Guide to Housing Associations

What are Housing Associations?

Very often, Housing Association properties are developed in partnership with the Council.

Housing Associations cater for a wide variety of Housing Needs. They provide accommodation for single people, couples and families as well as sheltered accommodation for the elderly and accommodation for people with special needs.

Some Housing Associations specialise in providing housing for specific groups of people, i.e. for single people or for people with special needs.

What makes Housing Association Tenancies different to Council Tenancies?

Like the Council, Housing Associations provide homes which are, largely, affordable, permanent and secure. Housing Association tenancies are called “Assured Tenancies” and they offer many of the same rights to tenants as Council Secure Tenancies, although many Housing Association tenants do not have the Right to Buy.

Housing Association tenants can apply to the Council for Housing Benefit to help with their rent in the same way that Council and private tenants can.

How do you become a Housing Association tenant?

Some Housing Associations operate their own waiting lists and accept direct applications for housing. These Housing Associations may occasionally close their Waiting List in order to keep waiting times manageable.

However many Housing Associations will now only accept nominations for rehousing from the Council. The Council will only nominate applicants for Housing Association properties which are of a suitable size and type for their needs. The Council will make nominations on the same priority basis as it allocates its own properties and can only nominate people who are already registered on the Housing Register or Transfer Register.

Want to know more?

Click here for information about each Housing Association that operates in Stevenage the type of properties they have and the groups of people that they cater for. This information was provided to the Council by each Association and was correct at the time of printing.

More advice and information about Housing Associations may be obtained from the Council ‘s Customer Service Centre at Daneshill House tel: 01438 242242.