Renting a home
Housing associations provide social rented housing for many different sectors of the community, seeking to help the most disadvantaged.
People who rent homes from housing associations are generally those who have been identified as being in ‘housing need’. Assessment criteria for housing need is set by each housing association to reflect individual or household circumstances, local housing conditions and the demand for social rented housing.
Housing association tenants may be people who cannot get a local authority home due to a shortage of housing or because they do not meet local authority criteria. Some housing associations specialise in providing homes for younger single people or for those who need special support, such as people who have a mental illness or drug problems.
All housing associations have written policies that give information on the services they provide, eligibility criteria and how applications are assessed. If you have questions about the application process, you can ask to see these policies.
Applying for a housing association home
Housing associations take most of their new tenants from local authority waiting lists. If you are interested in renting a housing association home, you should contact your local authority's housing department who will be able to tell you whether you meet the local criteria for housing need.
Many housing associations also make homes available for purchase through the HomeBuy low-cost home ownership scheme.
Last updated: 5 June 2009