Council and social housing

Housing associations are the main providers of new and affordable social housing opportunities for people in housing need in the Scottish Borders.

This follows the transfer of all council housing stock and landlord functions to Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA) on 3 March 2003. 

What is a housing association?

Housing associations are generally non-profit making organisations run by professional staff, but controlled by voluntary management committees. They get grants from the Government to subsidise the costs of building homes for rent or shared ownership. Housing associations can also be known as registered social landlords.

The four main local housing associations in the Scottish Borders Council area are:

• Berwickshire Housing Association Ltd
• Eildon Housing Association Ltd
• Scottish Borders Housing Association
• Waverley Housing

Several national housing associations also have stock in the Borders and provide both general and specialist housing.

A list of all housing providers and the areas they cover can be found in our Directory of registered landlords and housing associations.

How do I apply for a house? 

You should contact your preferred housing provider for information and advice about their application process. You can also apply to several housing associations as follows: 

• Border Choice Homes - Homehunt™ let you apply for a house with Berwickshire Housing Association, Eildon Housing Association, Waverley Housing and Cairn Housing Association.
• Scottish Housing Options (SHOP) lets you apply for a house with Bield Housing Association Ltd, Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association Ltd and Trust Housing Association Ltd.

Can you help if I am homeless?

Our Homeless Services team provide advice and support for people who are homeless. To find out more, see the section on Housing advice for homeless people.

Can I swap my property with another tenant?

As a housing association tenant, you are able to make a mutual swap with other tenants. House Exchange is one organisation which coordinates house exchanges all over the country. You can also contact your landlord for more information. 

Your right to buy

If you are a secure housing association tenant, you may be able to purchase your home at a discount. You should contact your landlord to find out if you meet the criteria and to find out more about the procedure to follow.

Find out more

For more information, please contact the Housing Strategy team.