Archive Website of the UK government

Housing associations - what are they?

Housing associations are separate from councils but often work closely with them to house local people. Most provide a range of housing suited to single people, couples and families. Some also provide housing for people with certain needs. See the section ‘Types of housing association property’ for more detail.

If you’re looking for somewhere to live, you could apply to rent a housing association property. If you’re an existing housing association tenant, you may be able to buy your home through an affordable home ownership scheme or swap it for another housing association or council property.

Apply to rent a housing association home

There are two ways to apply for a housing association home – either directly with a housing association or through your council. You can also apply to more than one housing association at a time.

Option 1: apply directly to a housing association

You can get their details from your local council or search online.

Option 2: apply through your local council

Some councils work with housing associations, they share a housing list so you may be able to apply for a home through your council. Shared housing lists are often known as a ‘common housing register’.

If there isn’t a common housing register, your council may be able to put you forward for a housing association property. For example, if you need a specially adapted home and a housing association in your area has this type of property.

• Find out about housing association homes from your council Opens new window

Waiting times

Many housing associations have a waiting list of people wanting a property. This means it could be weeks or months before you’re offered a place to live.

How housing association properties are allocated

Housing associations will normally make sure that the housing they own or manage is offered to people most suited to the property. For example, if a property is designed for older people and you have a family, you may not be offered a home.

Check with the individual housing association, most will have a written policy telling you:

• how they decide who is offered a property
  
• the type of properties they have

Types of housing association property

Most housing associations provide a range of housing suited to single people, couples and families. Some also provide housing for people with certain needs, for example, if you:

• are older or less mobile
  
• need somewhere urgently to stay – for example, because of domestic violence at home
  
• are leaving local authority care – for example, when you reach 18 years old
  
• are disabled
  
• are recovering from drug or alcohol problems
  
• have a mental health problem

This is known as either 'supported' or 'sheltered' housing and includes things like medical or care staff who are on-call in case of emergencies.

• Home and housing options (disabled people section)

• Young people leaving care (young people section)

Buying your housing association home

If you’re a housing association tenant there are certain schemes to help you buy your home at a discount. These are known as affordable home ownership schemes and include:

• ‘Right to Acquire’ - this gives some housing association tenants the right to buy their rented home
  
• ‘Social HomeBuy’ - this gives some tenants the chance to buy a share of their council or housing association home

• Buying your housing association home - the Right to Acquire scheme

• Social HomeBuy - how it works

Swapping your housing association home

If you want to move you may be able to swap your housing association property with another council or housing association tenant. This is known as ‘exchanging’ or ‘home swapping’.

• Swapping your council or housing association home for another property

Standards and regulation - housing associations

Housing associations vary in size, from managing just a few properties to many thousands – some also manage properties transferred to them by a local council. They are almost always run on a ‘not-for-profit’ basis. This means that any money left over after collecting rent and other charges is used to repair, buy or build new properties.

Complaining about a housing association

Try to resolve any issues with the housing association directly – they should have a formal complaints procedure.

If you have tried their formal complaints procedure and are still not happy, you can send your complaint to the Housing Ombudsman Service. They will look at your complaint and make a final decision (you can’t appeal against a Housing Ombudsman Service decision).

• Housing Ombudsman Service

Where to get housing advice

You can get more information from the housing association – for example, how they decide who gets housing and if they only provide supported housing for older people.

You can also get housing advice from your council and independent organisations like Shelter and Citizens Advice.

• Find your local council Opens new window

• Find your nearest Citizens Advice or Shelter advice centre Opens new window