Fundamental Review of Allocations
In this section
- How to apply for a home
- Applying from outside Northern Ireland
- How we assess your application
- The Housing Selection Scheme
- Areas of choice
- Transfers and exchanges
- Allocations
- Complex needs
- Choice Based Lettings
- Advice for young people
- Advice for people from abroad
- Fundamental Review of Allocations
- Housing Solutions and Support
What is the Fundamental Review of Allocations Implementation Project?
The Department for Communities led a review to improve how social homes are allocated in Northern Ireland.
This included looking at the Housing Selection Scheme and the allocation processes.
This is called the Fundamental Review of Allocations (FRA).
As part of this review, the Department:
- commissioned independent research
- consulted on the recommendations
- worked with us (and others including Housing Associations) to identify proposals for change
Twenty proposals to improve the social housing allocation system were identified.
Public consultation on the proposed changes was carried out in 2017. A consultation outcome report was published in December 2020.
You can read the consultation documents and find out more about each of the 20 proposals at the Department for Communities' website:
The Minister for Communities decided that:
- eighteen proposals would be taken forward and
- two proposals would need more investigation
- these related to the removal of Intimidation Points and Interim Accommodation Points
The Housing Executive is responsible for implementing the proposals in place.
We established the FRA Implementation Project to deliver the eighteen agreed changes and develop options for alternative proposals for the remaining two.
The Project will also:
- consider the issues raised by respondents and
- take forward targeted consultation with stakeholders throughout implementation of the changes
What this means for you
The current Housing Selection Scheme and Common Waiting List has been in place for more than 20 years.
It governs the allocation of all permanent social housing in Northern Ireland.
Customers currently:
- complete a single application for social housing
- are assessed under the rules of the Housing Selection Scheme and
- if eligible, are then added to the Common Waiting List
Social housing includes both Housing Executive and Housing Association homes. These homes are allocated to the applicant on the waiting list with the highest number of points.
Changes will now be made to the Housing Selection Scheme. These will ensure that those in the greatest housing need receive priority and that their time in need is recognised.
This will mean a better, more efficient service for people in housing need.
Every household on the waiting list will be informed of changes at key stages of the Project.
All households will receive a letter and information leaflet. These will explain the first group of changes.
You can download these documents:
- Chief Executive's letter explaining changes to the Housing Selection Scheme
- Changes to the rules of the Housing Selection Scheme: your questions answered
They are also available in the languages below:
- Combined letter and information leaflet - Arabic (Syrian) version
- Combined letter and information leaflet - Bengali version
- Combined letter and information leaflet - Somali version
We will also inform political representatives and external stakeholders about these changes.
You can access regular updates about the progress of the Project, at any time, on this webpage.
Overview of the Project
The Project began in 2022 and will close in 2025.
The changes will be implemented within four key delivery stages over three years.
The diagram below outlines an indicative time frame of when each proposal for change will be delivered.
Stage one delivery
The FRA implementation project will deliver the first of the changes to the Housing Selection Scheme in early 2023.