About Emica Social Housing (ESH)

Emica Social Housing (ESH) is your one stop resource for all the support your housing organisation needs to take it to the next level. ESH is part of the Emica Group (www.emica.co.uk). The company aims to provide a no nonsense approach to supporting RSL’s in a way that reflects a real commitment to the bespoke needs, wants and aspirations of today’s Housing Associations. Believing in win-win solutions, the aim of ESH is simple: we want to create and identify opportunities for our clients to help them maximise their growth and development. Whether this is through acquiring new housing stock, maximising funding potential, making the most out of neighbourhood regeneration or simply improving internal and external performance- we can help in a way that no other housing consultancy can. Our consultants are renowned experts in social housing, members of the Chartered Institute of Housing and work tirelessly to develop new ideas, helping you to outthink and outperform all your competitors. When it comes to social housing, there is no better name than ESH. Whatever the size of your housing association, contact us now. We guarantee that it will be one of the best calls you ever make for your organisation.


What is social housing?

Social housing is accommodation let out on a secure basis paired with low rent to those in need – generally it is provided by non-profit organisations (such as housing associations) and councils.

Social Housing – Affordable Housing

The main function and focus of social housing is to provide affordable housing to those on low incomes. In the social housing sector, rent is kept low (mostly through state subsidy) and is currently regulated by a specific rent control, to make certain that rent is kept affordable for the occupants.

Social Housing – Allocated on the Basis of Need

Social housing is allocated according to need, as opposed to the private sector where tenancies are only offered by free choice of the household in question or the landlord themselves.

In social housing, each social landlord works from an allocations policy which states what will be taken into consideration when a decision is made on who gets preference for the considerably small amount of social housing available. The policies must include criteria (the ‘'reasonable preference criteria'’) that is set out in law. Beyond this, allocation policies may be drawn at the judgement and discretion of the social landlord.

Social Housing – Owned and Managed by Social Landlords

Social landlords manage and own social housing; they tend to be organisations that are non-commercial, mainly housing associations or local authorities. Housing associations are independent, non-profit organisations that use any gained surpluses to finance new homes or maintain existing properties. Commercial organisations can now manage or build social housing but this is not common.

Social Housing – Tightly Regulated

Both social housing and social landlords are tightly regulated by the Communities and Local Government (CLG), the department in charge of the social housing sector. And have a direct oversight of local authority housing. The Homes and Communities Agency funds Housing Associations, responsible for the construction of new social homes.