The Council is not obliged by law any more to keep a Housing Register or Waiting List - this was removed by the Homelessness Act 2002.

We are obliged however to allocate Social Housing according to a published Policy - you will find this under Allocations Policy.

Bournemouth has decided to maintain a Housing Register, however, because it gives us a measure of the growing demand for Housing - the list has steadily been increasing for at least the last 30 years, and continues to do so.

In January 2008, for example, the Register exceeded 6450 applications for the first time.

We also allocate vacant properties for Registered Social Landlords (RSL's) - or Housing Associations - and the Housing register is a convenient way of maintaining a record of demand across the Borough for all of these Landlords.

You are entitled to register for Social Housing In Bournemouth wherever you live at present.

However we will always give priority to applicants who have a local connection with Bournemouth. 

Information leaflets about the Housing Register:

To find out how your housing need is assessed when you are on the Housing Register and how to improve your current housing situation, read the leaflets 'Your Housing Need' and 'Access to Housing in Bournemouth'.