'Unusually High' Disqualification Rate for Council Housing Applicants Raises Concerns Over Barriers to Social Housing...
- teessidetoday
- Oct 20
- 2 min read
The revelation comes following the discovery that Hartlepool now has the highest number of housing applicants deemed "Non-Qualifying" on the towns Social Housing Register.
20th October 2025
Hartlepool’s social housing system is once again coming under renewed calls to be shut down after new figures reveal 12.4% of applicants applying to Hartlepool Homesearch, Hartlepool Borough Councils dedicated Choice Based lettings Scheme are being disqualified — a rate found to be significantly higher than neighbouring Durham County Councils 9%. The data has sparked criticism from campaigners and housing advocates, who say the figures highlight growing barriers faced by residents in need of secure council housing.
The Hartlepool Homesearch scheme, which manages allocations for social housing in Hartlepool, has been accused of becoming increasingly restrictive, with Critics arguing that the combination of 'tough entry requirements' and a decline in available housing stock for those with disabilities due to unrealistic adaptation demands brought in by the local council is leaving many vulnerable people without any realistic housing options.
Some being ruled out before they've even had a chance to bid !
A disqualification rate of over one in ten applicants suggests that a considerable number of local residents are being ruled out before even being given a chance to bid for homes. The reasons for disqualification can vary — from failing to meet residency criteria, rent arrears, or previous tenancy issues — but housing campaigners argue that these rules often disproportionately affect those most in need of support & that the significantly high number of applicants being disqualified from the register is in turn contributing to the increasing numbers of homeless applicants sleeping on the streets.
The implications of such a high rate are severe. Those rejected from the social housing register are often being left with little choice but to turn to the private rental sector, where rents are higher, conditions can be poorer, and tenancies less secure, in some cases exacerbating issues for those struggling with rent arrears. For some, the outcome is even more devastating — increased risk of homelessness, sofa surfing, or being forced to move away from friends, family, and local support networks is said to be becoming ever more prevalent in Hartlepool, as housing options for some applicants become more & more limited. .
The contrast with Durham’s lower 9% disqualification rate has led some to question whether Hartlepool Borough Council’s approach is unnecessarily stringent, or Even Legal ?.
The Teesside & Durham Posts most recent investigation into the Hartlepool Homesearch scheme found a catalogue of failures with calls for a full review of the Homesearch eligibility criteria and greater transparency over how disqualification decisions are made.
With demand for social housing continuing to outstrip supply across Teesside, the figures highlight a deeper issue — a growing divide between those who can access affordable housing and those left behind by rigid local policies.
Unless changes are made, critics warn, Hartlepool risks locking its most vulnerable residents out of the very system designed to protect them.
