Affordable housing
What is Affordable Housing?
This is housing for people who cannot afford to rent or buy housing on the open market. Affordable housing includes social rent, affordable rent and Homebuy (also known as Shared Ownership).
The Council owns and manages a stock of around 4300 social rented properties and demand always exceeds supply. Normally only those with the highest priority for housing will have a chance of bidding successfully for a rented property through Kent Homechoice.
Social rented housing has guideline target rents which are determined through the national rent regime. Affordable rent has a higher rental charge than social rented housing, but is no more than 80% of the local gross market rent for a property of an equivalent type and size in the local area.
If you are looking for an affordable home, you can find more information on our Housing Advice page.
Affordable Housing Policy
The Council's policy in urban areas is to seek 30% affordable housing on all new developments of 15 units or more, or where the site is over 1/2 hectare in size. In designated rural areas it requires that 50% of housing is affordable on new developments providing two or more units. This policy has been formulated through evidence based research including a housing needs assessment and strategic housing market assessment. This research has also informed the development of the Council's Local Development Framework and Core Strategy for housing.
Useful documents:
Affordable Housing a Quick Guide PDF, 194.14 KB
Housing Needs Assessment
Strategic Housing Market Assessment PDF, 2083.59 KB
Affordable Housing Viability Assessment PDF, 144.64 KB
North Kent Housing Partnership
The Council works in partnership with a number of housing associations under the remit of the North Kent Housing Partnership which includes Gravesham, Medway and Swale Councils. Most of the Council's partner associations provide for a range of needs including general rented and home ownership schemes as well as more specialised supported housing accommodation.
List of North Kent Housing Partnership Members PDF, 208.36 KB
In order to ensure sustainable and good quality affordable housing the North Kent partners have developed a set of eligibility criteria PDF, 199.39 KB that developing associations need to sign up to before they become a development partner.
Since 2007 over 700 new affordable homes have been built in Dartford with 148 being delivered in 2010/2011and 78 in 2011/12.
Contact information
The Housing Policy and Development Manager works with developers and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to maximise the supply of affordable housing in the Borough and can be contacted on 01322 343683 or email housingstrategy@dartford.gov.uk.