Rural affordable housing in the Cherwell district
The Cherwell district is predominantly rural and consists of over 70 villages with just under half of all residents living within these villages.
There is a need for affordable housing in rural areas as prices can be very high and it is important to maintain the range of households and ages within the community.
Cherwell District Council will support Parish Councils in investigating affordable housing projects and then delivering development.
A rural exception site is an exception to normal planning policy. Planning permission is only granted on sites where housing need has been demonstrated and the homes provided will be affordable and reserved for local people in perpetuity. On rural exception sites there is usually a mix of homes which are for sale on a Shared Ownership basis (part rent part buy) and for rent.
On rural sites on the initial lettings Cherwell District Council require that 50% of any new Affordable Rented properties are advertised with priority to applicants, who have a local connection to the immediate parish and who qualify to be on Cherwell’s Housing Register. The percentage reduces to 33% for subsequent relets (this means 1 in 3 vacancies must be prioritised first to people who meet the local connection requirements as defined in the council’s Allocations Policy.
The Council’s Housing and Assessment Team monitor all vacancies that become available to ensure that the appropriate percentage of vacant properties are advertised with priority to people with a local connection to the parish.
Criteria for a local connection
- Have lived in the village for the past five years
- Be employed in the village for a minimum of
15 hours per week and the employment is not of a short-term nature. - Have 10 years previous residency if not currently residing in the village.
- Be over 55 or with a disability needing support on health grounds from close relatives.
- Have close relatives living in the village for the last five years. Close relatives are defined as parents, children, siblings, grandparents or grandchildren including step relatives, where there is evidence of frequent contact, commitment or dependency.
What is affordable housing?
Rented property
- Social rented housing: - currently provided by Registered Providers at target rents (generally below 60 per cent of open market rents).
- Affordable Rented - housing provided by Registered Providers with rents of up to 80 percent of open market rent.
- Low-cost home ownership (Intermediate housing)
- Shared ownership (part buy, part rent schemes)
Eligibility for Affordable Housing
On rural sites on the initial lettings Cherwell District Council require that 50% of any new Affordable Rented properties are advertised with priority to applicants, who have a local connection to the immediate parish and who qualify to be on Cherwell’s Housing Register. The percentage reduces to 33% for subsequent relets (this means 1 in 3 vacancies must be prioritised first to people who meet the local connection requirements as defined in the Council’s Allocations Policy.
Financial criteria
Applicants with financial assets (including capital, savings, stocks, bonds, shares and unit trusts) that when combined with their annual gross income exceeds £60,000 will not qualify to join the housing register. This calculation will take into account the income and financial assets of the main applicant, joint applicant and their spouse, civil partner and/or partner where they are to reside in the accommodation together.
View our Housing Allocations Policy
All Social Rented and Affordable Rented housing are owned by Registered Providers (Housing Associations) and regulated by Homes England (Government Agency). They must be let through the council’s Allocation Scheme to applicants who meet the criteria to join Cherwell’s Housing Register.
How to apply to the Housing Register
Properties are advertised through Cherwell Homechoice
Eligibility for Shared Ownership
You can buy a home through shared ownership if both of the following are true:
- your household income is £80,000 a year or less (£90,000 a year or less in London)
- you cannot afford all of the deposit and mortgage payments for a home that meets your needs.
One of the following must also be true:
- you’re a first-time buyer.
- you used to own a home but cannot afford to buy one now.
- you’re forming a new household - for example, after a relationship breakdown.
- you’re an existing shared owner, and you want to move.
- you own a home and want to move but cannot afford a new home that meets your needs.
For some homes you may have to show that you live in, work in, or have a connection to the area where you want to buy the home.
Shared ownership homes - who can apply?