Council housing
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.
There is a severe shortage of social housing in the Epping Forest district. As a result, most applicants on the housing register will have to wait a long time for rehousing. We would therefore strongly suggest that you consider other housing options such as privately renting before applying to go on the housing register.
If you are a local authority or housing association tenant, have you thought about swapping with another tenant? HomeSwapper is an online mutual exchange register. Anyone can register and view possible swaps. This service is free to Epping Forest District Council tenants.
How to apply
Before applying for the housing register, please check your eligibility by reading the housing allocations scheme below, section 14 sets out the eligibility criteria.
If you believe you qualify, please check you are able to provide all the information we need before you complete the form. Complete the document checklist below, this will need to be provided to us within 14 days of submitting your form.
We will be unable to process your application unless you provide all the information we need. Without it, your application is likely to be rejected and you will need to make a fresh application in order to be considered.
How does it work
Each year we let around 400 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 on the HomeOption website. Details on how to do this will be sent to you once your application has been accepted.
Available vacant homes are advertised on the HomeOption website each week. If you are unable to place bids yourself or do not have anyone who can do so on your behalf, please contact the Rehousing Team for further advice.
Homeseekers can express an interest in up to 3 properties each cycle. Available homes will be offered to the home seekers who have the highest priority banding and have been waiting longest. This is 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 Rehousing Team on 01992 564716, Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm or email rehousing@eppingforestdc.gov.uk.
Housing register applicants
Find the number of applicants on our housing register by band and number of bedrooms on our open data page.
Annual lettings report
Read about the number and type of council and housing association homes for rent that have been let, and who they have been let to, the number of households who have moved by mutual exchange, the number of council tenants who have bought their homes via the Right to Buy and the number of households on the Housing Register as at 1 April 2021.
Housing financial information
This form should only be completed if you have been asked to do so by the Rehousing Team.
The form provides details of a homeseekers income, savings and investments and enables the Rehousing Team to make a full assessment of their eligibility for the housing register.