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Housing associations offer similar types of housing as local councils 鈥� often to people on a low income or who need extra support.

You can apply:

• directly to a housing association
• often through your local council

You can apply to more than one housing association at a time.

Waiting list

Once you apply, you鈥檒l be put on a waiting list.

Housing associations normally offer housing to people most suited to that particular property. You may have to wait a long time for a suitable property to become available.

Your rights and responsibilities depend on the type of tenancy you have.

Starter tenancy

New housing association tenants may be offered a starter tenancy. These usually last 12 months and are like a 鈥榯rial鈥� period.

You become an assured or fixed term tenant after 12 months, unless your housing association has either:

• started action to evict you
• extended your starter tenancy

Assured and fixed-term tenancies

At the end of your starter tenancy you鈥檒l be offered either:

• an assured tenancy - meaning you can normally live in your property for the rest of your life
• a fixed-term tenancy - usually lasting for at least 5 years (your landlord will decide whether it鈥檚 renewed)

You rights may include:

• buying your home
• having your home repaired
• swapping your home with another council or housing association tenant

Ending your tenancy

Your tenancy can be ended if:

• you give the housing association 4 weeks鈥� notice in writing
• the housing association evicts you
• you transfer your tenancy to someone else or swap homes
• the housing association needs to move you (for example to redevelop your property) - it should offer you a new property

Your landlord has to make sure that your home meets certain standards. It must be:

• safe and free from 鈥榗ategory 1 hazards鈥� - these are things that can cause death or pose a serious danger to your health (for example by causing lung cancer, 80% burn injuries, loss of limbs, poisoning)
• in a reasonable state of repair
• equipped with reasonably modern facilities
• warm enough

If you have concerns about the standard of your home you can make a complaint.

As a social housing tenant you can help run a maintenance service.

Follow these steps if you have a problem with your housing association home:

1. Complain to your landlord - they should have a complaints policy that you can follow.

2. Contact the if you and your landlord cannot resolve the problem.

To contact the Housing Ombudsman, you can:

• fill in an
• email
• call

As a housing association tenant, you might be able to buy your housing association home at a discount.