Rural affordable housing

What is a rural exception site?

Rural affordable housing, often known as rural exceptions sites, is mainly for people who want to stay in rural parishes where they grew up or have family. To apply for a home under the scheme, you’ll need to be on our housing register. 

Homes are provided through small developments (usually 15 dwellings or less) in villages with a population of 3,000 or less. 

We identify a need for these developments through a local housing needs survey. The survey provides information about how many properties will be built and how big each property will be.

Who can apply?

Anyone can apply for rural exception accommodation, although properties built on these sites will be allocated to people with a strong connection to the parish in the first instance.

Should there be no applicants who can demonstrate a connection to the parish, the next step would be to offer the property to applicants from neighbouring parishes. If there is no one who can meet these criteria, properties may be offered to applicants from the wider district.

Properties are advertised through Hart’s Choice Based Lettings Scheme near to the time of completion (usually two to three months before the new-build houses are completed) or when Hart is notified about a home coming up for re-let.

What type of tenancy will I be offered?

All new Housing Association tenants will be offered a starter tenancy initially, which will last 12 months and is like a 'trial' period.

After 12 months, if there have been no breaches to your tenancy agreement (such as missed rent payments or anti-social behaviour) they will offer you an assured tenancy, or in some cases a fixed term tenancy. Find out more about these tenancies on the Government's housing association homes website.

Is there a shared ownership option?

There are currently only three rural exception sites in Hart with shared ownership properties. These are in South Warnborough, North Warnborough and Eversley.

For information on shared ownership, please contact the relevant housing association.

You can also check on the Government's shared ownership website to:

• check if you're eligible to buy a home through shared ownership
• find an organisation that sells homes in the area you want to buy

How we support parishes

We work with parishes and developers to deliver new homes in rural communities where they are most needed. 

We can help with: 

• gaining evidence of housing need in your local area 
• looking at options of delivery for new homes
• supporting and guiding through the planning process
• advising and signposting on funding that may be available

Rural exception sites in Hart