Social Housing in Hertfordshire
If you need a social rent home in Hertfordshire, apply to the council's housing register or to housing associations working in the area, not to a developer. They assess need and decide who is offered each home. Land to Homes builds new social homes for those landlords to own and manage, which adds to the supply they can allocate.
HertfordshireRegister 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 Hertfordshire
Our Hertfordshire coverage takes in 19 towns and cities, centred on Watford and including Potters Bar, Welwyn Garden City and Hoddesdon. Next door, we also cover Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Greater London.
Registrations for Hertfordshire cover two- and three-bedroom family homes, homes for private rent and homes for shared ownership. Planning in Hertfordshire follows England’s rules: the National Planning Policy Framework sets national policy and the council’s Local Plan sets local policy.
Register for Hertfordshire and we will contact you if we bring homes forward nearby.
Our approach in Hertfordshire
Whole-site schemes
We can also discuss schemes built entirely for a council or housing association, on land we bring forward or land the landlord already owns.
Clear signposting
If you need a home, we point you to your council's housing team or, in Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
Nation-aware
Social housing law, regulation and funding differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and we work within each system.
We do not allocate homes
Allocations are made by councils and housing providers through their own lists and policies. We cannot add anyone to a list or influence who is offered a home.
The English system, as it applies in Hertfordshire
In England, affordable housing on market developments in Hertfordshire is normally secured through a Section 106 agreement, which sets the number, tenure and transfer of homes to a registered provider. Grant from Homes England can add further homes, and the 2026 to 2036 programme expects at least 60% of funded homes to be Social Rent. Land to Homes can supply land, design and build homes, or deliver completed homes for councils and housing associations.
In England, social rent homes are owned by councils and registered providers regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing, with rents set under the Rent Standard. Councils allocate homes under their published allocation schemes, often through choice-based lettings. New social homes are usually secured through Section 106 agreements or funded with grant through Homes England, or the Greater London Authority in London.
| National planning policy | National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), revised August 2026, with national planning practice guidance |
|---|---|
| Local planning document | Local Plan |
| Who decides applications | The local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority) |
| 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 | HM Land Registry |
| How a sale becomes binding | A land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, after which the buyer registers the title with HM Land Registry. |
| Developer contributions | Section 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it |
Your questions answered for Hertfordshire
Who owns and manages new social homes?
A council or a housing association, often called a registered provider in England and a registered social landlord in Wales and Scotland. The landlord sets the rent within the rules that apply, handles repairs and manages tenancies. A developer such as Land to Homes builds the homes and transfers them, but does not manage them as a social landlord.
Can social housing be built on land I own?
Yes. Land can be sold to a developer who includes social homes in the scheme, or offered for a scheme built entirely for a council or housing association. Planning policy often requires affordable homes on larger sites anyway. Our free site appraisal looks at whether your land suits new homes and which route makes sense.
How are social rents set?
In England, social rents are set using a government formula under the Rent Standard, which the Regulator of Social Housing oversees. Wales has its own rent policy for social landlords, and in Scotland social landlords set rents in consultation with their tenants. Northern Ireland has its own arrangements. Social rents are generally well below private market levels.
Can I apply to Land to Homes for a social rent home?
No. Land to Homes does not allocate social housing or keep a housing list. Social homes are allocated by councils and housing associations through their own lists and policies. To apply, contact your council's housing team or local housing associations. In Northern Ireland, apply through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, which manages the common waiting list.
Can I register for new homes in Hertfordshire?
Yes. Registering for Hertfordshire is free and does not commit you to anything. There are no homes available yet; if we bring homes forward in or near Hertfordshire, we will contact you.
Read more: Social Housing · Guide: How affordable and social homes are delivered across the UK