Housing need, in plain terms
In financial remedies, a party’s housing need is the home they need once the finances are settled: what it must provide for them and any children, where it must be, and what it costs.
A housing needs report puts that case on paper. It sets out the properties a party says would meet the need, with the evidence the court and the other side need to test the claim.
What a good report shows
The court is deciding whether a property is a realistic answer to the need, so the report has to show more than a price and a photograph.
The property
Photographs, floor plan, size, and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
The location
Where each property is, on a map that relates it to the family home.
The practicalities
Outside space, parking, and access to schools, work and transport, with real travel times rather than straight-line distance.
The cost
The purchase price, stamp duty and the total cash needed to buy.
Where it came from
The listing source and the date it was taken, so the other side can check it.
What the Financial Remedies Guide asks for
Paragraph 52 of the Financial Remedies Guide (March 2026) lists the steps the parties take not less than 14 days before the first appointment at Circuit Judge and District Judge level. Two of them are about housing.
Property particulars
Each party files and serves property particulars, limited to three each for themselves and three each for the other party, showing what their case is likely to be on housing need. The Guide adds that a map showing where the properties are in relation to the family home often assists the court.
Indicative borrowing material
Brief indicative material on the parties’ respective borrowing capacities. Providing it does not stop either party from later adducing formal evidence of the same kind.
It does not stop at the first appointment
Listings change. Properties are sold, withdrawn or reduced, and a client’s position moves as the case does, so the evidence is built up in stages.
First appointment
Property particulars for both parties.
The free indicative mortgage capacity report.
Financial Dispute Resolution
Property particulars refreshed.
A full mortgage capacity report from a certified broker.
Final hearing
A final refresh of the property particulars.
A decision in principle or mortgage offer, if one is needed.
How FindMyHome produces one
FMH Properties builds the report from a search you set up for your client. Choose the properties, and the platform produces a court-ready report with the photographs, floor plan, location map and real travel times for each one.
Ready to get started? Book a free demo
A demo takes 30-45 minutes: we create a case on the fly and run it through the platform with you. We reply within 24 hours.