Affordable Housing in Omagh
If you are hoping to rent or buy an affordable home in Omagh, the first contact is usually the council or a housing association, not the developer. They decide who is eligible and who is offered each home. Developers such as Land to Homes deliver affordable homes, often secured through planning obligations, and hand them to a registered provider to manage or sell.
Omagh · BT78Register 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
Homes we plan around Omagh
Our County Tyrone coverage is centred on Omagh, postcode district BT78, and reaches 3 other places. Strabane is the closest neighbouring place we cover, at about 17 miles, followed by Enniskillen and Dungannon.
When you register for Omagh, you can choose larger family homes, homes for affordable rent or two- and three-bedroom family homes. In Northern Ireland, where Omagh sits, planning decisions are made by the 11 district councils, with the Department for Infrastructure deciding regionally significant applications.
Tell us what you need in Omagh and we will be in touch if homes are released nearby.
How we work in Omagh
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.
Help for landowners
We explain how affordable housing requirements affect what a site is worth, so landowners understand an offer rather than just receiving one.
Register interest
You can register interest with us, and we will point you to the council or provider responsible if affordable homes come forward on one of our sites.
Providers involved early
We aim to agree affordable homes with a housing association or other registered provider early, so the homes meet their standards and local need.
The Northern Irish system, as it applies in Omagh
Affordable housing delivery in Omagh involves three main players: the Department for Communities, which funds the programme and regulates housing associations; the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, which assesses need and manages the Social Housing Development Programme; and registered housing associations, which build and manage the homes. Co-Ownership provides shared ownership. Land to Homes can work alongside them by bringing forward land and building new homes.
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 |
|---|---|
| In-principle consent | Outline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later |
| Land registration | Land & Property Services (Land Registry and Registry of Deeds) |
| Developer contributions | Section 76 planning agreements under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (there is no Community Infrastructure Levy) |
Your questions answered for Omagh
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.
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.
What counts as affordable housing?
Affordable housing is housing for sale or rent for people whose needs are not met by the market, provided on terms set by planning policy. It typically includes social rent, affordable rent, shared ownership and discounted market sale. The exact definitions differ by nation: England's are in the National Planning Policy Framework, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own.
Can I register for new homes in Omagh?
Yes. Registering for Omagh is free and does not commit you to anything. There are no homes available yet; if we bring homes forward in or near Omagh, we will contact you.
Read more: Affordable Housing · Guide: Renting a new-build home: tenancy rules in England, Wales, Scotland and NI