Apply for a council house

Register for social housing

If you would like to apply for a council house you will need to register for social housing.

If you join the housing register, you may not be offered a social housing tenancy as we have thousands of applicants and only those with urgent housing need will have the highest priority and be considered for any available council properties or be nominated to a housing association.

To see the amount of vacancies and properties we own in each part of the district, please read "A guide to council accommodation" in the useful documents area.

If you are having specific difficulties such as:

• trouble paying your mortgage
• a relationship breakdown
• trouble with your landlord
• trouble paying your rent or
• your parents are asking you to leave your home

you can make an appointment to see a Housing Options Officer by telephoning 01255 686465 or by email to housing.services@tendringdc.gov.uk.  They will be able to spend some time with you and let you know what housing options are available to you. Advice is also available on our homelessness pages.

Joining the housing register

Information on who can join our housing register and how it is assessed.

If you would like to join the housing register please telephone our Allocations Team on 01255 686466 or send an email with the reasons why you wish to apply for housing to housing.services@tendringdc.gov.uk

Being on the housing register

Information on what to do once you are registered.

Proposed changes to Housing Allocation Policy

New proposed rules on how Council housing is to be allocated in Tendring are out for consultation.

If the changes get the go ahead it will mean people can only join the housing register if they have lived in the District for at least three years at the time they apply.

Extra priority will also be given to households in employment, those seeking to foster or adopt children – as well as current or former members of the armed forces.

These changes were recently agreed by the Council’s Tenants Panel and are being made available under the Useful Documents section on this page as part of a wider consultation exercise.

New legislation and guidance from the Government has allowed the Council to set its own rules on who can apply for housing and who gets priority for housing.

People who are not allowed to join the housing register will still be able to get free advice on their housing options from the Council’s dedicated Housing Options Team based at Clacton Town Hall.