Politics
Croydon Council 2026 Housing Allocations Scheme: Priority Bands Shift Access for Local Applicants
The updated scheme changes how Croydon residents on the housing register qualify for council homes, with effects concentrated on families in temporary accommodation and single adults seeking permanent placements.
How we reported this
The Croydon Council updated its Housing Allocations Scheme in June 2026, revising priority bands that determine who receives offers of social housing. The changes apply to the borough's waiting list and affect residents already placed in temporary accommodation or living in overcrowded conditions within the London Borough of Croydon.
Council budget papers for 2026-27 record the decision to implement the revised scheme after a review of the existing allocation framework. The update follows sustained pressure on local housing stock and responds to the number of households placed in bed-and-breakfast or short-term units across Croydon wards.
Effects on different resident groups
Households with dependent children placed in temporary accommodation now receive higher priority under the new banding rules. This adjustment means families currently housed outside their preferred Croydon neighbourhoods stand a greater chance of receiving an offer for a permanent council property in the coming months.
Single adults without children, including those in shared temporary accommodation, move to a lower priority band. The scheme states that these applicants will wait longer for offers unless they meet separate criteria such as medical needs or domestic abuse risk assessments.
Local advocates note that the banding shift directs a larger share of available voids toward families already in the system. The council's published allocation policy confirms that key workers living in Croydon continue to receive points under a separate category, though the total number of points required for an offer has risen for all non-priority groups.
The council plans to begin applying the new bands from September 2026. Residents on the register will receive individual notifications detailing their updated position, and the housing team will review existing temporary accommodation placements against the revised criteria during the transition period.