Help finding a place to live in Thanet, East Kent

There are 7,229 council and housing association homes in Thanet. Of these, just over 600 are available for letting every year. There are currently over 3,000 households on our waiting list.

There are over 9,000 private rented properties in Thanet and for many people this offers the best chance of being re-housed.

The social housing sector

Thanet council owns 3117 properties for rent, and housing associations and others have a further 4111 in Thanet. (Figures correct as at 1st April 2009).

You can apply for social housing if you are on our Housing Register (waiting list). Register now.

All applications are prioritised and properties are allocated through our choice based lettings scheme (see below).

Choose where you want to live

We no longer choose households on the waiting list to offer homes to. We have introduced a choice based letting scheme that enables you bid for available properties yourself at any time.

When you are accepted onto our Housing Register you will automatically become a member of Kent Homechoice. This is a new scheme that works with its partner councils and housing associations to advertise homes.

Vacant properties are advertised in a fortnightly free sheet called Kent Homechoice, and on the Kent Homechoice web site. NB The freesheets are due to be phased out in April 2010. Members can bid for them by telephone, text message, coupon or through the internet.

Details of Kent Homechoice properties are available from 9 different places across Thanet and these are:

Thanet Gateway Plus, Cecil Street, Margate
Birchington Library
Broadstairs & St Peters Town Clerks Office
Connexions
Minster Library and Neighbourhood Centre
Outpatients/A&E Department, QEQM
Ramsgate District Office
The Beacon
Westgate Library

The results of previous bidding rounds will be shown in following news sheets. This will help you assess how quickly you might be re-housed.

Full details of how to make a bid are on the Kent Homechoice web site. Log on with your membership number.

If you have difficulty in bidding for properties the Housing Options Team will be able to assist you. They can be contacted during office hours on 01843 577277 or you can email Housing@thanet.gov.uk. You should also contact any support workers you may have for assistance. For some vulnerable people we can help you bid for suitable properties.