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You are here: Home > Housing health and care > Housing > Housing help > Introduction

Housing help

This section provides information and advice about housing. The Council works in partnership with a range of agencies to meet the housing needs of the local people.

The Borough Council sold its housing stock of over 5,000 properties to Raven Housing Trust in March 2002. We no longer own any 'council housing'.

Instead the Council aims to assist people with housing through a variety of schemes and by working with a variety of partners, including Raven Housing Trust, housing associations, registered social landlords and developers.

The Council believes every resident should have the opportunity of a decent home that is fit for human habitation and in reasonable repair.

Each year the Council prepares a short report for its stakeholders and partners summarising the achievements of the past year.

•  Download a copy of the Housing Annual Report 2005-06 (PDF opens in a new window) (58.2kB) 
•  Download a copy of the Housing Annual Report 2006-07 (PDF opens in a new window) (58.5kB)

Housing Help

Our Housing Options staff can offer advice to people in housing need, including key workers. To find out how to get advice on housing issues go to the Housing advice and homelessness page.

Find out whether you are eligible to apply for one of our assisted home ownership schemes.

Although we do not have any council housing of our own, we still maintain a Housing Register for people who need affordable rented housing in the Borough. Find out whether you are eligible to join the Housing Register by going to the Housing Register page of the website.

You can also find out about the Council's Housing Strategy and Homelessness Strategy.

Options for the elderly including contact details for sheltered housing schemes are available on our Housing for the Elderly page.

Housing Benefit

If you are looking for information on Housing Benefit go to our Benefits section.

Understanding the local housing market and Housing conditions

Although the Council does not have any Council housing itself, it does have a duty to consider housing conditions in its area from time to time. 

The Council does this in a number of ways, including commissioning surveys to look at housing needs in the area and also surveys to assess the condition of privately owned housing in the Borough.

The various surveys help the Council establish its priorities and strategies for dealing with housing issues in the area. For more, see the section on the Council's housing strategy.  

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