All applicants must complete an application form, giving in confidence details of personal circumstances, and make their choice about type and location of accommodation.

Applicants will be awarded points according to the category of their need. The pointing scheme broadly follows the standard Reasonable Preference groups of the 1996 Housing Act. Extra points are given for time waiting. The total number of points given will determine when applicants will receive an offer of housing. However, this will be affected by the popularity of the accommodation chosen and the number of vacancies which occur. The Property Details Lists provide information on these factors.

For example, at present, eligible single applicants interested in the Society's high-rise apartment blocks will find they have to wait only a short time for accommodation; families interested in the Society's houses in Gamston will find a long waiting list ahead of them. Situations change continually, and advice can be obtained from the Society.

To ensure effective tenancy management, some lettings may be made outside of the points scheme. These lettings are covered by policies such as Local Lettings, or the Balanced Communities approach. Senior Society staff have delegated authority to make flexible lettings decisions in such circumstances. Further details are available on request.

All registered applicants receive confirmation of their registration in writing. This includes details of the points awarded to them, and a renewal card. To remain on the waiting list the application must be renewed every 6 months by sending in the renewal card at the appropriate time. Failure to renew will result in the application being cancelled.

Applicants must inform the Society immediately of any change of circumstances affecting their housing situation. This may require the completion of a new application form, and may result in a change of points, or cancellation of an application if the applicant is then considered to be adequately housed.

Before an offer of accommodation is made every applicant will be visited in their home to ensure that details on the form are correct. Applicants will be offered property from anyone of the choices they have made, and must be prepared to accept such an offer. Offers of accommodation will always be made in writing.

Applications will be cancelled if, without good reason, an offer of accommodation is refused. Applicants will be notified in writing when this happens and will be given reasons for the decision, together with an opportunity to appeal against it.

At any one time, the Society needs to ensure a reasonably balanced community in its schemes or estates; therefore, people who for any reason may find it difficult to manage a tenancy without causing problems for their neighbours, or for staff, may have their application deferred. Their application will be accepted and registered, but allocation of a property will be postponed until such time that it will not upset the existing balance of the area. Full investigation of such matters will be conducted before such decisions are made.

All applicants must be able to accept accommodation when offered; those who are not ready to accept an offer will have their application deferred, and .will not accrue the extra points for time waiting. Applicants will need to inform the Society when they are ready to move so that they can rejoin the waiting list.