Eligibility criteria
Eligibility criteria for joining the housing register
To join the housing register you must meet the following criteria:
- local connection: you must have a qualifying local connection to Gateshead
- financial threshold: your household must have no more than £25,000 in savings, £50,000 in investments, £50,000 in equity in the property, or a maximum annual income of £50,000
You may not be eligible to join the housing register if:
- housing-related debt: you owe rent or other housing-related debt over £3,000 (for singles or childless couples) or £5,500 (for families with children)
- antisocial behaviour: someone in your household has committed serious antisocial acts or criminal behaviour
Reasons to move
You might need to apply for social housing if your current home no longer meets your needs - for example, if it is too small, too large or unsafe.
Local connection
You must meet at least one of the following criteria to show a local connection to Gateshead:
- residency: you have lived in Gateshead for six of the past twelve months or for three of the past five years
- employment: you have a current job contract in Gateshead
- education: you are likely to be in education in Gateshead for six months or more
- family ties: you have close family (for example parents, siblings, or children) who have lived in Gateshead for at least five years. Other relatives may be considered if there is evidence of a strong relationship
- council placement: you have been placed outside of the borough by Gateshead Council
- supported accommodation: you have lived in accommodation provided by an agency working with Gateshead Council for at least six months
- support needs: you are giving or receiving support that can only be reasonably provided if you live in Gateshead
- pre-incarceration/institutionalisation: you met one of the above criteria before being incarcerated or institutionalised
- armed forces: 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 housing. Check your Home Office documents or visit GOV.UK - Home Office (opens new window).
We need to check if you have the right to live and rent in the UK. We'll ask for evidence during your application.
We follow government rules to help refugees or asylum seekers find housing. We check these rules every year.
Special situations for young people
If you're over 16, you can apply for social housing. However, people under 18 cannot rent alone. 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.
Armed forces
If you are in the armed forces, have just left them, or are a family member moving out of Ministry of Defence housing, you do not need a local connection to apply.
Who is eligible for which types of housing
You can bid for a property based on your household size and the number of people permanently moving in with you. The council has rules to fairly allocate its limited family homes.
Single person under 60 is eligible for:
- studio flat/bedsit
- one-bed flat or house
- two-bed flat or maisonette
Single person with overnight access to one or more children is eligible for:
- studio flat/bedsit
- one-bed flat or house
- two-bed flat or maisonette
- three-bed flat or maisonette
Single person under 60 but over 50 is eligible for:
- studio flat/bedsit
- one-bed flat, house or bungalow
- two-bed flat or maisonette
Single person over 60 is eligible for:
- studio flat/bedsit
- one-bed flat, house or bungalow (including sheltered accommodation)
- two-bed flat, maisonette or bungalow (including sheltered accommodation)
Couple under 60 is eligible for:
- studio flat/bedsit
- one-bed flat or house
- two-bed flat, maisonette or house
- three-bed flat, maisonette or bungalow
Couple under 60 with overnight access to one or more children is eligible for:
- studio flat/bedsit
- one-bed flat or house
- two-bed flat, maisonette or house
- three-bed flat, maisonette or bungalow
Couple both under 60 but oldest applicant over 50 is eligible for:
- studio flat/bedsit
- one-bed flat, house or bungalow
- two-bed flat, maisonette or house
- three-bed flat, maisonette or bungalow
Couple where oldest applicant is over 60 is eligible for:
- studio flat/bedsit
- one-bed flat, house or bungalow (including sheltered accommodation)
- two-bed flat, maisonette, house or bungalow (including sheltered accommodation)
- three-bed flat, maisonette or bungalow
Couple where oldest applicant is over 60 with access to one or more children is eligible for:
- studio flat/bedsit
- one-bed flat, house or bungalow
- two-bed flat, maisonette, bungalow or house
- three-bed flat, maisonette or bungalow
Two adults (non-couple) under 60 is eligible for:
- two-bed flat, maisonette or house
- three-bed flat, maisonette or bungalow
- three-bed bungalow
Two adults (non-couple) where oldest applicant is over 60 is eligible for:
- two-bed flat, maisonette (including sheltered accommodation), bungalow or house
- three-bed flat, maisonette or bungalow
Two adults (non-couple) where oldest applicant is over 50 is eligible for:
- two-bed flat, maisonette or house
- three-bed flat, maisonette or bungalow
Household with one full-time resident child is eligible for:
- two-bed flat, maisonette, bungalow or house
Household with two full-time resident children is eligible for:
- two-bed flat, maisonette or house
- three-bed house, flat, maisonette or bungalow
Household with three full-time resident children is eligible for:
- three-bed flat, maisonette, bungalow or house
- four-bed house
Household with four full-time resident children is eligible for:
- three-bed flat, maisonette, bungalow or house
- four-bed house
- five-bed house
Household with five or more full-time resident children is eligible for:
- three-bed flat, maisonette or house
- four-bed house
- five-bed house
If you receive a decision that you are not eligible to join the housing register, or if you disagree with the property types you are eligible to bid for, you have the right to appeal