Soha Housing provides over 8,000 affordable homes throughout south Oxfordshire and neighbouring districts. We currently have over 17,300 residents. But what classes as affordable housing, and how can you be housed with us?
What is social and affordable housing?
Many people think social housing is owned by the council – this isn’t always true. Councils and not-for-profit organisations (such as housing associations like Soha) can provide it. It also includes shared ownership, where residents part buy and part rent their home. Soha has both types of home, as just over 13% of Soha’s stock is shared ownership or leasehold.
Social housing is governed by law to ensure it:
- is affordable Affordable rent through housing associations like Soha can never be as high as private market rent – up to 80% of private market rent.
- is secure Tenancies with Soha are assured, which means tenancies have a long life span and give the resident more rights. If an assured tenant dies, a surviving civil partner, spouse, partner or family member may apply to succeed to the tenancy which may be possible in some circumstances.
- has a decent quality The government have a Decent Homes standard, which landlords like Soha must meet. In fact, Soha’s homes meet the Decent Homes Plus standard.
Who can live in social housing?
Anyone can apply to be on the housing list held at their local District Council. The Housing Needs team (or a department with a similar name) gives a priority to each application. The applicant gets a so-called priority ‘banding’ and can apply online for homes which match this banding. In South Oxfordshire, the online system is South Oxfordshire Homechoice. We have a computer terminal at our offices in Didcot and can help potential residents to make this application if they don’t have the internet.
How are homes allocated?
This way of allocating social housing is known as choice-based lettings: the idea is to make the process of applying for social housing more like that of choosing a home on the private market. Choice-based lettings is the way that social housing is allocated in most English Districts. Social housing tenants can swap homes with others elsewhere by using Homeswapper.
To qualify for a social housing or shared ownership home other requirements may also need to be met, such as a local connection to the area (having a connection by living, working or having family within that particular parish). Depending on what was agreed between the parties involved, requirements are put into a legal document called a section 106 agreement. The section 106 agreement binds the land no matter who owns the homes. As these agreements are negotiated for individual sites and planning applications, the exact wording can vary from site to site.
