Move to a larger council home

If your current home is too small, you can apply to move to a larger council property.

You cannot move to a larger council home automatically. You must apply through the housing register and bid for properties.

You can find out more about the housing register and how to apply.

Demand for housing is extremely high, especially for larger family homes and we do not have enough council homes to meet demand. 

Being accepted onto the housing register does not guarantee that you will be offered a larger home.

Who can apply to move to a larger home

You may be able to apply if your home is no longer suitable.

This may include situations where:

• your household has grown
• children are sharing bedrooms and need separate rooms
• your home is overcrowded
• you have a medical or welfare need that affects your housing

How to move to a larger home

To apply to the housing register or update your application. You can do this by email.

Email: housingneeds.enquiries@woking.gov.uk

It is your responsibility to tell us about any changes to your circumstances.

How we assess your application

We will assess your application based on your housing needs and circumstances.

Household size and bedroom needs are assessed in line with our Housing Allocations Policy.

Our assessment will include:

Bedroom need

We assess how many bedrooms your household requires using our bedroom standard.

Overcrowding

We assess whether your current home is overcrowded and how urgently you need to move.

Priority banding

We place you in a priority band based on your circumstances.

Using priority bands is how we decide your level of need compared to other applicants and who is offered housing first.

Your tenancy conduct

We may also take into account how you have managed your tenancy, including:

• rent payments and any arrears
• whether you have kept to your tenancy agreement

Once we have assessed your application, we will write to you to confirm:

• your priority band
• the size of property you can apply for

If you disagree with a housing register decision, you can appeal and request a review.

Important things to understand

While you are waiting for a move:

• you must continue to pay rent on your current property
• you must keep to your tenancy agreement
• your priority may change if your circumstances change again

If you refuse suitable offers of accommodation, this may:

• reduce your priority
• limit your ability to continue bidding
• result in your application being reviewed or closed