Housing Association Application

Hi all,

I am the husband of a USC living here in the UK and I have one quick question.  My wife and step daughter are in posession of their spouse and dependent visas respectively, so all's well down on the farm in that department.  However, I was under the impression that although we could not apply for council housing, we would be entitled to apply for housing association property.

So, we have applied and my wife took in the forms and identification - passports etc - and explained the situation to the person on the desk who had no problems.  Now though, looking at their website, it says that people who are "Persons subject to immigration control within the meaning of the Asylum and
Immigration Act 1996" are not eligible for consideration.  Does anybody know if we come under this part of the act, or is it specific to asylum seekers?

Any definate knowledge would be useful.  many thanks and happy halloween to our american friends

FLR holders (= people subject to immigration control) aren't eligible for housing assistance, ILR holders are. You as a UK citizen can apply in your own right, but I think what that means is they won't assess you as having dependents.

Also, don't you have to apply to the council for a Housing Assoc home? Pretty sure the same rules would apply.

Depends on the area.  Some associations hold the waiting list whilst in other areas the council retains control of the list.

It is quite a technical question that is being asked, and we need to be careful about the distinctions here.

That is, we need to bear in mind that the definition of Public Funds in para 6 of the Immigration Rules includes Council Housing. But it does not include Housing Association housing, unless the accommodation is allocated because of a nomination from a Council.

However if someone applies direct to the Housing Association, and gets allocated accommodation because of a Housing Association decision, that is not Public Funds.

But starcrossed you may have a further hurdle to pass. That is, each Housing Association has an allocation policy and it sounds like this particular Housing Association is trying to exclude those subject to Immigration Control. If so, such exclusion would not be because of the Public Funds issue, but simply because that is what they have decided to do. There are no doubt other exclusions as well.

But you are British? Yes? So absolutely no problem you applying for the accommodation in your sole name, if need be.