20.  Can I speak to someone about the changes?

We understand that these changes may be a concern for people who are already registered with the scheme.

We hope you will find re-assurance from the answers to questions in this document.

You will also be able to access the Under One Roof website for help and support about the changes.

Please be re-assured that we will contact you directly if there is any change to your application.

Please do not contact us to ask further questions relating to the new policy changes at this stage.

 

21.  What if I no longer qualify for the scheme and my application is closed?

If you believe that the assessment for your application is incorrect, you can ask for it to be looked at again. This is called a review.

If the review finds that closing your application was incorrect, your application will be re-instated.

Your application will stay closed if the review request is solely because you disagree with the new policy criteria. The new housing allocations policy has been approved and introduced by Warrington Borough Council - The U1R service is obliged to follow the new policy criteria.

 

22.  What if my application was closed as I did not qualify but my circumstances have now changed?

If your circumstances have changed and you think you will now meet the qualification criteria, you should complete a new housing application online and provide appropriate documentation/evidence to show how you qualify.