Affordable housing

What is affordable housing?

Affordable housing is housing to meet the needs of people who do not have sufficient income to pay for open market housing to rent or buy. Usually it is housing provided by the council or housing associations that can be rented or purchased at less than market prices.

What is market rent?

This is rent paid that is not subsidised. The price depends on the availability of and demand for housing in an area, and the cost of alternatives such as owner occupation. Properties owned by private landlords are usually let at market rents.

What is social rented housing?

Homes owned or managed by registered providers such as councils and housing associations which are let at below-market rents set under the national formula.

How can I rent a council or housing association home?

Our 'What and Where booklet lists where all council and housing association houses are. Our allocation scheme sets out how council houses are allocated, it also is able to nominate to a proportion of housing association homes. To apply to go on the housing register you need to complete an application form. Further information can be found on the housing advice page.

Who are registered providers of social housing?

Registered providers are local authority landlords and housing associations, registered with and regulated by the Homes and Communities Agency. In the East Riding, the council and a number of housing associations are registered providers.

What is affordable rent?

This is a recently introduced approach to setting rents for new housing association properties at 80% of average local market rents. It may also apply to new tenants of existing homes and is a type of intermediate housing.

What is the difference between social rent and affordable rent?

These differences and our policy on affordable rents are set out within the Affordable Rent Policy, which is available to view:

Affordable Rent Policy (pdf 106kb)

What is intermediate housing?

Housing that costs more than social rented housing but less than a market rent. It also includes homes that can be bought at less than market prices through shared ownership or shared equity arrangements.

What is shared ownership?

Shared Ownership is a way of buying a proportion of a home and paying rent on the remainder.  Both East Riding of Yorkshire Council and some Housing Associations manage shared ownership property.  It is usually possible to buy additional shares of the dwelling until it is owned outright although this may not be possible in some rural areas. Shared Ownership properties which are available to purchase can be found on Rightmove. 

Rightmove (external website)

East Riding of Yorkshire Council's shared ownership properties are for sale and managed by the council and are advertised through Clubley's Estate Agent. Clubley's have been appointed as our sales agent who works in partnership with the council and details of properties currently for sale can be found on their website: 

Clubley's Estate Agent (external website)

The Shared Ownership Policy outlines how the council will develop and acquire shared ownership properties to meet housing need in the area:

Shared Ownership Policy 2022-25 (pdf 507kb)

For details on how we will use any information you provide please see the Privacy Notice.

What is shared equity?

Purchasers buy a specified proportion of the value of the home but do not pay rent on the remaining proportion, which is owned by a registered provider who ensures that future sales are restricted to eligible households and that affordability is maintained. Purchasers are not able to buy additional shares in the property.

Is there any help with housing costs?

If you are having difficulty paying your rent, you may be eligible for housing benefit. If you are buying your home and are struggling to pay your mortgage you should seek financial advice as soon as possible and speak to your mortgage provider.

Alternatively, advice may be sought from:

The Community Legal Advice Network (external website)

Citizens Advice (external website)

Further information can be found on the housing advice page and from the DirectGov website:

DirectGov - Buying, selling and owning a home (external website)

How is the need for affordable housing in the East Riding assessed?

The council's Strategic Housing Market Assessment assesses the need for housing in the area and looks at the way local housing markets work and how this affects the need for different types of housing across all tenures:

East Riding of Yorkshire Council Strategic Housing Market Assessment (pdf 6mb)

In addition, the council’s rural housing enabler can work with parish councils and local communities to identify the need for affordable housing in rural areas through housing needs surveys at the parish level.

The council has produced an Affordable Housing Viability Assessment to help determine appropriate affordable housing targets in and across the East Riding.

How are new affordable homes provided?

They may be:

• built by the council
• built by other registered providers working in partnership with the council
• built by private developers who can be required to provide an element of affordable housing (planning gain) which is typically sold to a registered provider at less than market value. This is set out in the  Affordable Housing Interim Approach.

How can I buy an affordable home?

'Help to Buy' is an umbrella term for a range of government funded schemes designed to help people to get onto the property ladder. There are several options available, including:

• equity loans
• rent to buy, and
• shared ownership.

Help to Buy NEYH are the agent for the North East, Yorkshire and Humberside. They can provide advice on the schemes available, check if you are eligible and help you to find a property. Further details about the schemes can be found on Help to Buy NEYH website:

Help to Buy NEYH (external website)

Alternatively, you can contact the team directly:

Tel: 0113 852 6888
Email: admin@HelptoBuyNEYH.co.uk

What is community-led housing?

Community-led housing is a way for local communities to bring forward new affordable housing schemes to meet the needs of their communities, normally helping specific groups, for example, young people, older people or those in need of low-cost family homes. In 2016 the council was awarded £2 million from the Community Housing Fund to support community-led housing in the area.  

Further information on how to access this funding is detailed in the Community Housing Policy. This is available to view below:

Community Housing Fund Policy (pdf 121kb)

How can I find out about buying a First Home?

If you’re a first-time buyer, you may be able buy a home for 30% less than its market value. This offer is called First Homes which is a new affordable housing product. The home can be:

• a new home built by a developer
• a home you buy from someone else who originally bought it as part of the scheme

 The First Homes scheme is only available in England.

Who is eligible to purchase a First Home?

To be able to purchase a First Home in the East Riding of Yorkshire, you should be: 

• over the age of 18 
• have a *local connection to the East Riding of Yorkshire
• have a gross household income less than £70,000 per year.

 *A local connection means either:

• normally resident in the area of East Riding for at least six out of the last twelve months or three out of the last five years
• by virtue of family association normally meaning that the applicant has parents, grandparents, adult children, grandchildren, a brother or a sister currently living within the East Riding who have been normally resident within the East Riding for at least five years
• secure employment for at least 1 year and a minimum of 20 hours per week.

To verify your local connection, one or more of the following documents may be requested depending on the nature of your connection to the area:             

• Rent book
• Tenancy agreement
• Contract of employment
• Landlord references
• Utility bill
• Council Tax bill
• Bank statement
• Driving licence.

Please note: for joint applications, only one applicant needs to meet the local connection requirement. 

Developments currently offering First Homes in the area:

Charles Church - Harland Gardens, Cottingham (external website)

Keepmoat - Farmside Green, Leconfield (external website)

Keepmoat, Strawberry Fields (Salkeld Meadows), Bridlington (external website)

Barratt, Queen's Court, Beverley (external website)

You can find our more on the GOV.UK website:

GOV.UK - Customer guide for buying a first home (external website)