We work closely with several housing associations to develop and find tenants for rented affordable housing in the district.
When you join our housing waiting list, you are considered for both council homes and housing association homes, but, if you'd like, you can apply to some housing associations directly.
Housing associations are not private landlords; they are what's known as registered providers of social housing, which means that they provide housing in a very similar way to us and not to make money. Their rents tend to be a little higher than council rents but, by law, they are always cheaper than what you'd be able to find from a private landlord.
Housing associations offer 'assured tenancies', which are a special type of tenancy that offers long-term security, similar to a council tenancy, but with their own rules that tenants have to follow.
Just like council tenants, housing association tenants can apply to transfer to a different affordable home and they're treated in the same way if they do.