Apply for a council or housing association home

To apply for a council or housing association home, you will need to join the 'housing register', which is the waiting list of people who need a council or housing association property.

We have a limited supply of council and housing association homes, and we can only offer them to people and families who are assessed as having the greatest need.

Because there are many more people applying for housing than there are properties available, you may be waiting for a long time. It could take years, and you may not be offered a home even if you're eligible.

There are over 8,600 households on the waiting list. Within a year, only 1 in 10 households on the waiting list will be offered a tenancy. The current average waiting times are 8 years for a 2-bed, 9 years for a 3-bed and 8 years for a 4-bed property.

To improve your chances of securing a home, it helps to be flexible in your choice of area, and the type of property that you wish to live in.

Consider a private rented property

Before you apply for a council home, you should look at whether you can afford to privately rent a property.

This is usually a faster way to find a suitable home.

It may be easier to rent a property if you search for a home that is outside of the Greater London area, where rents are generally less expensive.

For more information, read our guide to finding a private rented property.