In a council house you will have a secure tenancy, in a housing association, an assured tenancy. The council has a responsibility, as with any landlord, to make sure the property is of a reasonable standard, and your end of the deal is to maintain it as you found it. There is usually a waiting list for council housing so this may not be for you if you want to move relatively quickly.

Note: Think carefully when you are filling in the application form about which areas you are prepared to live in.

If you are made an offer of accommodation by the council or housing association but don’t want to accept, talk it through with the housing officer and make sure it won’t stop you getting other offers. You can always refuse and get another offer if you have reasonable grounds – like the housing not being structurally sound, poor wiring or security, or it being in an unsuitable place.

If you live with your parents, or any relative, in a house owned by the local council or a Housing Association, you may have a right to take on the tenancy.