You can apply for social housing anywhere in Scotland if you're aged 16 or over. If you have no recourse to public funds you cannot rent from a council but you can rent from a housing association. You can apply no matter your income.

The waiting time for a home depends on your circumstances and housing needs.

How long you'll wait

Waiting times depend on:

• how many homes are available in the area

• how many other people are on the waiting list

• your priority level, which is decided by the council or housing association

How to speed up the process of getting a social home

You could get a home more quickly if you:

• apply to all the social housing providers in your area

• apply in any other areas you’d consider moving to

• are flexible about the types of homes you'd consider

• give full details about all the reasons you need a home

• update your application if your circumstances change

If you're not a British or Irish citizen

Certain immigration conditions affect some social housing options.

Anyone can rent from a housing association, however, you need to have recourse to public funds to rent from the council.

Check our advice on how your immigration status affects your housing options.