A judicial review has been lodged against Southwark Council's new Housing Allocations Scheme, the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) has announced. The claim was filed on behalf of a member of Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth (HASL), a local affordable housing campaign group.

Key points

  • The scheme — adopted last month, the first change in over a decade.
  • Changes — a new band is added and same-sex siblings must share a bedroom until they turn 20.
  • The challenge — the banding structure and its effect on overcrowded households are in dispute.
  • The consultation — only 668 people replied online before the rules changed.

The PILC is also questioning whether the council fulfilled its equality duties during consultation, including over “addressing language barriers that prevented residents from meaningfully participating”.

HASL said it fears homeless households will be “deprioritised” and moved down the waiting list, and that the rules will be harder for residents to follow. Organiser Liz Wyatt said the council had “refused” to listen and described the consultation as a “sham” from beginning to end. Solictor Adriana Matrigiani said thousands on the register wait years for a permanent home and “deserve to have a fair say in decisions about their homes”.

Southwark Council said it was aware of the claim and would respond to it. Councillor Reginald Popoola said the scheme followed extensive consultation and includes stronger support for care leavers and people fleeing domestic abuse. He added that more than 22,000 households are on the waiting list, including over 4,200 in temporary accommodation.

Editor's comment

What it means in practice

The legal action does not pause the scheme, so anyone on Southwark's register should check the new banding rules now rather than wait for the outcome. Expect the challenge to take months.

  • Check your band — the new structure may change where you sit on the list.
  • Keep records — save any letters or emails about your application, as they may matter if the rules are revised.
  • Ask for help — if language or complexity is a barrier, contact the council or a local advice service.