Affordable Housing in Swansea
Affordable housing in Swansea 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.
Swansea · SA1Register 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 Swansea
Swansea (SA1) anchors our coverage of West Glamorgan, which takes in 3 other places. Close by, our coverage also takes in Briton Ferry, Gorseinon and Neath.
Registrations for Swansea cover homes for shared ownership, homes for private rent and larger family homes. Because Swansea is in Wales, land titles are registered with HM Land Registry and transfers attract Land Transaction Tax (LTT).
Register for Swansea and we will contact you if we bring homes forward nearby.
How we work in Swansea
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.
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.
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.
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 Welsh system, as it applies in Swansea
Social Housing Grant funds councils and registered social landlords to buy land, build new homes and convert existing buildings across Wales, including around Swansea. It can support social rent, intermediate rent and shared ownership. On private schemes, the council's Local Development Plan sets the affordable housing requirement, which is secured through a Section 106 agreement. Land to Homes can offer sites, design and construction to housing association partners.
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 |
|---|---|
| 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 registration | HM Land Registry |
Your questions answered for Swansea
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.
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 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.
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.
Are there new homes available in Swansea now?
Not yet. Land to Homes has no homes available in Swansea at the moment. You can register your interest for Swansea, and we will contact you if we bring homes forward there or nearby.
Read more: Affordable Housing · Guide: How affordable and social homes are delivered across the UK