Renfrewshire Council

What council housing is

'Council housing' are houses and flats owned by the council.

You can apply to rent one of these homes from us.

Who can apply

To apply for a home from us, you must:

• be over 16
• have the right to access public funds.

If you're homeless or think you might become homeless, read our homelessness help and advice.

Before you apply

Before you apply, make sure you have:

• a copy of your ID, such as a passport, driving licence, or birth certificate
• your email address or phone number.

We'll also ask you for other relevant information, including:

• 3 years of address history
• income details
• the names and birth dates of anyone else in your household.

Let us know if you need information in other formats, including:

• Braille
• large print
• another language
• if you need a signer or interpreter.

How to apply

You can apply for council housing online.

You'll need to register for MyAccount through mygov.scot. If you've already registered, you do not need to do it again. 

You do not have to finish the form all at once. You can save your progress and come back to it later.

Apply for council housing online.

If you'd rather apply over the phone with one of our housing assistants, you'll need to book a phone appointment. You can do this by:

• contacting us online
• phoning us on 0300 300 0222.

After you've applied

We'll aim to contact you within 10 days to discuss your application or other information you might need to provide.

Then, once we've finished reviewing your application, we'll send you a letter telling you your priority grouping. Your application will then be 'live'.

Since demand is high, we offer people homes based on their priority grouping. These are based on housing need. Read our housing allocation policy [699KB] for more details.

Once your application is live, you can also tell us if you're interested in specific homes that are currently available. You do not have to do this, but these homes may become available sooner. You can do this by checking what homes are currently available to rent.

You'll need to tell us if your circumstances change while you're waiting for council housing. You can do this by:

• contacting us online
• phoning us on 0300 300 0222.

Information you might need to provide

We might ask you to provide additional information alongside your email address and ID, depending on your reason for moving.

• Because your current home is too small or big: a copy of your tenancy agreement, property missives, or other official proof of your property size.
• Because of harassment targeted at you in or around your home: we'll only give priority to you if there's evidence that the harassment is targeted at you or a member of your household while in or around your current accommodation. You must provide written confirmation from a relevant agency, such as the police or your landlord.
• Because of domestic abuse: supporting documents from a social worker, Victim Support, or Women's Aid, or written confirmation from you or your joint applicant confirming that domestic abuse is happening.
• Because of a relationship breakdown: letter from your solicitor or written proof from your partner confirming the relationship breakdown.
• To give or receive support: letter from a relevant agency (such as a social worker, health professional, or proof of DLA, PIP, carers allowance, or attendance allowance) and a letter from both parties explaining why you need to move.
• Due to mobility issues: we'll complete the mobility application with you when we phone you.
• Because you want a home of your own: official proof of address.
• Due to repossession or court order: copy of the repossession or court order confirming that your house will be repossessed or sold and the reasons why.
• Due to receiving Notice to Leave: written proof confirming that your tenancy is not being renewed and that you must leave through no fault of your own, and a copy of the Notice to Leave. Your landlord should give you these if they want you to leave. If you're unsure what these documents are, phone us on 0300 300 0222 for more information.
• Because you need to leave tied accommodation: a letter from your landlord confirming your date to leave and the reasons you must leave. We'll also need a copy of your employment contract.
• If you're leaving residential care, hospital, or supported accommodation: written confirmation from the relevant agency that you'll have nowhere to live when you leave. If you have a date to leave, provide written confirmation of the date.
• If you're currently in prison: written confirmation from the relevant agency that you're currently in prison and will have nowhere to live when you leave. If you have a date to leave, provide written confirmation of the date.
• If you're leaving HM Armed Forces: a letter from HM Armed Forces confirming that you're leaving HM Armed Forces and will have nowhere to live when you leave. If you have a date of discharge, provide written confirmation of the date.
• If you're moving to take up or stay in employment: written evidence to support your circumstances, such as a letter from your employer or prospective employer supporting the application and outlining why you or your joint applicant need to move to keep or take up employment.
• For access to children, joint custody, or shared custody: written confirmation from a solicitor or ex-partner confirming details of overnight access.
• If you'll be adopting or fostering a child: written confirmation from the local authority or agency you've applied to that you're in the final stages of the assessment process and require an additional bedroom to be approved to adopt or foster. We'll only consider applications that are in the final stages of this process and are approved subject to gaining an additional bedroom.
• If your current property is below the tolerable standard: copy of confirmation from Renfrewshire Council's Environment and Infrastructure Services confirming that your property fails to meet the tolerable standard.