Generally, people housed by housing associations are those defined as being "in housing need". However, housing associations have differing eligibility criteria depending on your needs and the demand for housing in your area, so you should contact your local authority or local associations to discuss your housing need.

All housing associations must have written policies on the type of housing services they provide, who can apply for housing and how applications will be considered. You can ask to see these policies. Housing associations take the majority of their new tenants from local authority waiting lists, so we suggest that you contact your local authority's housing department in the first instance.

Housing associations provide housing for many different sectors of the community. They always seek to help the most disadvantaged. These may be people who cannot get local authority housing because there is not enough, or because they do not qualify. Other associations may specialise in providing housing for younger single people, or for those who need special support – for example, people with mental illness or drug problems. Some associations build homes for low cost home ownership. In these schemes, the buyer owns a proportion of the home, and rents the remaining share from the association.

The Public Register of Social Landlords gives contact details for housing associations registered with the Housing Corporation that operate in your area.