Appeals procedure - council housing

In some cases, you may request a review of our decision concerning your housing application. Following a decision, if you remain dissatisfied, you can ask for the decision to be reviewed by the Housing Allocations Appeals Panel.

You may only request a review if you disagree with the following:

• decision to change your joint application to a sole application
• decision to exclude, suspend or remove your application
• assessment of your housing need, local priority and local connection
• assessment of need following a change in your housing circumstances
• with our direct allocation 

Appeals must:

• be made within 21 days of receiving our notification of the decision, we can extend the time limit if it is considered reasonable
• be made verbally or in writing and explain why you consider our decision to be unreasonable and provide any additional evidence as required

The first stage of review:

At the first stage of the review, a team leader will reassess our decision by checking the actions taken by our allocations team. The team leader will respond to you within 2 weeks of the review request and advise you if the decision is going to be delayed for any reason.

If you disagree with the team leader’s reassessment, you can request a second stage review by the housing services manager or another manager who is senior to the team leader.

Second stage review:

The housing services manager, or another manager, will carry out the second stage review and respond to you within 8 weeks of the review request being received. You will be advised if the decision is going to be delayed for any reason.

Final right of appeal:

If you disagree with the second stage review decision, you can have a final right of appeal to the Housing Appeals Panel which comprises of three of our councillors and is supported by a senior member of staff who has not been involved in the original decision.

A request for an appeal must be made within 21 days from the day on which you received notification of our second-stage review decision, we have the discretion to extend the time limit if it is considered that this would be reasonable.

Any request for an appeal must be on the basis that the published policy has not been applied correctly to your household’s circumstances. If you wish to challenge the allocations scheme itself you are advised to seek independent legal advice.

Requests for an appeal may be made verbally or in writing. You will be asked to explain why you consider we have misapplied the published policy. You can present your case to the panel in person and be accompanied by a relative or friend but you can not be formally represented by a third party.

We will aim to carry out an appeal hearing and respond to you within 8 weeks of the appeal request being received and will advise if for any reason the decision is going to be delayed

If you remain dissatisfied with our decision you will be advised that you have the right to refer your case to the Local Government Ombudsman service or equivalent and can seek specialist advice.