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Finding Accommodation

There are many different types of housing in Hampshire. People can choose from different options depending on what they need and what they can afford.

Here are some of the main housing choices:

1. Council or Housing Association Homes

These are homes rented out by the council or by housing associations.
They usually have cheaper rents than private landlords.

2. Temporary Accommodation

This is short‑term housing for people who are homeless or in an emergency situation.

3. Supported Housing

These are homes where extra help or support is provided.
Different schemes offer different levels of support.
This is helpful for people who need more day‑to‑day assistance.

4. Owner Occupation

This means buying a home.
Some people buy through shared ownership (also called part buy, part rent) where you buy a part of the home and rent the rest.

5. Private Rented Homes

These are homes rented from private landlords or letting agents.
Rents can be higher and may vary depending on the area.

6. Other Types of Accommodation

There are also other housing options, such as:

  • Hostels – rooms with shared facilities.
  • Rent to Buy – start by renting, then have the chance to buy later.
  • Tied Accommodation – housing linked to your job.
  • Almshouses – homes provided by charities for people who need support.

These options are different from place to place, and not all types are available everywhere.

There are lots of options and everyone is an individual so it is important to find what works for you.

Take a look at the options the young people is this video chose.

Your local council can give you advice and support about many housing issues. They can help you stay in your current home, or help you move to somewhere new. They can also explain the types of housing that might be available in your area.

Your council can help if:

  • You have a problem with your housing.
  • You are homeless or worried that you might become homeless.
  • You want to apply for local housing and need to know how it works.
  • You need information about Disabled Facilities Grants to help you stay in your home.
  • You are worried about the condition or safety of your home.
  • You need help finding money for a deposit or rent in advance.
  • You want to apply for housing benefit or council tax benefit.
  • You need advice about where to get support with other housing issues.

Important to know

Hampshire has a very high demand for council and housing association homes. This means waiting times can be long. These homes are not usually a quick solution.

The best place to start is by talking to your local district or borough council. Each council has its own rules about who can apply for housing, but all councils must provide housing advice.

How council housing applications usually work

  • Some councils have housing registers or waiting lists.
  • Others use allocation pools.
  • You will need to fill in a housing application.
  • The council will check your information and decide what size or type of home you need.
  • People with the greatest need are usually given higher priority.

Your council’s rules (called an allocations policy) are normally available on their website.

Choice‑Based Lettings (CBL)

In some areas, councils use a system called Choice‑Based Lettings. This means:

  1. Homes that are available are advertised.
  2. You can show interest in a property (this is called bidding).
  3. The council then looks at everyone who bid and offers the home to the person with the highest priority.

Homechoice Hampshire is the choice based letting platform for Hampshire.

Your local council can give you advice and support about many housing issues. They can help you stay in your current home, or help you move to somewhere new. They can also explain the types of housing that might be available in your area.

Your council can help if:

  • You have a problem with your housing.
  • You are homeless or worried that you might become homeless.
  • You want to apply for local housing and need to know how it works.
  • You need information about Disabled Facilities Grants to help you stay in your home.
  • You are worried about the condition or safety of your home.
  • You need help finding money for a deposit or rent in advance.
  • You want to apply for housing benefit or council tax benefit.
  • You need advice about where to get support with other housing issues.

Important to know

Hampshire has a very high demand for council and housing association homes. This means waiting times can be long. These homes are not usually a quick solution.

The best place to start is by talking to your local district or borough council. Each council has its own rules about who can apply for housing, but all councils must provide housing advice.

How council housing applications usually work

  • Some councils have housing registers or waiting lists.
  • Others use allocation pools.
  • You will need to fill in a housing application.
  • The council will check your information and decide what size or type of home you need.
  • People with the greatest need are usually given higher priority.

Your council’s rules (called an allocations policy) are normally available on their website.

Choice‑Based Lettings (CBL)

In some areas, councils use a system called Choice‑Based Lettings. This means:

  1. Homes that are available are advertised.
  2. You can show interest in a property (this is called bidding).
  3. The council then looks at everyone who bid and offers the home to the person with the highest priority.

Homechoice Hampshire is the choice based letting platform for Hampshire.

Anyone requiring advice with a housing related problem may wish to contact their local housing authority – contact details for your local district council can be found by adding your postcode within this link: 

Search for your local council here.

Or you may find your district or borough council housing pages listed below:

Borough Councils:

District Councils:

Anyone requiring advice with a housing related problem may wish to contact their local housing authority – contact details for your local district council can be found by adding your postcode within this link: 

Search for your local council here.

Or you may find your district or borough council housing pages listed below:

Borough Councils:

District Councils:

In some parts of Hampshire, the local council still owns and rents out homes. These councils often work with housing associations (organisations that provide affordable homes) and offer council houses for people to live in.

Other councils in Hampshire have decided to give all their council homes to a housing association. This means the housing association owns and looks after the homes. These homes are usually rented out through the council’s housing register or waiting list.

Your local council has important jobs when it comes to housing. By law, they must:

  • Give free housing advice to anyone who lives in their area.
  • Help people who are homeless.
  • Make sure homes are safe and meet health standards.
  • Provide grants for home adaptations for disabled people (including small changes like handrails).
  • Decide who gets council or housing association homes.

In some parts of Hampshire, the local council still owns and rents out homes. These councils often work with housing associations (organisations that provide affordable homes) and offer council houses for people to live in.

Other councils in Hampshire have decided to give all their council homes to a housing association. This means the housing association owns and looks after the homes. These homes are usually rented out through the council’s housing register or waiting list.

Your local council has important jobs when it comes to housing. By law, they must:

  • Give free housing advice to anyone who lives in their area.
  • Help people who are homeless.
  • Make sure homes are safe and meet health standards.
  • Provide grants for home adaptations for disabled people (including small changes like handrails).
  • Decide who gets council or housing association homes.

Sometimes people become homeless and need somewhere safe to stay quickly. In these situations, your local district or borough council may be able to give you temporary accommodation.

Temporary accommodation is emergency housing. It is used to stop someone from having nowhere to live.

Who can get temporary accommodation?

The council must have a good reason to believe that you are:

  • Eligible (you are allowed to get help under the law)
  • Homeless (you have nowhere safe to stay)
  • In priority need (you need extra help because of your situation)

If these three things apply, the council may give you emergency temporary accommodation while they look into your case.

Who can get ongoing temporary accommodation?

For the council to continue providing temporary accommodation after the first emergency help, they must decide that you are:

  • Eligible
  • Homeless
  • In priority need
  • Not intentionally homeless
    (this means you did not lose your home on purpose)

Local connection

The council may also look at whether you have a local connection to the area.

This could mean:

  • You live there
  • You work there
  • You have close family there
  • You have lived there in the past

If you do not have a local connection, the council might send your case to a different council in an area where you do have a connection. That council would then be responsible for providing accommodation.

Need more help?

To get more information about temporary accommodation or how to make a homelessness application, speak to your local district or borough council. They can explain the process and help you understand your next steps.

Sometimes people become homeless and need somewhere safe to stay quickly. In these situations, your local district or borough council may be able to give you temporary accommodation.

Temporary accommodation is emergency housing. It is used to stop someone from having nowhere to live.

Who can get temporary accommodation?

The council must have a good reason to believe that you are:

  • Eligible (you are allowed to get help under the law)
  • Homeless (you have nowhere safe to stay)
  • In priority need (you need extra help because of your situation)

If these three things apply, the council may give you emergency temporary accommodation while they look into your case.

Who can get ongoing temporary accommodation?

For the council to continue providing temporary accommodation after the first emergency help, they must decide that you are:

  • Eligible
  • Homeless
  • In priority need
  • Not intentionally homeless
    (this means you did not lose your home on purpose)

Local connection

The council may also look at whether you have a local connection to the area.

This could mean:

  • You live there
  • You work there
  • You have close family there
  • You have lived there in the past

If you do not have a local connection, the council might send your case to a different council in an area where you do have a connection. That council would then be responsible for providing accommodation.

Need more help?

To get more information about temporary accommodation or how to make a homelessness application, speak to your local district or borough council. They can explain the process and help you understand your next steps.

Supported Housing
This means special homes that give people some extra help.

  • These homes are for people who need support, like help with daily life.
  • The help can be given in different ways by different people.
  • The homes can be:
    • Self-contained (your own flat)
    • Shared (you live with other people)

Some homes are called group living. This is like sharing a big house with a few people who have similar needs. These are mostly for people with learning disabilities or mental health problems.

Most group living homes are run by charities or housing associations.

If you want to know more, talk to your local Adult Services office or visit the Supporting People website.

Please go to Shelter for further advice.  

Supported Housing
This means special homes that give people some extra help.

  • These homes are for people who need support, like help with daily life.
  • The help can be given in different ways by different people.
  • The homes can be:
    • Self-contained (your own flat)
    • Shared (you live with other people)

Some homes are called group living. This is like sharing a big house with a few people who have similar needs. These are mostly for people with learning disabilities or mental health problems.

Most group living homes are run by charities or housing associations.

If you want to know more, talk to your local Adult Services office or visit the Supporting People website.

Please go to Shelter for further advice.  

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