Renting social housing

What’s good and bad about renting through the council.

Moving boxes piled up in front of a window in a high rise flat.
You can apply to rent a home through the council.
You have to pay the council money every month. This is called rent.
If you need support, you will have to arrange this separately.
You can only be made to leave if you break the council’s rules.
A judge has to agree that you broke the rules as well.

What’s good about social housing:

You have more independence.
It is much cheaper than private renting.
You can stay there for life if you follow the rules.
You have a lot of rights.
It is paid for completely by your housing benefit, you can keep your other benefits.

What’s bad about social housing:

There is a very long waiting list.
It’s not open to everyone – there are rules that say who can get social housing.
You will have less choice in where you live.
The housing may need to be adapted to meet your needs, for example if you use a wheelchair.

How do I get social housing?

Apply to join the housing register for your local area:

Check the council website to make sure you are eligible before you apply.
You could have to wait several years to get a home, as the waiting list is very long.

You can apply to rent a home through the council.

You may hear people call this a “council house”, but your home could be owned by the council, a charity or a housing association.

They will only provide somewhere to live. If you need support as well, you will have to arrange this separately.

Young woman with Downs Syndrome

What is renting?

When you rent somewhere, you pay money on a regular basis (usually once a month) in exchange for being allowed to live there. You do not own the place you are renting.

How long can I live there?

You can only be made to leave if you break the council’s rules, and only if a judge agrees. If you follow the rules, this could be your home for life.

How much does it cost?

Social housing is usually much cheaper than private housing. If you get housing benefit, it will usually pay for your social housing rent completely. This is usually not the case with private renting.

What’s good:

good  independence

good  much cheaper than private renting

good  you can stay there for life if you follow the rules

good  you have a lot of rights

good  paid for completely by your housing benefit, you can keep your other benefits

What’s bad:

bad  very long waiting list

bad  eligibility criteria

bad  less choice in where you live

bad  the housing may need to be adapted to meet your needs, for example if you use a wheelchair

How do I get social housing?

To apply for social housing, you need to join the housing register for your local area.  

 Each council has specific rules about who can join their housing register.

You could have to wait several years to get a home, as waiting lists are usually very long.