Page contents:
- Social housing
- Mutual exchange
- Mid-market rent
- Transfer incentive scheme
- Fife housing register properties
- Housing for older people
- Housing for specific needs groups
- Private rent
- Buying your own home
- Mortgage to rent
Options available to you
There are many different housing options to consider. The sections below give you more information on your options.
You will need to fill out a Housing Options Plan to apply for a house. It can give you recommendations on suitable housing options.
Book an in-person appointment at one of our Customer Service Centres, if you need support.
If you require an interpreter for an appointment do not book online, you will need to call 03451 55 00 33.
Social housing
- Fife Housing Group
- Glen Housing Association
- Kingdom Housing Association
- Ore Valley Housing Association
- Ochil View Housing Association
- Hillcrest Homes
- Dunedin Canmore Housing Association
- Caledonia Housing Association
- Cairn Housing Association
- Link Housing Association
- Horizon Housing Association
Please be aware that social housing in Fife has limited availability. If you do choose to apply for social housing, you may wait a long time to be housed.
Mutual exchange
A mutual exchange (or 'swap') is when two tenants of either your own landlord, tenants of another Council, or tenants of a Housing Association, swap properties.
A swap can help you move quickly, and you decide where you stay.
For more information, visit our Mutual exchange page.
Mid-market rent
Mid-market renting is for people who may be unable to access social housing or buy their own home.
Rent is usually lower than in the private rented sector, but higher than in social housing.
The following Housing Associations offer mid-market rentals:
Contact them to find out more.
Transfer incentive scheme
The Transfer Incentive Scheme can help tenants who want to downsize or move for other reasons. The aim is to help tenants to move to more appropriate housing. Their homes can then be re-used to meet the needs of other families on the housing list.
Visit our Transfer Incentive Scheme page for more information.
Fife Housing register properties
The Fife Housing Register website has a handy tool to see where all the FHR partners have properties. Please note, this is not a list of available properties.
You should use this tool to look at :
- · number of properties in each area
- · size and type of property
- · landlord type
This tool can help you add other areas of choice to your Fife Housing Register application. If you do not want to add more areas or property types, you may want to consider other housing options.
Housing for older people
Older Persons Housing might suit you if you want to live independently, but your home is no longer suitable for your needs. You may want a smaller home, or like the idea of having someone to call on if there is an emergency.
We offer three types of housing for older people, depending on your needs:
- Retirement
- Very Sheltered
- Extra Care Housing
For more information, visit our Older Persons Housing page.
Housing for specific needs groups
Housing for Specific Needs Groups is for those who require specific approaches, specific accommodation and/or specific support services.
Visit our Housing for Specific Needs Groups page for more information.
Private rent
Renting from a private landlord could be the right option for you. There are lots of different properties available:
- flats
- houses
- shared accommodation
- bedsits
- rooms rented out in the landlord's house.
You will usually be expected to pay a deposit of one month’s rent, and a month’s rent in advance, before moving into the property.
You must be over the age of 16 to rent a property from a private landlord.
Fife Private Rental Solutions
Fife Private Rental Solutions provides advice and assistance to anyone interested in the private rented sector as a housing option.
Staff will discuss if this is an affordable option for you. They will advise on how to go about a property search, to find the perfect home for you.
The team can help you with your deposit too, using one of the deposit assistance schemes.
For more information, contact FPRS:
https://fifeprivaterentalsolutions.co.uk
www.twitter.com/FifePRS
Buying your own home
There is support available if buying your own home makes sense to you.
Before you start looking for a property, you need to consider what you can afford. It might be worth making an appointment with a financial advisor, who can discuss this with you.
Next steps to consider:
- Decide what kind of mortgage you want and which lender offers you the best deal. Once you have chosen, you should get a mortgage agreed in principle.
- Have a look on property websites, to see what's available within your budget
- Find a solicitor and ask them to request home reports and important property details. They can note your interest in a property, and arrange viewings or put in an offer.
Visit the Shelter Scotland - Buying a home webpage, for more information.
Help to Buy (Scotland) Scheme
The Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme can help some people buy a new-build home, without the need for a large deposit. More information about this scheme is available on the Scottish Government website.
Mortgage to rent
If you own your home and face it being repossessed as a result of financial difficulties, the Scottish Government may be able to help you.
The Scottish Government operates two schemes to help owners who are experiencing difficulty in paying any loans that are secured against their property. These are:
- the Mortgage to Rent scheme, and
- the Mortgage to Shared Equity scheme.
Visit the Scottish Government's Mortgage advice and guidance page for more information.
If you are homeless, or threatened with homelessness, visit our Homeless Prevention page.
Useful links
- Citizens Advice & Rights Fife (CARF)
- Disabled Persons Housing Service (Fife)
- Scottish Government - Helping to buy a home
- Shelter Scotland (online housing advice for any housing issues)
- Right Move: Buying or Renting in Scotland
- Zoopla: Buying or Renting in Scotland
- Fife Private Rental Solutions (Formerly Fife Key Fund)
- Fife Council Private Sector Team (Advice about renting in the Private Sector)
This information is provided as part of the service we offer through this website. Unfortunately, we cannot accept any responsibility for the accuracy or content of websites we link to.