The Key Worker Living scheme is helping certain public sector employees in London, the South East and East of England to buy a home, upgrade to a family home or rent a home at an affordable price.

The scheme was set up in these three regions, where a lack of affordable housing has made it difficult to recruit and retain vital public sector employees, such as emergency service workers and teachers.  The scheme has helped thousands of people, one of whom is Lida Cook, a speech and language therapist from Kent.  Read about her experiences and those of others in our Case studies section.

For advice on finding a home under the Key Worker Living scheme, contact your local HomeBuy agent.

In 2005-06, the Housing Corporation provided over 7,400 homes for key workers, up 29% on the number expected of us. Of these, we provided:

• 3,430 key worker homes in London;
• 2,863 key worker homes in the South East; and
• 1,108 key worker homes in the East of England.

Over the coming two years, we’ll make even more homes available for key workers in these three regions. We’re working to provide:

• at least 8,180 key worker homes in London;
• at least 3,500 key worker homes in the South East; and
• at least 1,300 key worker homes in the East of England.

The Key worker living website from the Department for Communities and Local Government contains in-depth information, including: who can apply, how to get in touch with zone agents and answer to common questions.