What affordable housing is, types of affordable housing, who provides it and how you can rent or buy an affordable home.
What affordable housing is
Affordable housing is low-cost housing for people who can't meet their housing needs because their income is too low to meet private market costs. This can include:
- people who need to rent a home but can't afford to pay market rents
- people who are unable to get on the property ladder, including first time buyers
There are eligibility criteria for people needing an affordable home in Bristol.
Affordable rented homes
Affordable rented housing includes:
- Social Rented properties
- Affordable Rented properties
- Intermediate Rented properties
- Build to Rent: Affordable Private Rented properties
Social rented properties
Social rented properties usually have the lowest rents. These rents exclude service charges.
Some social rented housing is owned by us and some by registered providers, such as housing associations.
Affordable rented properties
These properties are more expensive than social rented properties but the rent is controlled. The rent is not more than 80% of local market rents or Local Housing Allowance, whichever is the lower, including service charges.
The homes are let by local authorities or social housing providers to those eligible for social rented housing.
Intermediate rented properties
These properties are more expensive than social rented properties but the rent is controlled. The rent is not more than 80% of local market rents.
Intermediate rented properties may be offered by housing associations and let on an assured shorthold tenancy.
Build to Rent: Affordable Private Rent
Affordable Rent homes are let by Build to Rent landlords at 20% below market, or Local Housing Allowance rates, whichever is lower.
These properties will include service charges.
Further information is in the pdf Build to Rent Practice Note (353 KB) .
More detailed information about nominations and allocations is in the pdf Affordable private rent nominations and allocations plan (143 KB) .
Find an affordable rented home
Register with Home Choice Bristol to find an affordable rented home in Bristol.
Own your own affordable home
You can get help to buy your own affordable home. For example:
- Shared Ownership
- First Homes
Shared ownership
When you buy a shared ownership property, you use a mortgage to buy a percentage of the property.
You then pay rent on the remaining percentage, to the housing provider. You'll then be able to buy a bigger stake of the home when you can afford to do so.
Find out about shared ownership schemes on the Help to Buy South website.
First Homes
First Homes is a new scheme designed to help local first-time buyers onto the property ladder.
This is by offering homes at a discount of 30% compared to the market price. The discounts will apply to the homes forever.
First Homes properties will be sold by private developers as part of the affordable housing delivered through the development.
You will need to check whether the builder is currently including First Homes as part of the development. If they are, you must qualify through the eligibility criteria and apply through the builder.
There are currently no developments which are advertising First Homes that we are aware of. When opportunities come up we will add further information on this page.
We're are not able to confirm availability of First Homes, this will be done directly through the developer.
Our pdf First Homes Practice Note (260 KB) shows how we intend to deliver First Homes in the city.
For more information on First Homes, email firsthomes@bristol.gov.uk
Other government support
Visit ownyourhome.gov.uk for further information and other government home ownership schemes.