Homelessness points

The Housing Executive uses four legal tests when deciding if you are homeless. If it decides you are homeless you will be given Full Duty Applicant status and awarded 70 points on the Selection Scheme. If the Housing Executive decides you aren't a Full Duty Applicant you can get 50 'Other homeless' points depending on your circumstances.

The Housing Executive has a duty to provide advice on homelessness and its prevention to anyone in Northern Ireland who asks for it.

Full Duty Applicant
Other Homeless
Differences between a 'Full Duty Applicant' and 'Other homeless'

Full Duty Applicant

You will be given Full Duty Applicant status if you pass four homelessness tests:

If you pass the four tests you will get 70 points on the Selection Scheme. You will not get any points as Other homeless.

The Housing Executive will offer you temporary accommodation until permanent accommodation becomes available. You will get an extra 20 points on the Selection Scheme if you spend more than six months in Housing Executive temporary accommodation.

If you move into improved accommodation after becoming a Full Duty Applicant your points total will not be reduced. However, if your move means your points will increase then you will get the extra points.

Other Homeless

If the Housing Executive decides you are not a Full Duty Applicant you may get 50 points as Other Homeless. You will usually only get the 50 points if you can prove that:

there is no suitable alternative accommodation;
you can't be reasonably expected to look for suitable alternative accommodation;
you fall into one of the categories described below.

Even if you fall into more than one category you will only get 50 points.

The Housing Executive will look at your personal circumstances and the type of accommodation you need when deciding what is suitable accommodation. The Housing Executive will usually ask for evidence to support your application.

Check if you are entitled to Full Duty Applicant status, instead of Other Homeless points. If you are a Full Duty Applicant you get:

20 more points;
temporary accommodation until suitable permanent accommodation becomes available.

My marriage or relationship has broken down

You may be awarded 50 points if you have no dependent children and your relationship lasted more than one year. The Housing Executive will usually ask for written evidence that the relationship has broken down. This can be a court order but the Housing Executive will also accept confirmation from a solicitor, clergy or welfare group. The Housing Executive will also accept name changes on bank statements as evidence.

I have been evicted

You will only get 50 points if you have rented your accommodation from a private landlord for at least two years before your eviction. The Housing Executive will only give you 50 points if:

you have written evidence from a solicitor, estate agent or landlord that legal proceedings have started;
your actions have not caused the landlord to evict you.

My accommodation was too expensive

You may get 50 points if you have to sell your accommodation because it was too expensive. The Housing Executive uses the 30% rule to decide if your accommodation is too expensive.

If your total housing costs are more than 30% of your gross income you may get 50 points. Your total housing costs include mortgage repayments, rates, ground rent and building insurance . Your gross income is your income before tax, excluding maintenance payments to former partners.

However, each case is decided on its merits. The fact that your housing costs are less than 30% does not mean that you are automatically disqualified from getting the 50 points.

I have to leave my accommodation because I'm leaving work

If you leave accommodation provided by your employer you may be able to get 50 points. You will get 50 points if:

you have lived in the accommodation for more than two years;
you have to leave because of illness, redundancy, or retirement .

You will not get 50 points if you left the job voluntarily or you have been dismissed.

I'm leaving the armed forces

You will usually get 50 points if you are leaving the armed forces. The Housing Executive will ask for your discharge papers or a statement from your commanding officer. You may also get 50 points if you are the widow (or widower) of a recently deceased member of the armed forces.

I'm being released from prison

You may get 50 points when you are released from prison. The Housing Executive will give you 50 points if it decides you can't return to your old accommodation for medical, social or security reasons. The Housing Executive will usually look for evidence from the Probation Board, but may also look for evidence from social services or your doctor.

I'm leaving hospital

You will only get 50 points if your accommodation is unsuitable for you to live in when you leave hospital.

I'm leaving institutional care

You will get 50 points if you are leaving long-term care in an institution and you can't return to your previous accommodation.

I'm leaving care

You may be eligible for 50 points if you are leaving care and have no accommodation. You can still get 50 points even if social services have placed you in temporary accommodation. You usually must make your application within six months of leaving care.

The Housing Executive may give you 50 points in exceptional circumstances if you apply after six months. The Housing Executive will look for evidence from social services before giving you 50 points.

My accommodation is about to get demolished

If a court has given a closing or demolition order you will get 50 points. You may also get 50 points if the Housing Executive or another government department has told you to leave your accommodation because it is going to redevelop your area.

I've had to move a lot to find somewhere to sleep

You will only get 50 points if you can give the Housing Executive evidence of your movements. The Housing Executive will usually ask for housing benefit applications. However, it will also interview you before deciding if you should get 50 points.

I have to leave a hostel

The Housing Executive will give you 50 points if you are leaving a hostel after spending more than six months there. The Housing Executive will ask you for evidence to prove that you have been staying in the hostel. Get a statement from the hostel management or your housing benefit records.

Other circumstances

You may be able to get 50 points if the Housing Executive decides you have exceptional circumstances. However, you will only get the points if you would suffer 'exceptional hardship' if you don't get the points. The Housing Executive decides what 'exceptional hardship' is.

Differences between a 'Full Duty Applicant' and 'Other Homeless'

Full Duty Applicants have more rights than other applicants for permanent accommodation from the Housing Executive or a housing association. A Full Duty Applicant is entitled to