Bristol Housing Register - applying on health grounds

Applying for rehousing on health grounds

Applicants applying for housing are assessed on their current housing situation and an award of band 5, band 4 or band 2 may be awarded. Other bands may be awarded for factors such as overcrowding, disrepair etc. A system for assessing individuals needs is an important part of the housing process, as these factors can lead to awards of a higher band for applicants (see the guide to the transfer scheme and applying for council housing booklets available from Customer Service Points).

The health assessment and award of bands is designed to help serious ill health that is directly attributable or made worse by the applicants housing circumstances. The objective of the assessment is to award the appropriate band to reflect the applicant's health needs in relation to their housing situation. The award will form part of an overall needs assessment. A medical band is not usually awarded for circumstances already accounted for elsewhere in the banding scheme such as a need to move to give care to another person or stress relating to neighbourhood nuisance.

If your housing is affecting your health and you wish to move you should contact the Rehousing Service If you have already applied to the Bristol Housing Register you can print and complete the Health and Support Needs Form in the related documents section at the bottom of this page. Then return your completed form to the Rehousing Service.

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Who will assess my health?

 The Health and Housing Team will assess rehousing requests on medical grounds. They visit applicants in their own homes where considered necessary.

They also:

- Contact GPs and specialists if their advice is considered necessary
- Liaise with other agencies in order to allow a more informed assessment to be made
- Help other housing staff in the consideration of complex applications
- Refer to other agencies regarding unmet need
- Assess and prioritise requests from Bristol Council tenants for additional heating
- Provide specialist advice to Customer Service Points
- Participate and contribute to relevant working groups to improve the service available to Bristol residents
- Assess and advise on the vulnerability (on health grounds) of people who are homeless
- Provide training to a wide range of professionals

This is a city wide service.

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Contact us

If you need to speak to someone about applying for rehousing on health grounds, contact the Rehousing service

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