Apply for council housing

To be considered for council or housing association properties you need to be on our Housing Register. Because there are few properties available and high demand for accommodation we need to prioritise who qualifies for the Housing Register.

We strongly suggest that you consider other housing options such as privately renting before applying to go on the Housing Register, as it can take years before you find a council home.

How to apply

To join the Housing Register you need to visit the www.homeoption.org website to find out if you are eligible to apply and, if you are eligible, complete the online application form.

You will need to have the following information to complete the online form:

• Your National Insurance number
• Details of your income and savings
• Your home addresses for the last 10 years

More information can be found by downloading our Housing allocations scheme 2018-2022 (pdf 235KB).

What happens next

Once you have submitted your online application form you will be given a HomeOption number.

You will then need to supply us with copies of relevant proof of identity and residency documents to support your application within 14 days. If we need any further information from you, we will contact you and ask.

Once you have provided all the information we need, we will aim to contact you within 5 working days to advise you if you qualify to join the Housing Register.

How does it work

Each year we let around 500 council or housing association properties through our Choice-Based Letting Scheme to home seekers on the Register.

If you have been accepted onto our Housing Register, you will need to actively search for available council properties using the HomeOption website.

Available vacant homes are advertised on the HomeOption website and in printed property lists.

Home seekers can express an interest in up to three properties in any weekly cycle. Available homes will be offered to the home seekers who have the highest priority bandings and have been waiting longest; subject to satisfactory verification checks at the time the offer is made.

Need help with your application?

If you need help with your online application contact a member of the Housing Options Team

• Email: housingoptions@eppingforestdc.gov.uk
• Telephone: 01992 564716

For more detailed information on moving home with with council

Housing Register statistics

Housing Register statistics – at the start of 2019 we had just over 1500 applicants on our Housing Register.