Council proposal
Brent proposes three changes to its housing register
The Council is consulting on removing Band D, limiting applicants to one suitable offer and changing bedroom sharing for some adults. These proposals have not been adopted.
Council proposals · No final decision. Based on Brent Council’s consultation and FAQ. Sources checked: 6 September 2026. Original evidence in English.
The three proposed changes
Council proposal
Removing Band D
The Council proposes removing Band D for applicants without an identified housing need. Its consultation says those applicants would no longer be able to join or remain on the housing register. The FAQ says affected residents would still be able to access housing advice and information about alternative housing options.
Proposed Amendments; FAQ pages 1–2
Check source: Council FAQ, pages 1–2
Open the Council consultation page, then select “Housing Allocations Scheme Consultation FAQs.pdf”.
On page 1, find “Proposed Change 1: Removing Band D”. The section continues on page 2, including housing advice and information about alternative housing options.
Council proposal
One suitable offer
The Council proposes one suitable offer of social housing within Brent. Refusing it could affect an applicant’s priority or eligibility for further offers. In the FAQ, “suitable” means meeting the household’s assessed housing needs under the Council’s allocation rules.
Proposed Amendments; FAQ pages 2–3
Check source: Council FAQ, pages 2–3
Open the Council consultation page, then select “Housing Allocations Scheme Consultation FAQs.pdf”.
On page 2, find “Proposed Change 2: Introducing a One-Offer Policy”. Page 3 explains suitability and confirms the offer would be within Brent.
Council proposal
Bedroom-sharing rules
The Council proposes that same-sex adults aged 21 and over living in the same household would be expected to share a bedroom, aligning the proposed register approach more closely with its stated homelessness approach. The FAQ says any final policy would consider legal requirements, individual circumstances and equality impacts.
Proposed Amendments; FAQ page 3
Check source: Council FAQ, page 3
Open the Council consultation page, then select “Housing Allocations Scheme Consultation FAQs.pdf”.
On page 3, find “Proposed Change 3: Bedroom Sharing Rules”. The same page gives the qualifications about legal requirements, individual circumstances and equality impacts.
What the consultation says about demand
After a re-registration exercise, the consultation gives approximately 8,349 active household applications: around 6,421 with an identified housing need or priority to bid, and around 1,928 without an identified need. It says around 650 social housing properties become available in Brent each year.
The consultation does not give a separate measurement date for these counts.
around 8,349
active household applications
around 6,421
with identified need or priority to bid
around 1,928
without an identified housing need
These are different units: applications or households on the register versus properties becoming available each year. They do not provide an individual wait-time calculation or establish how many households were rehoused.
Properties becoming available each year
around 650
properties available each year
Around 650 social housing properties become available in Brent each year. This is an annual property measure, separate from the household applications above.
A question for any final scheme
If the scheme changes, how will affected residents receive an accessible explanation, get help and ask for a review? What results will the Council publish to show how the changes are working? This is the project’s question, not a claim that these arrangements are absent.
Additional disclosures
Why the older 33,000 figure needs care
The consultation says that over 33,000 households were registered at the January 2025 review. The Council’s general housing guidance still says more than 33,000 people. Those statements use different units and neither should be silently treated as the current active-applications count.
The page gives two closing times
Checked by Codex on 6 September 2026. The official page gives 13 September 2026. Its body says “11:59” without am/pm, while the phase schedule shows “23:59”. Check with the Council before relying on a closing time.
Sources and passage pointers
Original sources and passage pointers are listed below. Each entry shows its source-check date. The original evidence is in English.
London Borough of Brent — Review of Brent’s Housing Allocations Scheme Consultation
Introduction; Proposed Amendments; Phases · 6 September 2026
Official consultationLondon Borough of Brent — Apply for council and social housing
Housing demand and housing register overview · 6 September 2026
Housing guidanceLondon Borough of Brent — Housing Allocations Scheme Consultation FAQs.pdf
FAQ PDF linked from the official page, pages 1–4 · 6 September 2026
FAQ on official consultation pageLondon Borough of Brent — Review of the Housing Allocations Scheme
Issue 82350: scheduled Cabinet consideration, purpose and status · 6 September 2026
Council forward plan