Council/social housing information

Social housing

There is no council housing in Hastings, but there is social rented housing, owned by Registered Providers (Housing Associations), which is let at relatively low rents.

If you would like a social housing property you need to join the Council's Housing Register and bid on properties through the Homemove website.

What is the Sussex Homemove Scheme?

Sussex Homemove is the Choice Based Lettings scheme that we use to advertise social/affordable housing vacancies in Hastings.

There is more information on our Sussex Homemove Scheme page which explains the process from applying to the scheme to choosing and bidding for a new home.

How long will I have to wait for social housing?

The waiting time for allocation of social housing varies in accordance with the type and availability of property. The following table lists all the lettings during a fixed period between 2017 and 2018:

Lettings between 01 April 2017 and 31 March 2018:

*A significant number of these applicants have been rehoused into accommodation reserved for people aged over 50 years.

What is affordable rent?

Some properties advertised on the Homemove website are categorised as 'affordable rent'. Affordable rent is a rent that can be set by the Registered Provider at up to a maximum of 80% of local market rent. Registered Providers are able to offer tenants in affordable rented homes flexible tenancies tailored to the housing needs of individual households.

Where can I get more help?

If you have any other questions about social housing or if you would like a copy of our Choice Based Lettings Guide produced for people with a learning disability, please contact the Community Contact Centre.

Swapping your home: Mutual Exchange

If you live in social housing, an easy way to relocate is to swap your home with another social housing tenant.

HomeSwapper (www.homeswapper.co.uk) matches properties with tenants who want to swap houses across the country. You'll need your landlord's permission to swap before you can join HomeSwapper.

Housing for older people

There are a range of sheltered housing schemes for older people provided by Registered Providers in Hastings. Some of these schemes are allocated outside of the Homemove Scheme and others are included within the scheme. These schemes are designed to deliver integrated onsite housing support and housing management service. To make best use of resources, bids would normally be considered from applicants aged 60 and over who would benefit from support to live independently.

AmicusHorizon has a variety of Housing for Older People Schemes (HOPs) generally for people aged 65+. Where it has been agreed with the Registered Provider, bids for HOPs may be considered from applicants with a medical need/disability under the age of 65.

HOPs are designed for those who can live independently but who prefer the added security of having a Lifeline system. This includes people who can live independently with a Social Care and Health Care package in place.