Housing Priority Letter: Free Template and What to Include

If you need to request priority housing consideration as a veteran, a written letter is the recommended first step — it creates a clear record and shows you're pursuing the matter formally. Below is what a strong housing priority letter should include.

What this letter needs to cover

• Confirm veteran status and service details
• Reference the statutory obligation of local councils to give additional preference to veterans with urgent housing need
• Describe the current housing situation and why it is urgent
• Request priority consideration be given

Your right to priority housing consideration as a veteran

Veterans and current members of the Armed Forces are given specific priority status under most local authorities' housing allocation schemes, recognising the unique circumstances of service life — including frequent relocation and, for some, service-related injury affecting housing needs. This isn't automatic recognition; it generally needs to be formally requested and evidenced.

What to include before you send it

• Confirmation of your service history, including discharge details if applicable
• Reference to your local authority's specific policy on veteran housing priority
• Any additional relevant circumstances — service-related injury, homelessness risk, or urgent need
• A request for your housing application to be assessed with the appropriate priority applied

Evidence that strengthens a priority housing request

Service discharge documentation (such as your Certificate of Service), evidence of any service-related disability or injury, and confirmation of your current housing situation all help a council properly assess and apply the correct priority banding to your application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this apply to reservists as well as full-time service personnel?
Policies vary by local authority, so it's worth checking your specific council's published allocation scheme for exactly how they define eligibility.

What if my local authority doesn't seem to recognise this priority?
You can request a formal review of your housing application banding, and organisations like the Royal British Legion or SSAFA can also provide support and advocacy with this process.

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Postcode]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
Housing Options / Allocations Team
[Name of Council]
[Council Address]
[Council Postcode]
[Date]

Dear Sir or Madam,

Subject: Priority on the housing register – Armed Forces veteran

I am asking for my housing application to be given priority because I am an Armed Forces veteran. I served in the [e.g. British Army] from [Date] to [Date]. My service number is [Service Number].

[England: Under the Housing Act 1996 (Additional Preference for Armed Forces) (England) Regulations 2012, councils must give additional preference to veterans who have an urgent housing need.]
[Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland: Please tell me how your allocation scheme takes Armed Forces service into account.]

My housing need is urgent because:
• [e.g. I must leave service accommodation by [date] and have nowhere else to go.]
• [e.g. I have a service-related injury that makes my current home unsuitable.]
• [e.g. I am homeless or at risk of homelessness.]

I enclose [e.g. my discharge papers / my notice to leave service accommodation / medical letters].

Please give my application priority. [Optional: I understand the council has signed the Armed Forces Covenant.]

Yours sincerely,

[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]