Social Housing in Cardiff
If you need a social rent home in Cardiff, 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.
Cardiff · CF5Register 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 Cardiff
Cardiff (CF5) anchors our coverage of South Glamorgan, which takes in 2 other places. Nearby, we also cover Penarth, Caerphilly and Barry, all within 7 miles.
People registering interest around Cardiff can tell us whether they want homes for affordable rent, homes for private rent or homes for first-time buyers. Planning in Cardiff follows Wales’s rules: Planning Policy Wales sets national policy and the council’s Local Development Plan sets local policy.
Tell us what you need in Cardiff and we will be in touch if homes are released nearby.
How we work in Cardiff
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.
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.
Built to landlord standards
Social landlords have their own design and quality standards, and we design to them from the outset so homes are ready to transfer.
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.
Rules that apply in Cardiff
In Wales, new affordable homes in Cardiff are mainly delivered by councils and registered social landlords, supported by Social Housing Grant, the Welsh Government's main capital programme for affordable housing. Section 106 agreements secure affordable homes on market schemes, in line with Local Development Plan policy. Registered social landlords are registered and regulated by the Welsh Ministers. Land to Homes can bring forward land and build homes with councils and housing associations.
In Wales, social homes are owned by councils and registered social landlords regulated by the Welsh Government. Tenants hold secure occupation contracts under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. Many councils run common housing registers with housing associations, and new homes funded by Social Housing Grant are usually built to the Welsh Development Quality Requirements.
| 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 |
Common questions in Cardiff
What is the difference between social housing and affordable housing?
Social housing usually means low-cost rented homes let by councils and housing associations at social rents. Affordable housing is a wider term that also includes affordable rent, shared ownership, discounted sale and, in Scotland, mid-market rent. All social housing is affordable housing, but not all affordable housing is social housing.
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.
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.
How is social housing allocated?
Councils and housing associations allocate social homes using published allocation policies that give priority to households in housing need, such as people who are homeless, overcrowded or living in unsuitable housing. Many areas use a shared register or choice-based lettings, where applicants bid for advertised homes. The details vary by council and by nation.
Are there new homes available in Cardiff now?
Not yet. Land to Homes has no homes available in Cardiff at the moment. You can register your interest for Cardiff, and we will contact you if we bring homes forward there or nearby.
Read more: Social Housing · Guide: Renting a new-build home: tenancy rules in England, Wales, Scotland and NI