Step 1: Introduction to council housing

Council housing, also known as social housing, provides homes at a lower rent than most private rented properties. These homes are managed by local authorities or housing associations.

If you are thinking about applying for council housing, this page explains what council housing is and what to expect before joining the housing register.

What council housing is

Council housing was originally created to give people access to a decent, safe, secure and affordable home.

In Swindon, council housing includes:

• bedsits
• flats
• maisonettes
• houses
• bungalows
• accommodation for people aged 55 and over

We have around 10,200 council homes across the borough. Properties vary in size and number of bedrooms.

Benefits of council housing

Council housing can offer:

• affordable rent
• a strong and friendly community
• safe and secure tenancy agreements

Before you apply

Read each step of the application process carefully before you apply. This will help you understand whether you are eligible to join the housing register and what you need to do next.

Housing allocations policy

Read the Housing allocations policy (PDF).

This document explains how we allocate social housing in Swindon.