Richmond Council is consulting on changes to who gets priority for social housing. It runs until 18 January 2027; residents can respond online or book a place at a public meeting in early November. You do not need to be on the housing register to take part.
The biggest change is the local residency rule: from three continuous years in the borough to five of the last seven, with the applicant living here when they apply. Some households could bid for homes rather than take the first suitable offer, some single homeless people would be offered one-bedroom homes rather than mainly studios, and all tenants moving to a smaller home would get top priority.
The council says the changes will not directly create more homes. The question is whether the new rule helps local families waiting now, and what supply the council will promise alongside it.
- Richmond Council is consulting on changes to its Housing Allocation Scheme, which sets priority for social housing.
- The consultation runs until 18 January 2027; residents can respond online or book a place at a public meeting in early November.
- You do not need to be on the housing register to respond.
- The local residency rule would change from three continuous years in the borough to five years out of the last seven, with the applicant living in the borough when they apply.
- Choice-based letting would be introduced for some households, letting them bid on a suitable home rather than take the first available.
Every factual claim in this story is linked to the evidence behind it. Where the newsroom has added judgement or framing, it is listed separately. Sources accessed 30 October 2026.
- www.richmond.gov.uk/news/news_october_2026/give_views_changes_to_housing_priorit (council_statement)
Claim by claim (8 facts, 1 editorial judgements)
- Richmond Council is consulting on changes to its Housing Allocation Scheme, which sets priority for social housing. — council_statement, 2026-10-29“Rules setting out who gets priority for social housing in Richmond are being reviewed with the intention of making the system fairer and reduce reliance on temporary accommodation.”
- The consultation runs until 18 January 2027; residents can respond online or book a place at a public meeting in early November. — council_statement, 2026-10-29“The consultation runs until 18 January 2027 and residents can share their views online, or by booking their place at a public meeting in early November.”
- You do not need to be on the housing register to respond. — council_statement, 2026-10-29“You do not need to be on the housing register to respond.”
- The local residency rule would change from three continuous years in the borough to five years out of the last seven, with the applicant living in the borough when they apply. — council_statement, 2026-10-29“Changing the local residency rule from three continuous years living in the borough to five years out of the last seven, with the applicant living in the borough when they apply”
- Choice-based letting would be introduced for some households, letting them bid on a suitable home rather than take the first available. — council_statement, 2026-10-29“Introducing choice-based letting for some households. Instead of being matched to the first suitable property that becomes available, people will be able to bid on a home they are interested in”
- Some single homeless people would be offered one-bedroom homes; currently they are mainly considered only for studios. — council_statement, 2026-10-29“Some single homeless people would be offered one-bedroom homes. Currently, they are mainly only considered for studio flats”
- All tenants moving to a smaller home would get Band A priority regardless of bedrooms freed; currently only if they free two or more. — council_statement, 2026-10-29“All tenants who move to a smaller home would get Band A priority, regardless of how many bedrooms they free up. Currently this priority only applies if they free up two or more.”
- The council's housing lead said changes will not directly create more homes. — council_statement, 2026-10-29“Changes to the allocation scheme will not directly create more homes.”
- Judgement: The test for the consultation is whether the residency change helps local families waiting now and what supply the council promises alongside it.