Priority and Eligability
Eligibility controls who is eligible to bid for your property.
Priority controls the order members appear on your shortlists.
Your scheme will have fixed rules about eligibility and priority, based on your Housing Allocations Policy.
Generally, though, the property must be the correct size for the applicant: i.e. the household size must be within the maximum and minimum bed spaces for the property. The applicant must be on the correct list either Homeseekers or Transfer or both Homeseeker /Transfer. Finally, the member must be on the partners housing list, except for cross borough properties when any member can apply. Priority is calculated by either banding and band date or points or a mixture depending on your scheme design. There are other factors that can influence priority depending on your scheme. A common example is local connection.
However, it is possible to set both eligibility and priority criteria for properties on an individual property basis, which provides some flexibility in the lettings process.