Joining the Tower Hamlets housing List

Who can join the housing list?

Normally, you can join the housing list unless:

• you are under 18 years of age
• you are subject to immigration control , or
• you (or a member of your household) are considered unsuitable to be a tenant due to unacceptable behaviour. (For example, if you were evicted from accommodation in the past due to anti-social behaviour or rent arrears).

Every application will be considered on its own merits. We will consider all circumstances before making a final decision on eligibility for the housing list.

How to join the housing list

Obtain the application form. You can download the form here (pdf 148K), or contact us to have one sent to you

Complete the application form. If you need help or advice to complete it, please contact the lettings team, or your local housing office or one of the one stop shops

If you are the tenant of a partner landlord, return your completed form to them. Anyone else should send the completed form to the council's lettings team. You must also provide independent documentary proof of:

• your identity (see proof of identity below)
• your relationship to all those named on the application
• your immigration status
• the property you currently live in
• a local connection with Tower Hamlets – if you have one. (For instance you work in the borough, have family in the borough, or have lived in the borough)

When we receive your application, we check your eligibility (as set out at the top of this page) to see if you can be included on the housing list.

If you can’t join, we will write and tell you the reasons why you are not eligible, along with the details of how you can ask us to review this decision.

If you are eligible to join the housing list, we will assess the information on your application form to determine your priority on the list.

Proof of identity

for every person on the application we must normally see at least two of the following forms of proof of identity, and proof of where they currently live:

• full birth certificate
• medical card
• marriage certificate
• driving licence
• national insurance card
• passport
• benefit book.

Further information

You can contact the council’s lettings team here. See also the council’s housing contacts page.

You can find out more about the council’s partner landlords, including how to contact them, at the Tower Hamlets home seekers` website.

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