Applying for Affordable Housing

This page gives information about registering on the Waiting List or the Transfer List for affordable housing to rent or purchase.

There is one waiting list to apply for Housing Association properties in the District, including the properties that were owned by the Council and transferred to Cottsway Housing Association.

Any person may register unless they are ineligible due to their immigration status, they are not 'habitually resident' in the UK or they are disqualified because of their unacceptable behaviour.

Assessing Housing Need

A points scheme is used to identify those people in the most housing need and points are awarded depending on circumstances and living conditions.

Further information on the waiting list and points scheme can be found in the Nominations Scheme-Waiting List Booklet

Applications are considered in order according to the housing need, the registration date and the areas of choice and the type of housing that is suitable for your households needs.

Transfer applications

A transfer is a move by a tenant of a Housing Association property to another Housing Association property that is vacant.

If you are a tenant in West Oxfordshire and you want to move elsewhere in the District you should complete a Transfer Application Form.

Further information on the transfer list and points scheme can be found in the Nominations Scheme-Transfer List Booklet

How to Apply

You can obtain application forms from;

Housing Services, Elmfield, New Yatt Road, Witney, Oxon OX28 1PB;
The Town Centre Shop, 3 Welch Way, Witney, Oxon, OX28 6JH; or
The Guildhall, Chipping Norton

If you require any further information please contact: Housing Services

Local Connection with West Oxfordshire

Additional preference may be given to re-housing persons who have a local connection with the District because

they are normally resident in the District or have been resident in the past
they are employed in the District
there are family associations with the District
there are special circumstances such as homelessness, a need to move into the District to give or receive support.

Residence means occupation of permanent accommodation and does not normally include occupation of a caravan that is not on a licensed residential site or occupation of a holiday letting, hotel or bed and breakfast establishment.

If you live or work in the area because you occupy Armed Forces quarters or are employed in the Armed Forces, you do not necessarily have a local connection. The Council will look at how long you have lived here, whether you have children at school in the District and whether there are other factors that would indicate that you have 'settled' in the District.

Housing Schemes Requiring Village Connection

There are some housing association developments in the following villages that require a local connection with the village concerned or an associated parish:
Bampton, Charlbury, Clanfield, Fulbrook, Burford, Enstone, Eynsham, Hailey, Kingham, Langford, Leafield, Over Norton, Shipton Under Wychwood, Stonesfield, Ascott Under Wychwood, Tackley, Woodstock, Wootton and Rissington.

Local connection may be established by way of present or past residence, employment, or close relatives resident in the Parish.

To apply for one of these schemes you must complete a separate green Rural Housing application form, which you can request from the Publications section of this site or from Housing Services.

Further information is given in the Affordable housing in rural communities booklet.

Exchanges between existing tenants

If you are an existing Housing Association tenant in the District your best prospects of moving may be to try to find another tenant with whom to arrange a mutual exchange.

To go on the mutual exchange register you need to complete a mutual exchange register application form which you can request from the Publications section of this site or from Housing Services.
The information will then be displayed at the Town Centre Shop, 3 Welch Way, Witney which you and other tenants can view.
You are also entitled to advertise your property for exchange in the local press or in shop windows.
Should you then find a tenant willing to exchange property with you, both parties will need to write to their landlords seeking permission to exchange.
Only if permission is given may you proceed. If you move without proper permission being granted you will be required legally to return to your original property.