Eligibility criteria for joining the housing register

To join the housing register we expect applicants to meet the following criteria:

• local connection: you must have a qualifying local connection to Gateshead
• financial threshold: applicants must have no more than £25,000 savings, £50,000 equity to a property, £50,000 investments (including property in the UK and abroad) or a total gross household income from all sources of £50,000.

You may not be eligible to join the housing register if:

• housing-related debt: you owe housing-related debt over £3,000 (single person or couple without children or £5,500 (household with children)
• antisocial behaviour: someone in your household has committed serious antisocial acts or criminal behaviour

Local connection

You must meet at least one of the following criteria to show a local connection to Gateshead:

• have lived in Gateshead for 6 of the previous 12 months
• have lived in Gateshead for 3 of the previous 5 years
• have a current contract of employment in Gateshead
• likely to be in education in Gateshead for 6 months or more
• have close family residing in the borough for at least 5 years
• close family means parents, adult siblings, or adult children
• other family connections may be considered if the relationship is particularly close - for example if you have been brought up by another relative and were in close contact
• been placed out of borough by Gateshead Council
• been living in supported housing in Gateshead or be living in accommodation provided by one of the agencies that the council works with for at least 6 months
• be either giving support or receiving it from someone living in the borough and it is only possible if they live in Gateshead and have evidence to support this
• have one of the above prior to incarceration or institutionalisation
• you have been discharged from the armed forces

Exceptions to the rules

Exceptions to the rules exist for urgent moves in special circumstances. We examine non-standard cases one by one, using our policy guidelines.

People from abroad and resettlement

To join the housing register, you must qualify for public sector housing. Check your Home Office documents or visit GOV.UK - Home Office (opens new window). You will be required to provide evidence of this during your housing application process.

We follow government rules to help refugees or asylum seekers find housing.

Special situations for young people

If you're over 16, you can apply for social housing. However, people under 18 cannot legally hold a tenancy. Young people owed support under the Children Act might get help from Children's Services. This support comes with a guarantor if you're within six months of turning 18.

You may also be able to get a tenancy with us if you nominate a suitable person as a guarantor. The tenancy would be held in trust until you reach 18.

Armed forces

If you are currently serving, have served in the past or are a family member moving out of Ministry of Deference housing, we will disregard the need for a local connection.

Where an applicant disagrees with a decision in relation to their housing application, you have a statutory right of review. Requests for reviews received after the 21-day timescale will be refused unless there are extenuating circumstances.