Apply for social housing

Key worker schemes help people in certain public sector jobs to buy their first home through shared ownership, or to rent through the Royal Borough of Greenwich, housing associations or market rent schemes.

Who can use the scheme

Key workers are defined in various ways, but if you provide a public service you are probably a key worker.

To apply for our key worker scheme, you must be:

• employed in the Royal Borough of Greenwich
• a teacher, nurse or social worker
• single or a couple with no children
• currently living outside the borough or with no permanent accommodation in the Royal Borough of Greenwich
• on a permanent employment contract - people with temporary contracts will not be considered

Properties available in the scheme

One-bedroom flats and bedsit flats only.

How to apply

To be considered for the scheme you will need to:

• apply to join our housing register
• include two forms of identification showing name and current address for everyone named on the form

You can apply online, or contact the Allocations Service for a paper form and return it to them.

Teachers must have a referral in writing from our own recruitment team, not from their school.

Nurses must have a referral in writing from their place of work, which must be an NHS hospital.

Social workers must have a referral in writing from the Director of Health and Adult Services or Children's Services at the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Disabled applicants

Contact the Allocations Service to discuss your housing needs. We may ask you to complete a medical assessment form to make sure we have as much information as possible.

Likelihood of finding a property

If you're eligible for this scheme, you will be placed in Band B on the housing register. You'll receive one offer of accommodation as a priority applicant.

We house a few key workers a year. There is a high demand for properties from applicants on the waiting list, and few properties become available for letting.