Looking for a Home?

If you would like to rent a home with Taff, you will need to apply through Cardiff Council.

Cardiff Council manages a shared waiting list for council and housing association homes in Cardiff, including Taff homes. This means you only need to apply once to be considered for homes from different housing providers.

You can apply online through Cardiff Council. Once you have applied, they will arrange an interview to learn more about your housing needs. They can also give you general advice about other housing options.

Apply for a home through Cardiff Council

Give details about who will live you. Tell them about any health conditions, disability or other things that can affect where you can live. This helps find a home that suits you.

Cardiff Council looks at your application. They will let you know what happens next

If you need help with your application or cannot apply online, you can:

• Call Cardiff Council on 029 2053 7111 (option 1).
• Visit your local Council Hub.
• You can ask for help filling in your application.

If we are able to offer you a Taff home, we will give you a call and follow this up with an offer in writing.

We will tell you about the home, including where it is, what type of property it is and how much the rent will be.

Please let us know as soon as possible if you would like to view the home. If we do not hear from you within three working days of sending your offer, we may withdraw it.

You will have the chance to view the home before deciding whether you would like to accept it.

Yes! We will arrange a time for you to look around the home before you make a decision.

This is your chance to see if the home is right for you. You are welcome to bring someone with you for support, and you can ask us any questions you have.

After viewing the home, we will ask you if you would like to accept it.

If you are not sure, please talk to us. We can answer your questions and help you understand your options.

If the home is not right for you, please let us know as soon as possible.

Refusing an offer may affect your place on the housing waiting list.

Most people can receive up to two offers of housing. If you refuse your first offer, Cardiff Council will talk to you about your housing needs.

If you refuse a second offer, you may be removed from the waiting list and unable to apply again for 12 months.

Different rules may apply depending on your circumstances, so please speak to Cardiff Council before making a decision.

What if I disagree with a decision?

If you think a decision about your housing application is wrong, you can ask Cardiff Council to look at it again. This is called a review.

You normally need to ask for a review within 21 days of the decision.

For help, you can contact Cardiff Council on 029 2053 7111.

If you accept the offer, we look forward to welcoming you to your new home!

We will agree a date with you for your occupation contract to start and explain what you need to do before moving in.

There are a few things you may need to arrange, such as:

• Setting up your gas, electricity and water.
• Letting people know your new address.
• Getting help with your rent, if you need it.

Before we can give you the keys to your new home, you will need to pay rent in advance.

We will explain how much you need to pay and when. If you are unable to make this payment, your offer of a home may be withdrawn.

If you are worried about paying your rent in advance, please talk to us as soon as possible. We can discuss your situation and what help may be available.

Your occupation contract is the agreement between you and Taff. It explains your rights and our responsibilities. It used to be called a tenancy agreement.

In Wales, the law changed on 1 December 2022. Tenancies became occupation contracts, and tenants are now called “contract-holders”.

We will go through the contract with you, and you can ask questions.

You will also receive a written copy, called a written statement, which you can keep and look back at whenever you need to.

We will explain how much your rent is, what it covers and the different ways you can pay.

If you need help paying your rent, you may be able to get Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.

Once everything is sorted, you can collect your keys and get ready to move in.

Welcome to your new home!

If you or someone in your household has a disability or finds it difficult to move around, you may need a home that has been adapted to meet your needs.

This could include a home with level access, a wet room or other changes to make everyday living easier.

Please tell Cardiff Council about your needs when you apply for housing. This will help them understand what kind of home may be suitable for you.

Cardiff Accessible Homes has a separate register to help match people who need adapted homes with suitable properties.

If you need help applying or are unsure what to do, you can contact Cardiff Council on 029 2053 7111 (option 1).

If something changes after you apply for housing, please let Cardiff Council know as soon as possible.

• Moved to a new address.
• Changed your phone number or email address.
• Had someone join or leave your household.
• Had a change in your health or housing needs.

Keeping your information up to date helps Cardiff Council understand your needs and contact you about your application.

It is difficult to say exactly how long you may have to wait for a home.

There is a high demand for housing in Cardiff, and the number of homes available is limited. This means waiting times can vary.

Being on the waiting list does not guarantee that you will be offered a home.

How long you wait depends on things like:

• Your housing needs and circumstances.
• The size and type of home you need.
• Where you would like to live.
• When a suitable home becomes available.

Cardiff Council can talk to you about your housing options and what you might expect.

Cardiff Council uses a system called housing bands to help decide who should be offered a home.

These bands are based on people’s housing needs and circumstances. For example, someone who needs to move urgently because of their health may have higher priority.

If you are accepted onto the waiting list, Cardiff Council will tell you which band you are in.

You can find out more about how the waiting list works on Cardiff Council’s housing website.

If you already live in a Taff home and would like to move, you may be able to apply for a transfer through Cardiff Council.

You can apply online or ask for a paper application form.

To apply online, you will need:

• An email address.
• Your person reference number. You can contact our Tenancy Team to ask for this.

Apply for a transfer through Cardiff Council

There are a few things you may need to sort out before moving to another home.

Your rent

If you owe any rent, you will normally need to clear this before you can transfer.

Looking after your home

Your current home will need to be left in a good condition. If there is damage or work that you are responsible for, you may need to put this right before moving.

If we need to carry out work because of damage you are responsible for, you may be charged for the cost. This is called a recharge.

If you are worried about any of this, please talk to us. We can discuss your situation and explain what you need to do.

All transfer applications are considered, but some people may be given higher priority based on their housing needs.

For example, this could include:

• Living in a home that is bigger than you need.
• Needing to move because of your health.
• Having other important personal or housing needs.

Cardiff Council will look at your circumstances when considering your application.

Being accepted for a transfer does not mean another home will be available straight away.

In some circumstances, you may be able to pass your occupation contract to another person. This is called an assignment.

You will need permission from Taff before doing this.

If you would like to know whether this is possible, please get in touch with us.

In some circumstances, someone living in your home may be able to take over your occupation contract if you die.

This is called succession.

There are rules about who can take over a contract. If you would like to know more, please get in touch with us.

If you are thinking about moving out of your Taff home, please let us know as soon as possible.

We will explain what you need to do to end your contract, including how much notice you need to give and what happens before you leave.

To end your contract, you will need to fill in a Surrender form. This tells us when you plan to leave your home and return your keys.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Returning your keys: Please make sure you return your keys by the agreed date. If you return them late, you may have to pay extra rent.
• Your rent: We will talk to you about your rent account and any payments you need to make before leaving.
• Joint contracts: If you share your occupation contract with someone else, we will need to speak to everyone named on the contract.

Your Housing Officer will arrange to inspect your home and let you know if there is anything you need to put right before moving out.

Before you leave, please make sure you:

• Look after your home: Complete any repairs or put right any changes we have asked you to deal with.
• Leave your home clean and tidy: Remove all your belongings, furniture and rubbish.
• Return your keys: Make sure you return all your keys by the agreed date.
• Check your rent account: Pay any rent you owe and any other outstanding charges, including court costs.

Will I have to pay for any repairs?

You may need to pay for repairs or cleaning if your home is not left in the agreed condition. This is called a recharge.

For example, you may be charged if:

• Repairs we have asked you to complete have not been done properly.
• Your home needs extra cleaning.
• You leave belongings or rubbish behind.

  You will not be charged for normal wear and tear. This means the changes that happen naturally to a home through everyday use.

  If you are unsure about anything you need to do before leaving, please talk to us. We can explain what is expected and help you understand any costs.

If you already live in a Taff home and would like to move, you may be able to swap homes with another social housing tenant. This is called a mutual exchange.

You may be able to swap with someone who rents from another housing association or local council.

You can also use HomeSwapper to look for people who want to exchange homes.

You will need permission before swapping homes. Please contact us before making any arrangements.

If you exchange homes, you will usually accept the new property in its current condition. This means you may be responsible for any decorating or damage left by the previous tenant.

Complete our Mutual Exchange form

There are some situations where you may not be able to swap your home with someone else.

For example:

• Rent arrears: if you owe rent or have other unpaid charges
• Legal action: If legal action has been started against you relating to your home.
• Size of the home: If the home you want to move to is too big or too small for your household
• Adapted homes: If the home has been specifically adapted for someone with a dissability, but the person moving in does not need those adaptations.
• Homes for older people: if the home is reserved for older people and the person moving in does not meet the requirements.
• Your occupation contract: Some types of contracts may affect whether you can exchange.