Below is our Banding Guide which we use to prioritise housing applications.

Bands A to F with descriptions

Band	Description
Band A: Urgent Priority	Assessment by the council’s medical advisor of an urgent priority on medical grounds
Band B: Very High Priority Criteria	Existing band C or D applicant and significant medical factors Very severe overcrowding (three bedrooms) Severe overcrowding (two bedrooms) and sharing accommodation Severe under occupying (2 bedrooms or more) Successor to a tenancy and is required to move to a smaller property Senior officer housing needs panel award Unadaptable property Category 1 HHSRS hazards – prohibition order - tenant of a private rented sector property Special needs / Care leavers / 16/17-year-olds (time-limited bidding) Statutory homelessness Homeless prevention Armed forces personnel with urgent housing needs (time limited bidding) Rehousing guarantee (time-limited bidding)
Band C: High Priority Criteria	Assessment by the council’s medical advisor of significant medical factors Existing band D applicant and moderate medical factors High hardship, welfare or social grounds Severe overcrowding (two bedrooms) Under-occupying by one bedroom Overcrowding (one bedroom) and sharing accommodation Opposite sex children sharing a bedroom The applicant has two children of opposite sexes, at least one of whom is aged 11 or over, as permanent members of their household and having to share a bedroom Armed forces or former armed forces personnel with a local connection
Band D: Medium Priority Criteria	Assessment by the council’s medical advisor of Moderate medical factors Single people and couples with no dependant children as part of their household Overcrowding (one bedroom) or sharing accommodation Same sex children sharing a bedroom (11 year+ age gap) Single person living in a social housing studio flat for over four years or partner joined household Single applicant or couple aged 60 or over housed in the private or social rented sector and with no other priority. private rented sector property where the council’s environmental health section have confirmed the existence of a category 1 hazard
Band E: Low Priority Criteria	Moderate hardship, welfare or social needs Armed forces or former armed forces personnel without a local connection Family in flat – no overcrowding Adequately housed in the private rented sector Worsening housing circumstances Single person living in a social housing studio flat for under four years
Band F: No Priority not entitled to be made an offer of accommodation	Special needs /care leavers / 16/17-year-olds not ready for independent living Existing tenant exercising their Right to Buy or Right to Acquire Unresolved interest in a property Capital/Equity above the limit Outside Stevenage The applicant is in further education or training and living outside Stevenage, but they have a valid local connection On remand or in custody Joint applicants cohabiting for less than six months Existing tenant in breach of tenancy conditions Housing related debt Two successful CBL bids but failed to attend viewing or offer of allocation refused Failure to bid The applicant has had an offer made under CBL withdrawn Other applicants: The applicant does not otherwise meet the criteria for bands A – E All persons owed reasonable preference within section166A(3) of the Housing Act 1996, who do not otherwise meet the criteria for Band A-E