Housing Associations in Wealden
The Council no longer builds any more homes to rent, but assists housing associations (who may also be called Registerd Social Landlords) to build them for us. Wealden has approximately 1400 homes owned by housing associations in the District. The Public Register of Social Landlords lists all the Housing Associations active in the Wealden area.
Most of the properties owned by housing associations in Wealden are for rent, but some are shared ownership (where someone part buys and part owns a property). When a vacancy occurs in a property it is generally offered to the Council so we may suggest someone from our Housing Register.
Therefore it is important if you are interested in renting or buying a share in one of these properties that you complete an application form (pdf 73 kd) to join Wealden's Housing Register. You can also get a form by contacting the housing service on 01323 443322.
There are some important differences between a housing association Assured Tenancy and a Council Secure Tenancy that you must be aware of:
- Rents - tend to be traditionally higher than Council rents but over the next 10 years all affordable housing rents will be similar
- Succession - rights are more limited than for Council tenants
- Right to buy - Assured tenants do not normally have the right to buy, but some tenants will have the Right to Acquire. This gives a lesser discount than the Right to buy
- General information on Housing Associations and the part they play in Housing (pdf 34kb)
All housing associations which receive public funds must be registered with the Housing Corporation, a body which funds and regulates associations. The Corporation has produced a Charter which sets out the standards to which the association must work on services such as repairs, rents and transfers.