This information is for people in Northern Ireland applying for social housing.
Your place on the waiting list for social housing is based on the number of points you have.
Your
Working out your points
Sometimes it can be hard to prove why you should get certain points. We can help explain which points you can get and why. Our advisers may also be able to help find ways to get more points.
If you want to speak to our advisers about points, be ready to discuss all aspects of your situation and your needs. The more we know, the better they can help.
Before you contact us:
- find out how many points you have – call the Housing Executive (03448 920 900) to get a breakdown of your points
- check the breakdown of your points – look through the points list and check where your points match the items on the list
- gather your information and documents – for example, if you have a letter from the Housing Executive, make sure to have a copy with you
If you still do not have enough points for a home, you can:
- ask your housing officer to review your points and make sure everything is up to date
- check if you can get points for social issues
- contact housing associations with properties for groups of people with specific needs
Being on the waiting list can be hard. You may want to know where you are on the list or how soon you will get a home. You can contact your housing officer to check roughly how many points you need for homes in your area.
Reasons you can get points
You get points for different needs and situations.
There are four main reasons you can get points, for:
- losing your home – people might call this ‘insecurity of tenure’
- the condition of your home – for example, your home is in a bad state
- your health and wellbeing – for example, you have mobility issues such as trouble using the stairs
- social needs – for example, you need to move to be closer to family for support
You can review the four categories of points in more detail below. You can get points for things like:
Losing your home
Passing the homelessness assessment
You get 70 points if you pass the Housing Executive’s homelessness assessment (an ‘investigation’). Sometimes people call these ‘Full Duty Applicant’ or ‘FDA’ points.
If you do not pass the investigation, you can still get 50 points if:
- you do not have housing for certain reasons, and
- the Housing Executive can’t expect you to find your own housing
Being unable to stay in your home
You can get points if:
- you have no home, or
- you cannot stay in your home because it is unsuitable, or someone asked you to leave
A threat or attack
You may be entitled to get 200 intimidation points if:
- your home was destroyed in an attack, or
- there is a serious risk that you may be killed or injured in an attack
You can only get these points if:
- the police or similar agency confirms the threat and
- the threat is against you for a specific reason or because you are part of a particular group
Changes from 1 April 2025
On 1 April 2025, intimidation points were removed from the selection scheme. All victims of violence will be assessed on the same basis, regardless of the type of violence. Any homelessness applications made on or after that date will not be assessed for intimidation points.
If you were awarded 200 intimidation points before 1 April 2025, you will be able to keep them.
If you applied before 31 March 2025, you can still get intimidation points if the Housing Executive agrees you were intimidated.
Living in temporary housing
You can get 20 points if:
- you already have the 70 FDA points, and
- the Housing Executive gave you temporary housing, and
- you’ve been in temporary housing for six months or more
Condition of your home
Sharing a home
You can get points if you share a home with other people who will not be moving with you. For example, you live with a family member while waiting for a home.
You can get more points if you are sharing a home and you have dependent children.
You cannot get these points if you invited someone to live with you.
Overcrowding
If you do not have enough bedrooms for everyone in your household, you can get points. You can get 10 points for every bedroom you are missing. A room must be a certain size to count as a bedroom.
These points depend on the number of:
- people on your housing application, and
- rooms you have for those people at your home
For example, Jack is single and lives in a one-bedroom flat with his parents and two siblings. Jack gets ten points because he only needs one bedroom for himself.
Extra bedrooms
If you applied for a transfer, you could get 10 points for every extra bedroom you have, up to a maximum of 30 points.
For example, Erin has three adult children who live in their own homes. She has two extra bedrooms since her children do not live with her anymore. Erin can get 20 points for the extra rooms.
Poor housing state
You can get points if the council agrees that your home has certain problems. You get ten points for each problem the council recognises.
Being on the waiting list
You get two points if you:
- already have other points, and
- have been on the waiting list for at least two years
You get two more points for every extra year you are on the list, up to ten points. For example:
- three years on the list is four points
- five years on the list is seven points
- eight years on the list is ten points
Health and wellbeing
Mobility problems
You can get points if you or someone in your household has mobility needs or requires care. For example, you may need a walking aid or struggle to move into your home.
To get these points, you may need to show that:
- you get disability benefits for mobility issues
- an occupational therapist confirms your mobility issues
- you get physical therapy with the trust
Needing support in your home
You can get points if you:
- live in sheltered or supported housing, and
- need help taking care of yourself or your home
Complex needs
You can get 20 points if you or someone in your household needs a lot of health support and your:
- housing officer decides you need the support, or
- the trust confirms you need the support
Social needs
Physical or environmental needs
You can get up to 40 points for urgent needs such as leaving a home where you experienced trauma.
You can get up to 40 points for other less urgent needs such as problems with a neighbour or if you can’t afford to live in your home.