Apply for social housing
To receive a social home in Slough you must join the social housing register, On this page you can find everything you need to know about the process of joining the social housing register.
Social housing demand and waiting times
There are many more people waiting for a social home than there are properties available. Most people on the housing register will never be offered a home. If you are awarded Band B or C after your application is assessed, the waiting time can be many years. You should consider your other options, which include private rented housing or moving to areas where there is more affordable housing available. You can also find out about low-cost home ownership options.
8 Steps to joining the social housing register
Step 1. Check you are eligible
Before you apply to join the social housing register check if you are eligible at the GOV.UK site. You can only apply if you are eligible.
Step 2. Complete the application
Download and print a housing register application form. Or collect a copy from any of our community hubs. (If you are struggling to complete the application and need support, book an appointment at one of our community hubs).
Complete the full application form and make sure you have included all copies of any documents you have been asked to provide along with the form. (If you do not provide all the required documents, we will reject your application).
Step 3. Return the application
Take your form to one of our community hubs.
Step 4. Wait for your application to be assessed
We will inform you if your application has been successful and provide you with a unique reference number (URN) that you should quote when contacting us. All applications are received by our housing team who check eligibility. We aim to assess applications within 12 weeks. If eligible, your application will be added to the housing register in one of the following priority bands:
- Band A: Urgent or exceptional need to move.
- Band B: Less urgent need to move. You meet our additional preference criteria.
- Band C: You are in a group which must be given some priority. This is called reasonable preference. You do not meet our additional preference criteria.
When social homes become available, we offer them to the people on the housing register who have been waiting the longest in each band.
Step 5. Inform us of any changes
You must inform us of any changes in circumstances that might affect your application. Check what changes of circumstances you should inform us about.
Step 6. Regularly renew your application
We will regularly ask you to renew your application to make sure you still meet the eligibility criteria and ensure you are in the correct priority band. You must respond to our request within one calendar month. If you do not, we will cancel your application. We will not send reminders, so respond as soon as you can. We cannot accept late responses.
Step 7. Keep contact details updated
If we contact you to offer a home and cannot reach you for 24 hours (not including weekends), we will cancel your application and count it as a refusal. If your contact details have changed, complete the Housing Services contact us form with the details you need to update.
Step 8. Accept or refuse an offer
If your application was successful, you will either be told which property you have been awarded or how long the anticipated wait is until you will receive a property. Find out more about accepting or rejecting the housing offer.