Affordable Housing in Gwent
If you are hoping to rent or buy an affordable home in Gwent, 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.
GwentRegister 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
New homes around Gwent
Across Gwent, we cover Newport and 5 other towns, among them Caerphilly, Pontypool and Risca. Next door, we also cover South Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan and West Glamorgan.
When you register for Gwent, you can choose homes for shared ownership, one- and two-bedroom apartments or homes for private rent. Because Gwent is in Wales, land titles are registered with HM Land Registry and transfers attract Land Transaction Tax (LTT).
Registering for Gwent is free and you can ask us to remove your details at any time.
What we offer in Gwent
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.
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.
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.
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.
Planning in Gwent: the Welsh rules
Housing associations and councils planning new homes in Gwent work within Welsh rules: grant comes from the Welsh Government's Social Housing Grant, tenants usually hold secure occupation contracts under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, and social landlords are registered and regulated by the Welsh Ministers. Land to Homes can supply land with or without planning, or build homes for transfer to a social landlord on completion.
In Wales, affordable homes are secured through Section 106 agreements under the council's Local Development Plan and are usually owned by councils or registered social landlords regulated by the Welsh Government. Homes funded by Social Housing Grant are usually built to the Welsh Development Quality Requirements. Tenures include social rent, intermediate rent and low-cost home ownership.
| National planning policy | Planning Policy Wales (Edition 12) and Future Wales: the National Plan 2040, supported by Technical Advice Notes |
|---|---|
| Local planning document | Local Development Plan (LDP) |
| Who decides applications | The local planning authority, usually the county or county borough council (or a national park authority) |
| In-principle consent | Outline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later |
| Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Land Transaction Tax (LTT) |
| Land registration | HM Land Registry |
| How a sale becomes binding | As in England, a land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, with the title registered at HM Land Registry. |
| Developer contributions | Section 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council has adopted it |
Your questions answered for Gwent
Can I register interest in an affordable home with Land to Homes?
Yes, but registering with us is not an application and does not affect eligibility. If a site we bring forward includes affordable homes, we will tell you which council or housing provider is responsible so you can apply through them. You should also register directly with your council and with housing associations in the area.
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.
Does affordable housing reduce what my land is worth?
It usually affects value, because affordable homes are transferred to a provider for less than open market homes would sell for. The council's affordable housing policy, and other planning obligations, are among the costs a buyer allows for when valuing land. Our free site appraisal explains how these factors apply to your site.
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.
Are there new homes available in Gwent now?
Not yet. Land to Homes has no homes available in Gwent at the moment. You can register your interest for Gwent, and we will contact you if we bring homes forward there or nearby.
Read more: Affordable Housing · Guide: Renting a new-build home: tenancy rules in England, Wales, Scotland and NI