main content A guide to social housing

Housing associations are non-profit organisations that have been approved by the Housing Corporation to own, manage and provide social housing. Some associations operate low-cost home ownership schemes which allow tenants to part own and part rent their homes. The Housing Corporation is the national body responsible for monitoring housing association's performance.

Eligibility

Housing associations provide accommodation to people who cannot afford to rent privately. Some associations provide supported housing, for example for older people with support needs or people with a learning disability.

The demand for housing association accommodation in Bromley greatly exceeds supply, and most housing associations do not accept direct applications from the public. Social housing in Bromley is allocated using a ‘choice-based lettings’ system called ‘Bromley Homeseekers’. For more information on ‘Bromley Homeseekers’ please click on the housing register link or follow the link to the Bromley Homeseekers Website.

Associations also have to provide housing for their existing tenants who need to move because their families have grown or because there is some pressing need. This means that there is limited scope for re-housing anyone else.

Details

Which housing associations operate in Bromley?
In 1992 the London Borough of Bromley transferred its housing to Broomleigh Housing Association. They now own most of the housing which previously belonged to the council and are responsible for managing and maintaining it.

In addition there are other housing associations which also own and manage housing in Bromley. All new social housing in the borough is built or purchased by housing associations, with funding from the council or the housing corporation.

How can housing association tenants complain?
Housing associations have policies and procedures which determine how they manage their properties. If you are a housing association tenant and you have a complaint against your landlord, you should follow their complaints procedure. If you have gone through all the stages of the complaints procedure and are still not satisfied, you can contact the independent Housing Ombudsman.

Next steps

How can I become a housing association tenant?
The majority of vacancies in housing association properties are filled from the Council’s Housing Register. This means that if you wish to apply for a housing association property, you are likely to need to contact the council as well as the housing association.

If you are homeless, or threatened with homelessness you should contact the Housing Options and Advice Team (contact details below).

If you would like to find out more about Bromley Homeseekers and the closure of the housing register please see the housing register pages or the Bromley Homeseekers website.

Where can I get further information?
Further information on housing associations can be obtained from the Housing Options and Advice Team, your local Citizens Advice Bureau or from the Housing Corporation.

Contacts

Housing Options and Assessments Team
Telephone: 020 8313 4098
E-mail: housing@bromley.gov.uk 
Office Hours: Mon - Fri 9.00am - 5.00pm

Address:
Joseph Lancaster Hall,
Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley, BR1 3UH.