Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. The allocation of local authority dwellings, including the prioritisation of certain households, is a matter for the local authority concerned, in accordance with their allocation schemes made under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations.
The 2011 Assessment Regulations prescribes, within the Regulations, the housing support application form which must be completed. These Regulations also provide that the local authority may request additional information where it is necessary to assess the applicant’s eligibility for housing support as it is doing in requesting the HMD1 form. The purpose of the HMD1 form is to obtain sufficient information to allow the local authority to assess the nature of the applicant’s condition in order to award a priority to the applicant if that is merited.
With regard to completion of the HMD1 form, two professionals from the same medical practice may complete the form provided that one of them is a medical doctor. The second person may be a nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, or other health professional whose experience with the housing applicant gives them an understanding of their medical and social needs. This ensures that local authority has all of the information to make a full assessment of the applicant's needs and how these could best be met in the allocation of a dwelling.
