Cornwall Council Housing
We are committed to the delivery of housing that meets the diverse needs of our communities. It must also be:
- safe
- affordable and
- sustainable.
We work with our partner Cornwall Housing Ltd to manage around 10,400 council homes. We also support residents. This includes:
- helping people to find affordable housing
- avoiding homelessness, and
- help to maintain tenancies.
Cornwall Housing: our ALMO Partner
Cornwall Housing Ltd is an Arm's Length Management Organisation (ALMO). Cornwall Council set this up to look after council houses and garages on their behalf. They provide housing management services across Cornwall. This includes rent collection, tenancy engagement and support. They also manage repairs and provide maintenance services.
This partnership means that some housing functions stay with Cornwall Council. The Council delegates others to Cornwall Housing.
Who does what
Cornwall Council is responsible for:
- Acting as the landlord, owning and having overarching responsibility for the housing stock.
- Ensuring all housing services meet certain standards. These are set by the Regulator of Social Housing.
- Managing the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). This is the overarching budget for council housing.
- Managing the housing register and allocating homes through Cornwall Homechoice Housing Register.
- Providing Homeless Services.
Cornwall Housing is responsible for:
- Collecting rent and managing arrears.
- Delivering repairs, maintenance, and improvements to homes and estates.
- Providing housing related advice and support to tenants to help maintain their tenancies.
- Maintaining communal spaces and addressing anti-social behaviour.
- Engaging with tenants and communities to improve services.
Together we operate within a strong governance structure. This ensures clear oversight of performance and helps us address concerns quickly. This framework includes routine meetings. The meetings involve lead officers, Board representatives, Council Members and tenants.
Regulation and oversight
The Council and Cornwall Housing operate under a regulatory framework. This is set by the Regulator of Social Housing. This ensures homes are safe, well-maintained, and managed properly.
In April 2024, the Regulator introduced new consumer standards. These are the benchmarks used to inspect and score all social housing providers. This includes us.
You can find more information about the standards online at:
- Regulatory standards for landlords - GOV.UK and
- on the Cornwall Housing website at Consumer Standards.
Finding a Home in Cornwall
If you are looking for an affordable rented home in Cornwall, you can apply. You apply through the Cornwall Homechoice Housing Register. This is the county’s housing register. You can view available properties and express your interest.
You can find information on other types of affordable housing at Affordable Housing.