Social Housing

Monmouthshire Homesearch is a Choice Based Letting scheme in Monmouthshire administered by the Homesearch Team. The scheme is a partnership between Monmouthshire County Council, Monmouthshire Housing Association (MHA), Melin Homes, Pobl, and United Welsh Housing Associations. Our Homesearch Handbook provides more information on how the scheme works.

More information about our individual roles within and outside the Homesearch scheme is available in this infographic.

Waiting List Statistics:

  • As of March 2025, there are currently 3,814 live applications on the housing register.
  • 12.40% of these have a high and urgent need for housing, such as those facing homelessness, severe medical needs, or unsafe housing conditions.
  • Around 10% of the housing register will be rehoused in an average year.

 

How long will I wait for a property? An approximate guide to waiting times in Monmouthshire is available on our Waiting Times Calculator.

Why is the wait so long? The time you will wait for a property will depend on several factors, such as:

  • The size and type of property you need
  • The availability of properties
  • Your priority band and priority date
  • The number of other people bidding
  • Its location (town versus rural area)
  • Your application meeting the criteria for that property, such as age, adaptations, an intermediate market rent property, or whether it has a rural local connection

 

What else can I do to move home quicker?

  • Please check the advert description for further information as it will explain how the property will be matched to a household, by priority band and then by priority date. This is especially important if you need a property that has adaptations.
  • If you are a social landlord tenant, you can also register for a transfer (formerly known as a mutual exchange) by registering on Homeswapper. See more information on transfers/mutual exchanges.
  • If you have some savings and are in employment, you could buy a property through Homebuy. All Low-Cost Home Ownership properties are advertised on Homesearch and are a great way to get those first steps on the property ladder. Please go to our Homebuy page for more information.
  • If you are a homeless applicant or an applicant in supported housing, you may be eligible to apply for a HomeShare property with MHA if you know someone who you might want to share with.
  • If you are over the age of 55/60, you could apply for Retirement Living that provides affordable, high-quality, and comfortable apartments to rent, specifically designed for older persons to live independently. For more information, please view our Interactive Retirement Living Schemes Map.

 

Direct Lets On occasion, a landlord may request a 'direct let'. For example, if there has been a severe and enduring nuisance caused by the previous occupant to neighbours and/or the community, risk of serious harm, or where a specially adapted property that would meet an individual household's need becomes vacant. These are monitored, kept to a minimum, and must be made in agreement by members of the Homesearch Partnership. In 2023/24, 6.36% of lets were made this way. Further details about direct lets can be found in our Allocations Policy.

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