You'll usually need to be demonstrate the following:

• are on a low income

• have low or no savings

• have a local connection

Income

Each Housing Association has its own limits, there is no universal limit for income. You will need to check the policies, either with the local authority housing team or with the Housing Association directly.

Savings

Each Housing Association has its own limits, there is no universal savings limit for income. You will need to check the policies, either with the local authority housing team or with the Housing Association directly. Savings do affect what housings costs help you are entitled to.

Local Connection

A local connection is usually tested by the following:

• whether you currently live in the area and for how long (usually 5 years)
  
  

• whether you have a job in the area
  
  

• whether you have close family connections in the area (parents/siblings/grandparents/uncles & aunties
  
  

• have a connection in the area for a special reason (to be close to a hospital for treatment or you used to live there and need to return)

Waiting List

Local Authorities can have very long waiting lists and you may need to go into temporary accommodation or be encouraged to rent privately. It's important that you include all relevant information to your housing application if you have a priority need for social housing.

Priority Need

• at risk of domestic abuse

• pregnant woman or live with a pregnant woman

• have dependant children living with you or who are reasonably expected to live with you

• are 16 or 17 years old and are not looked after by social services

• are 18, 19 or 20 years old and spent time in care while between 16 and 18

• lost your accommodation because of an emergency such as a flood, fire or other disaster

Please visit our web page on the categories of priority need.

When can't you apply

If any of the following apply, you cannot apply for social housing:

• you don’t have a right to be in the UK

• you’re in the UK as a visitor

• you’re seeking asylum

• it states ‘no public funds’ or ‘no recourse to public funds’ on your immigration documents

There are three ways to apply for one of our homes:

• through your local council

• by transferring from another home

• by applying to us directly.
  
  

Register with a local council

If you’ve applied to be on your local council’s housing register, they can nominate you for social housing.

What you need to supply

• proof of your identity and the identities of everyone to be included as part of your household, such as birth certificates, passports, immigration documents 

• proof of your income and any savings or investments you have, such as wage slips, bank statements, benefit books, savings books, share certificates
  
  

• your current tenancy agreement and any previous tenancy agreements you have for other homes you have previously lived in
  
  

• evidence that you are threatened with homelessness, such as a notice of seeking possession, possession order or bailiffs' warrant - confirmation in writing that you are being made homeless if friends or family are asking you to leave
  
  

• proof of your previous addresses for the last five years and your partner’s addresses if relevant, such as: medical cards, bank statements, utility bills etc.
  
  

• evidence of any serious illness or disability that you or any member of your household have, such as letters from your GP, hospital consultant, details of any prescribed medication

If you are a social housing tenant and want to move to a different area, you can try the home swap services to see if anyone wants to exchange with you.

Register to Exchange 

You can register free with the following:

• Home Swapper

• Home Exchange

You must first check that your tenancy allows you to swap homes. You must usually have a lifetime tenancy, and it's usually ok for fixed-term tenants to exchange too. Tenants cannot exchange with a starter or demoted tenancy. Check your tenancy agreement to confirm your tenancy type or contact your landlord to find out your options.

You won't usually be able to swap if you owe rent payments, and you can't exchange homes with people living in private rented accommodation. 

Exceptional Grounds

Your landlord might agree to waive their house swap conditions if you have a proven medical reason or an overcrowding issue. You will need to provide evidence in support of your application.

If you need to move to an adapted property or sheltered housing, you must first obtain as assessment report from your local authority's Occupation Health Team, Social Services. You can self-refer or ask your GP to make a referral on your behalf.

Search for a Home

After your account is verified, your home will appear on House Exchange and you can start searching for a new home. You can also download the free House Exchange smartphone app to make searching even easier. When you find someone to swap homes with, follow your social landlord's procdures to check that the home swap is suitable.

Check the Tenancy you will swap to

You must also check the tenancy type for the exchange property. If you have a lifetime tenancy and the person you're swapping with has a fixed-term tenancy, it's not always possible for you both to keep your tenancy type. So, you need to decide whether you're prepared to swap for a different tenancy.

Other Advertised Homes

Some social housing landlords advertise properties on Rightmove and other housing sites. Check with the social housing providers in your area.