Where to Find Housing Association Properties
It’s interesting that in Finland, the main ‘national landlord’ is non-profit. And this is the first country to achieve almost zero homelessness. There is obviously a link.
Housing associations are non-profit landlords, to offer decent affordable homes to people who need them most, bridging the gap between council housing and private rental. They work with councils but stay separate.
This Finnish non-profit landlord as an example offers nice flats with spacious interiors and outdoor green space, near good public transport links. Why are we not doing the same here?
There are several types of housing associations in England. The main one is LSVT (large scale voluntary transfer) where councils hand their stock over to an independent organisation, to then invest in repairs and upgrades.
Others specialise in helping groups like older people or those with disabilities. Often you have to be over 60 to rent. Housing associations can choose between offering properties at social rent (50% below market rate) or affordable (80% below market rent).
Struggling to buy outright? Shared ownership lets you buy a part of your home and pay rent on the rest. Over time, you can buy more shares if your finances improve. Share to Buy is the main website to find out more, and view available homes.
Some are not fans, others say you’re basically still renting, but taking on the added cost of being responsible for repairs.
The benefits are lower rents and long-term security, and support for vulnerable and low-income groups. You also can get repairs and safety checks done, but due to funding cuts, there may be backlogs for repairs, and years to find the right property.
Homes are usually on a 12-month tenancy, then a fixed-term tenancy of at least 5 years, then later on you can opt to buy your home.
Homefinder UK is the main place to look for affordable housing association properties nationwide. You can request homes outside your area, but must be registered with a council or housing association, in order to apply.
You can also apply for council housing and sheltered housing (these have wardens and alarms, for older, disabled or vulnerable people).
Peabody is England’s oldest non-profit housing association. If you find a property (London or home counties), you can also request a repair online. This site has a useful page for anyone on safety considerations, so you know what to check, to ensure your home is safe. This covers:
- Fire safety and cladding
- Damp, mould and condensation
- Gas and electric safety
- Asbestos
- Water safety
Places for People lets you search for affordable homes in England and Scotland. We entered ‘Sutton’ (in Essex) within 50 miles and it brought up one property in Bedfordshire. A small flat near shops with a communal launderette, for £575 per month.
