Affordable Housing in County Antrim
Affordable housing in County Antrim means homes for rent or sale offered below market levels to people whose needs are not met by the open market, such as social and affordable rent, shared ownership and discounted market sale. Land to Homes plans affordable homes into the sites it brings forward and works with councils and housing associations, which set eligibility and allocate the homes.
County AntrimRegister your interest
Tell us where you want to live and what you need. Free, no obligation.
Registering interest is not a housing application. Social and affordable homes are allocated by councils and housing providers through their own lists.
Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6248.
- Free to registerNo fees, no deposit, no obligation
- Hear firstIf homes are released near you
- Affordable homesWith councils and housing associations
- Clear informationTenure, specification and warranty
- UK-wideEngland, Wales, Scotland and NI
Registering for homes in County Antrim
Our County Antrim coverage takes in 7 towns and cities, centred on Belfast and including Ballymena, Newtownabbey and Lisburn. Neighbouring areas we also cover include County Down, County Armagh and County Londonderry.
When you register for County Antrim, you can choose larger family homes, homes for shared ownership or homes for private rent. As County Antrim is in Northern Ireland, applications are judged against the Strategic Planning Policy Statement, and the buyer of land pays Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
Tell us what you need in County Antrim and we will be in touch if homes are released nearby.
What we offer in County Antrim
Delivered through planning
Affordable homes are usually secured by a planning obligation, such as a Section 106 or Section 75 agreement, agreed with the council at planning stage.
Nation-aware delivery
Affordable housing works differently in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and we follow the rules and funding routes of each.
Designed to fit in
We design affordable homes to sit alongside homes for sale and spread them through a scheme, so the tenures are hard to tell apart.
Every main tenure explained
Social rent, affordable rent, shared ownership, discounted market sale and their equivalents in each nation, explained in plain terms with who each one is for.
Rules that apply in County Antrim
Social homes in County Antrim are built mainly by registered housing associations through the Social Housing Development Programme. The Department for Communities funds the programme and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive manages it, assessing need and drawing up a rolling three-year plan. Housing associations are regulated by the Department for Communities. Land to Homes can bring forward land and build homes for housing association partners.
In Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive is the strategic housing authority and manages the Social Housing Development Programme, while housing associations regulated by the Department for Communities build and manage most new social homes. Affordable housing can be secured through Section 76 agreements, and shared ownership is offered mainly through Co-Ownership.
| National planning policy | Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS, Edition 2), applied with retained Planning Policy Statements until each council adopts its Plan Strategy |
|---|---|
| Local planning document | Local Development Plan (LDP), made up of a Plan Strategy and a Local Policies Plan |
| Who decides applications | The 11 district councils, with the Department for Infrastructure deciding regionally significant applications |
| In-principle consent | Outline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later |
| Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) |
| Land registration | Land & Property Services (Land Registry and Registry of Deeds) |
| How a sale becomes binding | A land sale becomes legally binding when contracts signed by both parties are exchanged and finishes on completion, with the title registered in the Land Registry at Land & Property Services. |
| Developer contributions | Section 76 planning agreements under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (there is no Community Infrastructure Levy) |
Questions about Affordable Housing in County Antrim
What is the difference between social rent and affordable rent?
Social rent is the lowest-cost rented housing, with rents in England set using a government formula and kept low by policy or regulation elsewhere. Affordable rent, used mainly in England, is set by reference to local market rents and is usually higher than social rent. Both are let by councils and registered providers to eligible households.
How is affordable housing delivered on new developments?
Usually through planning. The council's development plan sets out how much affordable housing a scheme should provide, and the commitment is secured in a planning obligation. The developer builds the homes and transfers them to a registered provider at a price that reflects their affordable status, sometimes supported by public grant. The provider then lets or sells them.
What is shared ownership?
Shared ownership lets you buy a share of a home, usually with a mortgage, and pay rent to the housing provider on the remaining share. You can normally buy further shares over time, which is known as staircasing. Schemes and rules differ by nation and by provider, so check the details and take independent legal and financial advice before committing.
Who decides if I am eligible for an affordable home?
The council, the housing association or other provider, and the rules of the particular scheme. Eligibility usually depends on household income, housing need and sometimes a local connection to the area. Land to Homes does not decide eligibility or allocate homes. If you are interested, contact your local council's housing team and housing associations working in the area.
Can I register for new homes in County Antrim?
Yes. Registering for County Antrim is free and does not commit you to anything. There are no homes available yet; if we bring homes forward in or near County Antrim, we will contact you.
Read more: Affordable Housing · Guide: Renting a new-build home: tenancy rules in England, Wales, Scotland and NI