How the council places tenants in its housing – a case study

Who was looking for a home?

A family which comprised a couple with three daughters.

Type of property

Three-bedroomed house in Abingdon, purchased by the council in April 2024, for £345,000 

How was this house paid for?  

The Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) – a government fund that supports local authorities in England to obtain housing to use as good quality temporary accommodation for those owed a homelessness duty and to provide safe and suitable accommodation to support families on resettlement schemes. 

How did this household meet the criteria and what happens if there is more than one household on a list that fits the criteria? 

We offered the property on 23 January 2025 to a team at the Home Office which liaise with local authorities on migration issues. That team matches families with properties. This team operates a ‘one offer’ rule, so no households are competing for the same property at any given time.  A match was made on 11 February 2025. We reviewed the family’s details, and the house was deemed suitable for them to move in.