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Housing applications

We are dealing with a high demand for our services. If you have already submitted a housing application, we are doing our best to get back to you as soon as we are able to. We appreciate your patience during this delay. Get more information.

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Applying for housing and other housing options

If you are looking for a home, there are different options for you to explore to help you find a home.

Apply to join the housing register

If you are interested in applying to the housing register for council and housing association homes, you will need to find out if you are eligible to apply first. If you are eligible then you will be able to submit a housing application form online. Once you have a live housing application you will be able to bid for properties on our Leicester HomeChoice choice-based lettings scheme. Properties are advertised every week.

There is a huge demand for housing and a shortage of homes available, and it can take a long time to be rehoused via the housing register.


Check if you qualify to apply for housing

 

Leicester City Council tenants and housing association tenants

As well as applying to join the housing register, council and housing association tenants can also apply for mutual exchanges. To do this sign up to HomeSwapper.

The idea behind HomeSwapper is simple. People can swap their homes and tenancies with each other. For example, someone living in a home that is too big for them can swap with someone living in a home that is too small for them. The end result is that both people will have a home that is of the right size. This is called a ‘mutual exchange’.


Register on the HomeSwapper website

 

Housing associations

Private rented accommodation is usually the easiest, quickest and most convenient route for people to find a home. There’s lots of private lets in Leicester, and the benefits of renting privately include properties usually being available immediately, as well as giving you greater choice over where you live.

Check local newspapers, letting agencies, and search online for available properties. There’s lots of different websites which help people find private rented homes. Keep checking them regularly to see if anything suitable becomes available. Think about saving a little money if possible, to pay for any fees or deposits.

If you are under 35 with no children then you might want to consider renting a room in a shared house. This is because the housing benefit you might be entitled to is limited to the shared room rate. There are many different websites online which help people find rooms in shared houses.

We run schemes to assist people into private rented homes. Find out about homes for people on low incomes. 

If you are worried about being able to afford the rent in a private tenancy, due to being on a low income, check out further information and advice about housing benefits and affordability.


View list of housing associations you can apply to

 

Shared ownership schemes

If you have a regular income and are interested in owning a home but do not have the money for a deposit, there are schemes that may be able to help. Further information is available on the government help to buy website.