1. Go to your local council to obtain all the necessary information about the procedure of applying for social housing. The administrative staff will assist you in completing the paperwork and will guide you in terms of the next steps. Social housing is also provided by housing associations and you may have to apply directly to them rather than to the council. You will get a list of housing associations in your area from your council.

2. Don’t be discouraged by the amount of paperwork that you will have to go through in the application process. The council will need detailed information regarding you and your dependants in order to qualify you for the programme and allocate you the right priority.

To streamline the application process, it is a good idea to visit the social housing programme website and find out what information and what documents you will be required to present. If you do that beforehand, it may save you multiple appointments in the council.

3. You will be asked to provide the following information in support of your application:

• A bank statement showing your income and savings. Households with low income and without large amounts of savings are given higher priority.

• Confirmation of any benefits, including a housing benefit, which you are currently on.

• The number of people who are your dependants currently living in your household.

• Proof of a ‘local connection.’ One of the purposes of social housing is to create communities in which people are supportive of one another. The programme assumes that if you have a ‘local connection,’ that is a job or family in the area you are seeking social housing in, you are more likely to integrate with the community well. However, it is not a prerequisite to qualify for the programme.

• Letters from your GP or other health professionals supporting your application if you or any of your dependants have medical problems.

• A letter explaining your situation in which you describe your status and needs. If your current accommodation poses a threat to your health or life, include that information in the letter.

4. The council admin staff spare no effort to go through all the paperwork as fast as possible, however, due to a large number of applicants, processing your application will take up to eight weeks. You will be informed immediately about the council’s decision. Bear in mind that having your application accepted does not mean being granted housing immediately. If you qualify for social housing, your name will be placed on a waiting list. It may take from several weeks to a few years before you are offered a house or a flat.

5. Due to the fact that the demand for social housing is very high these days, you might be asked to consider moving to areas you haven’t taken into account before. If you agree, you will maximise your chances for receiving an offer quicker. You can also decide to put your name down on several waiting lists with different housing associations.

6. If you are in a crisis of homelessness, or your situation puts you on the verge of such a crisis, do not hesitate to turn to your local council for help. Each council has some options available for emergencies and will definitely be able to offer you a place to live as well as assistance in terms of gaining skills and qualifications to establish a more stable future.

7. If your application is rejected, you will be given a detailed letter explaining why it has been decided that you don’t qualify. You have the right to appeal and ask for your application to be reviewed. You will need to file a formal letter requesting such an action. Remember to keep copies of all documents you submit, including the appeal letter. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review process, the next step to take is making an official complaint. If that still does not bring the result you desired, the last step to take is to contact the Social Care Ombudsman.

8. The moment you are offered a home, your council will also inform you how much time you have to accept or reject the offer. It will not be a long wait because the waiting list is long, and somebody else may be interested in the same property. If the place you are offered satisfies your needs, the council will assist you in signing the contract. It may be a long‑term tenancy or a fixed‑term contract. You will also be given all necessary information in terms of where and how to pay your rent. Once all paperwork is complete, you will be able to move in.

9. If you are a social housing tenant, but you wish to move to another part of the UK, it’s possible to swap your home with another family or individual participating in the social housing programme in the area you are interested in. Remember that councils do not take part in that process, but there are websites on which you can check properties in which tenants are also looking for opportunities to swap. You will still have to obtain the permission of your respective landlords, that is either council or housing associations, to carry on with the swap. They will have six weeks to process your application. You must pay the arrears in rent - if there are any - before you are given permission to swap.