Home Looking for a home

Looking for a home

Demand for housing in Nottingham is very high. If you’re in housing need, we want to help you find a home that’s most suitable for you.

Depending on your circumstances, some housing options will be more suitable to you than others. For example, we currently have more than 11,000 people on the Housing Register waiting for a social home. This means that, depending on your circumstances, you could be waiting a long time before you can get a home and there may be other housing options that would be more suitable.

Before you can apply to join Nottingham’s Housing Register you will need to answer a few questions to see if you can.

Depending on the answers you give, if you are eligible, you will then be asked to complete some mandatory pre-tenancy training. Once this has been done, you will get a reference number that will allow you to complete an online application.

All of these three stages are done through Housing Online, which can be accessed by clicking the link at the top of the page or by clicking here.

Before you can answer the eligibility questions, you will need to create a Housing Online account – and you will need to have an email address for you to be able to do that.

Information about how to create a Housing Online account and how to create an email account, if you don’t already have one, can be found on the Housing Online home-page along with some downloadable guides to help you.

We've produced a step-by-step guide to assist you with registration which you can read on this page: Nottingham HomeLink Registration Guide.

If you're not eligible to join the Housing Register you'll be given advice and help on other housing options that are available. For example mutual exchanges, private rental or options if you're homeless.

Once you have answered the eligibility questions, completed the pre-tenancy training, submitted your housing application form and it has been successful you’ll be given a HomeLink reference number and put in a housing band.

The band awarded will reflect your priority and also the type of homes that you're eligible to place bids for. This band award will be based on your current housing circumstances and need.

We’ll explain what your banding means and how you can bid on properties securely through Housing Online when we write to you to let you know your application has been successful.

The applicant with the highest priority who has bid in your band will be offered the home first. When looking at the advert, you will only see homes that you're eligible to bid for.

If, when logging into the weekly advert, you do not see any homes, it's because there are no homes available that meet your housing need. We will only contact you if you have been successful, so if you do not hear from us please continue to place bids.

Demand for social housing is very high. With more than 11,000 households on the Housing Register waiting for a home, depending on your circumstances, and if you are eligible, you could be waiting a long time.

For some people, it might be better to consider private renting as an alternative option.

Nottingham Private Rented Assistance Scheme (NPRAS)

NPRAS match landlords to local homeless families in need of good quality homes in Nottingham. They can also provide help and advice if you are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Visit the NPRAS website to find out more.

To look for other private rented options, visit:

Shared ownership is a housing scheme designed to help people get on the property ladder by allowing them to buy a share of a home and pay rent on the remaining portion.

This can be a more affordable way to own your own home, and a potential solution to finding permanent accommodation.

How it works and its advantages:

Eligibility - schemes are often aimed at first-time buyers or those who do not currently own a home
Accessibility - It is easier for people with lower incomes, or those who can't afford a full mortgage, to get on the property ladder
Ownership share - You purchase a share of the property with a mortgage, typically between 25% and 75%
Lower deposit - Usually a deposit is between 5 to 10% of the share you are buying
Affordable monthly payments - Monthly payments, including both mortgage and rent, can be cheaper than renting privately or having a full mortgage
Long-term stability - As an owner-occupier, you have the potential to eventually own your home outright
Staircasing - Over time you can buy additional shares in the property, a process known as 'staircasing', until you potentially own 100% of the home.