Social Housing following divorce.

New_User

Quick question:

Does getting divorced increase a woman's right / priority to social housing?

harrys_dad

Quick answer, no. Everything depends on circumstances.

PasturesNew

There's nothing special about you just for being divorced... indeed, you've been living "on the cheap" for some time, sharing costs with an OH, so you're potentially in a better situation financially than a regular single person.... who have nothing.

New_User

I'm asking on behalf of a friend.
Somebody told me that divorced women had more of a priority to social housing, as the council took the view that the woman had entered into her marriage "in good faith" (and in doing so gave up a council flat to live in MQ).
I didn't think this was the case, but I thought I'd check it out further...

New_User

PasturesNew wrote: »

There's nothing special about you just for being divorced... indeed, you've been living "on the cheap" for some time, sharing costs with an OH, so you're potentially in a better situation financially than a regular single person.... who have nothing.

I take your point here.
Of course another obvious issue could be the divorce settlement...
But in this case, the lady got a good proportion of very little....

BigAunty

There are two routes into social housing - homelessness and general needs.

In England (different rules in NI/Scotland) only those who are homeless (no security of tenure past the next 28 days) AND in priority need (such as having dependents or disabilities) will be given assistance with housing by the local council. Even then, they don't have to give social housing but can discharge their statutory homeless responsibities by giving a 1 year tenancy.

When it comes to general needs (i.e. waiting list/choice based letting) for the non-homeless, a divorce status is irrelevant.

There is no specific requirement to give social housing upon someone's divorce, every applicant is assessed on need and allocated according to things like their current tenure, health, dependents, overcrowding, local tenure etc.

In England, councils have some discretion in who they allow to apply for general social housing applicants - some refuse to accept the unemployed, others have rules that specify limits on capital and income and so forth.

To understand how social housing allocation works, see the Shelter or Direct Gov websites or view the allocation policies of your local housing association/council housing landlords.

Errata

New_User wrote: »

Quick question:

Does getting divorced increase a woman's right / priority to social housing?

No, and it doesn't increase a man's right/priority either.

New_User

BigAunty wrote: »

There are two routes into social housing - homelessness and general needs.

In England (different rules in NI/Scotland) only those who are homeless (no security of tenure past the next 28 days) AND in priority need (such as having dependents or disabilities) will be given assistance with housing by the local council. Even then, they don't have to give social housing but can discharge their statutory homeless responsibities by giving a 1 year tenancy.

When it comes to general needs (i.e. waiting list/choice based letting) for the non-homeless, a divorce status is irrelevant.

There is no specific requirement to give social housing upon someone's divorce, every applicant is assessed on need and allocated according to things like their current tenure, health, dependents, overcrowding, local tenure etc.

In England, councils have some discretion in who they allow to apply for general social housing applicants - some refuse to accept the unemployed, others have rules that specify limits on capital and income and so forth.

To understand how social housing allocation works, see the Shelter or Direct Gov websites or view the allocation policies of your local housing association/council housing landlords.

Thank you very much. That is helpful info.
What about the fact that this lady gave up a previous council flat?
Would the council take that into consideration?
And does it make a difference that she gave up her flat to get married?

New_User

Errata wrote: »

No, and it doesn't increase a man's right/priority either.

From what I hear, it is often the woman who gets to keep the house following a divorce.
So maybe more divorced men will apply than women?

BigAunty

New_User wrote: »

Thank you very much. That is helpful info.
What about the fact that this lady gave up a previous council flat?
Would the council take that into consideration?
And does it make a difference that she gave up her flat to get married?

I am not aware that any consideration or extra priority is given to any social housing tenant who has previously reliquished their tenancy and re-applies.

There are two routes into social housing which do not take into account changes in marital status nor previous social housing tenure.

It is based on current NEED. The need is measured in various ways. It's things like homelessness, overcrowding, medical and so forth that influence priority.

Read the Shelter, Direct Gov website or local social housing landlord allocation policies to understand how it works.

lighting_up_the_chalice

It isn't a standard feature nationwide, but a number of providers do offer priority for "relationship breakdown". It might be worth checking your local allocations scheme.

However, if the separation featured an element of domestic abuse, that's a whole different kettle of fish.