Skip to main content

Overcrowding in your council home

beta This is the improved Camden website. Tell us what you think.

Overcrowding in your council home

We use the Camden bedroom standard to assess if a home is overcrowded. This means that we calculate how many bedrooms are needed for a household based on one bedroom for each of the following: 

  • you, and your partner or spouse if relevant 
  • any additional adult couple 
  • any 2 additional people of the same sex 
  • any 2 additional people of the opposite sex aged nine and under 
  • any additional person 

Our calculation includes any rooms in your home that could be used as bedrooms, except: 

  • bathrooms 
  • toilets 
  • self-contained kitchens 
  • utility rooms 

Your home is overcrowded if the number of bedrooms needed is more than the number of rooms currently available for the sole use of your household.

Find out more about how we assess overcrowding in sections 2.4 and 4.3 of the housing allocation scheme. 

Tell us if your circumstances have changed 

If you believe your council home has become overcrowded, you must tell us about your change of circumstances. This could be because people have moved in, or there’s a new baby. 

Explore your housing options 

If your home is overcrowded, there are options available to you and your household.   

If household members want to find their own homes 

You or a member of your household can explore alternative housing options.

Any member of your household who’s 16 or over can complete their own application to join the housing register; however, you generally need to be aged 18 or over to hold a tenancy. 

A person can only appear on one housing application. If a separate application is submitted by a member of your household, they will no longer be considered part of your household. This may change your overcrowded status. 

Our housing register has over 8,000 households on it. Unfortunately, it's very unlikely that you'll be offered a council home as demand for housing is far greater than supply.  

If you live with an older or disabled person 

If a member of your household is over 60 or disabled, they may be eligible to apply for sheltered housing. 

If you want to swap your home (mutual exchange) 

You may be able to swap your council home for a property that meets your needs. Find out more about mutual exchange. 

If you want to move out of London 

Homefinder is a national housing scheme helping applicants to find social housing in parts of the country where there is more availability.    

Explore storage options 

If you have a lot of belongings in your home, we can provide additional storage space. This could be space-saving furniture or a shed on the estate. 

Talk to your Neighbourhood Housing Officer if you’re interested in discussing either of these options.   

Reducing condensation 

It’s important to keep your home well-ventilated to reduce condensation. Find out how to reduce condensation.