Applying for a home

Lowry Court, south Belfast

Making Your Move

Alpha Housing has range of homes available from sheltered apartments and bungalows for older people to 'general needs' family homes.

Both the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) and housing associations throughout NI provide social rented housing. Collectively we are called 'social landlords'.

NIHE is responsible for administering and assessing new applications. Once you have been assessed, you will be added to the Housing Selection Scheme waiting list, through which all housing associations in NI allocate their homes to those in greatest need.

To apply for an Alpha home, you will need to complete a short application form. See our step-by-step guidance below.

How do I apply for home?

Step 1

Complete a Housing / Transfer Application Form

If you are unable to download the form Email us or call 028 9078 7750 and select Option 2.

Step 2

Once the form has been completed, you will need to return this to your local NIHE Office. Click here to find your local NIHE Office

Step 3

When you have returned your application form, a member of staff from NIHE will contact you to complete an assessment of your housing needs.

This can be completed:

In a local NIHE office
During a home visit; or
Over the phone

Step 4

Once your application has been assessed, and you have met the criteria for social housing, NIHE will place you on the Housing Selection Scheme waiting list. This is also known as the social housing waiting list. You will be asked to select two preferred geographical areas, called 'Common Landlord Areas', that you wish to be considered for.

Step 5

When an Alpha home becomes available within your area of choice and you meet the criteria for that home, we will send you a letter. If you receive a vacancy letter from us, and you are interested in the home, please contact Alpha's Housing Department who will guide you through the next steps.

Applying for a Transfer

Frequently Asked Questions

Sheltered housing enables older people to live independently and privately in their own dwelling within a safe, friendly and supportive environment. There are many different types of sheltered housing schemes. Most will have a scheme Scheme Co-ordinator, who lives onsite or offsite. All of Alpha's sheltered homes are linked to a 24 hour emergency call centre Radius Connect 24 and tenants can have a pendant alarm if required. Our aim is to ensure tenants feel safe, enjoy their privacy and independence, and have the opportunity to participate in social activities if they wish.

Sheltered accommodation is self-contained, but there are often communal areas, such as the lounge, laundry room and garden. The majority of Alpha's sheltered schemes run social events for tenants.
The term 'General Needs Housing' is used to describe housing for rent that is suitable for anyone over the age of 16 who does not require any help or support, including single people, couples or families. The accommodation is normally provided in self – contained bungalow, house, flat or maisonette form. Most of Alpha's general needs accommodation is bungalows.

Like our sheltered accommodation, Alpha's general needs homes are allocated through the Housing Executive’s Common Housing Selection Scheme.
Alpha's manageable size and values based ethos enable us to provide a personalised, tenant focussed service. Our sheltered Scheme Co-ordinators are friendly and dedicated, going the extra mile to support tenants effectively. We aim to foster a strong sense of community within our sheltered schemes and build strong links with local voluntary groups who help enhance scheme life in numerous ways.

Independent researchers recently surveyed Alpha's tenants and found that the overall level of satisfaction was 91%,. This is one of the highest levels in Northern Ireland and in the the top quarter of providers throughout the UK.
This is a set of rules that applies to social housing landlords in Northern Ireland. These rules decide if an applicant is eligible for social housing.

The Department for Communities (DfC) approved the scheme rules. The scheme determines how homes are allocated to applicants. It gives applicants a choice in where they want to live.

More details on the scheme are available here.