What does priority need mean if I am homeless?

For people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and want to know what the council must do.

Applies to: England Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

Priority need is a legal test councils in England use to decide who they must find longer-term housing for if they are homeless.

You have priority need if you are pregnant or have dependent children living with you.
16 and 17 year olds, and care leavers under 21, usually have priority need.
People homeless because of domestic abuse, or a flood, fire or other disaster, also do.
Others may qualify if they are more vulnerable than an ordinary person would be, for example because of old age or disability.
Councils must try to help all eligible homeless people, whether or not they are in priority need.

Different in Scotland

Scotland: the priority need test was abolished in 2012.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland
Wales: Check gov.wales for Wales
Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

Pregnant or dependent children
16 and 17 year olds
Care leavers aged 18 to 20
Review deadline: 21 days

What priority need is

When you ask your council for help because you are homeless, it looks at several things. One of them is whether you are in priority need.

Councils in England must help you if you are legally homeless or will become homeless within 8 weeks. They must try to prevent or relieve homelessness for everyone who is eligible, whether or not they are in priority need.

Priority need matters most for the main housing duty. This is the council's duty to make sure you have somewhere suitable to live for the longer term. It can also affect whether you get emergency housing.

Who has priority need in England

You have priority need if you, or someone who lives with you or might be expected to:

are pregnant
have dependent children (under 16, or under 19 if in full-time education)

You also have priority need if you are:

homeless because you are a victim of domestic abuse
homeless because of a flood, fire or other disaster
aged 16 or 17 (with some exceptions for children the council already looks after)
aged 18 to 20 and were in care at any time when you were 16 or 17

Who may have priority need if vulnerable

Some people have priority need only if they are vulnerable. This includes people who are vulnerable because of:

old age
mental illness or disability
having been in care, if aged 21 or over
having served in the armed forces
having been in prison or on remand
having left home because of violence or threats of violence (not domestic abuse)
another special reason

To decide, the council asks if you would be significantly more vulnerable than an ordinary person would be if they became homeless. It looks at all your circumstances, including any support you have from others.

Tell the council everything relevant

The council can only decide on what it knows. Tell it about any pregnancy, children who live with you, health conditions, time in care, armed forces service, time in prison, or abuse or violence. Letters from people who support you, such as doctors or support workers, can help show how you would cope.

If you disagree with the decision

You can ask the council for a review.

You must ask within 21 days of being told the decision. The council can give you longer if it agrees in writing. Most reviews about duties take up to 8 weeks.

If you are unhappy with the review, you may be able to appeal to the county court on a point of law within 21 days.

Free help is available from Citizens Advice or Shelter. You may also get free legal advice through legal aid.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Scotland: the priority need test was abolished in 2012. Anyone homeless through no fault of their own is entitled to settled accommodation.
Wales: Wales has its own list of priority need groups under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014. A 2026 Welsh law will remove the priority need test, but this part is not in force yet.
Northern Ireland: contact the Housing Executive for homelessness help.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Contact your council's housing team

Common questions

What if the council says I am not in priority need?

You can ask for a review. You must ask within 21 days of being told the decision.

Does priority need matter if I am at risk of homelessness?

The council must still try to prevent or relieve your homelessness. Priority need matters mostly for the main housing duty.

Official sources

1.Help if you're homeless or about to become homeless (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/if-youre-homeless-at-risk-of-homelessness
2.Homelessness code of guidance: chapter 8, priority need (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/guidance/homelessness-code-of-guidance-for-local-authorities/chapter-8-priority-need
3.Homelessness policy (gov.scot)www.gov.scot/policies/homelessness/
4.Homelessness code of guidance: chapter 19, reviews and appeals (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/guidance/homelessness-code-of-guidance-for-local-authorities/chapter-19-review-of-decisions-and-appeals-to-the-county-court

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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