This page covers rental options, for information in relation to buying property click here. 

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Here the term housing is used to refer to accommodation and would include houses, flats, bungalows, rooms etc.

 

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Types of housing includes:

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Supported housing (high-level support)

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This is for people who are unable to live independently, sometimes due to a health condition or disability. This would usually be a room in accommodation where there are other residents.

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This sort of supported housing is usually staffed 24 hours a day and residents are provided with care and support.

 

A referral from an adult social worker, health worker or other relevant professional would usually be required to access this type of accommodation.

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Supported housing (low-level support)

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Accommodation that includes low-level support varies depending on what you need support with and who the provider of this is.

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Some types of low-level supported housing include on-site staff, whereas others might just include a support worker visit once a week.

 

This type of housing is intended for people who need some support to be able to live independently.

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Sometimes people can self-refer into low-level supported housing, but often they will need a referral from a professional such as a support worker or charity.

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Council housing

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Known as the main type of Social Housing or Affordable Housing, this is property that you rent from the council. You must demonstrate that you need housing and usually be on a low income to be eligible.

 

Getting a council property can often be a long process and it can take several years or more from the point of application to being able to move in if you are successful.​

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The council will determine what size home you are eligible for as part of this process and you can then 'bid' on homes that you are interested in.

 

As part of the council housing application process you will be assigned with a banding level that reflects the priority of your housing need.

 

Your banding is set by will taking into account factors such as whether you have a disability or health condition and if are vulnerable, elderly or have children as well as whether where you live currently is overcrowded or in poor condition. In most cases you must also have a local connection to the area that you want to be housed in. (This means that local authority, not the specific area of town, for more on local connection click here. 

 

People with a higher priority banding will usually be housed sooner than those of a lower priority band, but this also depends on how soon the type of property they need becomes available.  

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Property rented from a Housing Association

 

During the process of applying for council housing you can often choose if you also want your application to be sent to Housing Associations. This is accommodation that is affordable and classed as social housing. 

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Some forms of supported housing are provided by Housing Associations, but non-supported options are also available. Obtaining accommodation through a Housing Association can often be quicker than getting a property from the council.

 

Similarly to Council Housing, Housing Associations will usually require that you fit certain criteria including being on a low income and having a local connection to the area that you want to be housed in.

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Private rented housing

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Shared housing

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Student accommodation

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Student accommodation often includes halls of residence, which many travelling students live in during their first year of study. Typically in years two and three students are required to move out of halls of residence to make room for new first-years, and will move into shared properties with other students or otherwise arrange their own accommodation through a lettings agent.

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Halls of residences are usually large properties that house a number of students who share facilities. These are often on-site or close to the university. Most universities offer a few different halls of residence options at different cost levels.

 

This can include:

• Shared bedrooms (though these are less common),

• Individual bedrooms,

• Individual ensuite bedrooms and

• Individual studio apartments. 

Not all universities will have all these options and if you need wheelchair accessible accommodation your choice may be more limited.

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