Waiting for public housing
Once you apply for public housing, you'll need to wait until a suitable property becomes available. You'll also need to tell us if your situation changes while you're waiting.
How long you have to wait
The length of time you have to wait depends on:
- how urgently you need a property
- how quickly a suitable property becomes available
- what your needs are
- the number of other people waiting with urgent needs.
People with the greatest needs are placed first, when suitable properties become available. A suitable property is one that meets your housing needs as agreed during your interview.
While waiting for a property, it’s important to keep looking for other options, like rental properties in the private market.
Tell us if something changes
While you're waiting to get into a public house, you must let us know straight away about any changes in your and your partner’s (if you have one) circumstances.
This could be changes to your:
- address and phone number
- income or financial circumstances
- family or household arrangements.
If you don’t let us know, you might not be able to get a property that best meets your needs, or you may no longer qualify for public housing.
How to tell us
Call us on 0800 673 468
Confirm your circumstances
We may contact you and ask you to confirm your circumstances. This is so we can make sure your situation hasn't changed.
We will either:
- call you and ask you to confirm over the phone, or
- text you and ask you to confirm in MyMSD.
MyMSD is our online service where you can apply and manage your information online.
If we contact you, it's important you confirm your circumstances. Otherwise we may think you no longer need public housing and cancel your application.