Finding the right home can sometimes feel like a full-time job. Whether you are looking to rent or buy, there are thousands of properties available, but finding one that actually matches your budget, location and personal circumstances can be much harder.
You may be looking for a family home, an affordable property, a pet-friendly rental, a room to rent or a new-build home. You may need supported housing, retirement housing, accessible accommodation or housing specifically available to key workers.
You also don’t necessarily have to wait for a property to appear on one of the major property portals. Some homes are advertised through councils, housing associations, specialist providers, estate agents, developers or other property websites. Some may even be available before they are advertised more widely.
This guide explains the different ways you can search for a home and some of the options you may want to consider.
What type of home are you looking for?
Before starting your search, it can help to think about exactly what you need from your next home.
For example, are you looking to:
- Rent a home privately?
- Find social or affordable housing?
- Buy your first home?
- Find a shared ownership property?
- Find a new-build home?
- Find a room to rent?
- Find a pet-friendly property?
- Find a home that accepts benefits?
- Find supported housing?
- Find key worker housing?
- Find retirement or over-55 housing?
- Find an accessible or adapted home?
- Find a property before it is advertised more widely?
Your circumstances can make a big difference to where you should look. Someone searching for a standard private rental may have very different options from someone looking for supported housing. Someone buying their first home may want to consider shared ownership or new-build properties alongside conventional properties for sale.
It is therefore worth looking beyond a single type of property search.
How do I find a home to rent?
If you are looking to rent, there are several different routes you can take.
Private rented properties are commonly advertised by estate agents, letting agents, landlords and property portals. However, depending on your circumstances, you may also want to look at housing associations, councils and specialist housing providers.Think about the type of rental that is right for you rather than simply searching for “houses to rent”.
For example, you might specifically need a property that:
- Allows pets
- Accepts housing benefit or Universal Credit
- Requires no deposit or offers a deposit alternative
- Is suitable for a larger family
- Is accessible
- Is available to people over a certain age
- Provides additional support
- Is close to your workplace
- Is available as a room rather than an entire property
Searching for a specific requirement can sometimes make it easier to find a property that genuinely suits you.
How can I find social housing?
Social housing is generally provided by local authorities and housing associations.
If you are looking for social housing, your local council may have a housing register or choice-based lettings system that allows eligible applicants to apply for available properties. The process varies between councils, so you should check the arrangements in the area where you want to live.
Housing associations can also provide social and affordable rented homes, although eligibility and application arrangements vary between providers.
Social housing can be in high demand, so it is important not to rely on a single route when searching for a home. Depending on your circumstances, you may also be able to consider affordable rent, private renting or specialist housing.
What is affordable housing and how can I find it?
Affordable housing covers several different types of housing and should not be confused with social housing.
Affordable rented homes, for example, can be provided by housing associations and other providers, while affordable home ownership schemes can help some people buy a property who may not otherwise be able to afford to purchase a home on the open market.
If affordability is your main concern, consider looking at:
- Affordable rent
- Social rent
- Shared ownership
- Other affordable home ownership schemes
- New-build affordable homes
- Specialist affordable housing
It is also worth checking what is available in the area where you want to live, as the options and eligibility criteria can vary.
How can I find a private rented home?
Private rented properties can be found through estate agents, letting agents, landlords and property websites. When searching for a private rental, decide how much you can realistically afford before starting your search.
Remember that the monthly rent is not the only cost. You may also need to budget for:
- Council tax
- Gas and electricity
- Water
- Broadband
- Insurance
- Deposit
- Moving house removal costs
- Other household expenses
If you have pets, receive benefits or have other specific requirements, check these before arranging a viewing. Finding a property that meets your needs from the beginning can save time and avoid disappointment.
How can I find a pet-friendly rental?
Finding a rental property that allows pets can be more difficult than finding a standard rental, particularly in areas where demand is high.
Instead of searching for any property and asking about pets afterwards, try specifically searching for pet-friendly properties. When contacting an agent, landlord or housing provider, be clear about the type and number of pets you have.
It can also help to have information ready about your pet, particularly if a landlord wants reassurance about the animal living in the property.
Pet-friendly housing is a good example of why searching for a property based on your circumstances can be more useful than simply searching by location and price.
How can I find a rental that accepts benefits?
If you receive Universal Credit, Housing Benefit or other benefits, you can still look for a home in the private rented sector.
In England, landlords and letting agents cannot discriminate against you because you receive benefits. This means they cannot advertise a property as being unavailable to people on benefits or refuse to consider you simply because you receive benefits.
Landlords can, however, check whether you can afford the rent and can use income requirements and referencing checks when deciding whether a tenancy is affordable. Any benefits or other income you receive should be taken into account in the same way as other income.
If you are looking for a rental, check the property’s rent and the landlord’s affordability requirements before applying. You may also want to look at housing associations and councils, which can have rental options depending on your circumstances and eligibility.
If you are struggling to find a suitable property with housing benefit, consider widening your search to different areas, property types and types of housing, including affordable rented homes and specialist accommodation.
How can I find a room to rent?
If you don’t need or can’t afford an entire property, renting a room can be another option.
Rooms can be available in shared houses, flats and other types of accommodation. They may be particularly useful for people moving to a new area, younger renters, students or people looking for a more affordable way of renting. Before agreeing to rent a room, check what is included in the rent and whether you will share facilities such as the kitchen or bathroom.
You should also check:
- Whether bills are included
- The length of the tenancy
- Deposit requirements
- Who else lives in the property
- Whether pets are allowed
- Whether the room is furnished
- What facilities you will share
How can I find supported housing?
Supported housing is designed for people who may need additional support to live independently.
There are different types of supported accommodation, and the eligibility requirements can vary depending on the provider and the type of support available. Supported housing may be available for people with a range of needs, including older people and people who require additional help with independent living.
If you think supported housing could be appropriate for you or someone you are helping, look for specialist providers and local organisations as well as your council or housing association.
How can I find key worker housing?
Some housing providers offer accommodation specifically aimed at key workers or people working in particular professions. What qualifies as a key worker can vary between schemes, so check the eligibility criteria for individual properties.
If you are a key worker, it can be worth checking housing providers, local schemes and specialist property listings rather than relying solely on a general property search.
How can I find retirement or over-55 housing?
There are several types of housing aimed at older people, including retirement properties, sheltered housing and other specialist accommodation. Some properties are available to rent, while others are available to buy. Age requirements vary, so always check the criteria for an individual property or scheme.
If you are searching for housing later in life, think about more than simply the property itself. Location, accessibility, maintenance, transport, nearby shops and services and the level of support available may all be important.
How can I find an accessible or adapted home?
If you have mobility requirements or need an adapted property, a standard property search may not always be enough. Look for properties that are already adapted or designed to be accessible, and consider contacting local authorities, housing associations and specialist providers.
Depending on your circumstances, you may need features such as:
- Step-free access
- Adapted bathrooms
- Wider doorways
- Accessible parking
- Ground-floor accommodation
- Lift access
- Other adaptations
Make a list of the features you actually need before beginning your search.
How do I find a home to buy?
If you are buying a home, your search will usually start with deciding how much you can afford and where you want to live. You can then compare properties for sale through estate agents, property websites, developers and other sources. Don’t forget to consider the costs involved in buying a home, including your deposit, mortgage, solicitor’s fees, survey costs, moving costs and any other associated expenses.
It is also worth getting your finances in order before spending too much time viewing properties. Knowing your likely budget can make it easier to concentrate on realistic options.
How can I find an affordable home to buy?
If buying on the open market is difficult because of affordability, there are other options worth investigating. Shared ownership is one example. It allows eligible buyers to purchase a share of a property and pay rent on the remaining share. New-build developments can also include affordable homes and shared ownership properties.
Depending on your circumstances, you may therefore want to search specifically for:
- Shared ownership
- New-build homes
- First-time buyer properties
- Affordable home ownership schemes
- Properties in less expensive areas
How can I find a new-build home?
New-build properties are advertised by housebuilders, developers, estate agents and property websites. If you are interested in buying a new build, don’t only look for completed properties. Some developments are marketed before construction has finished, while other homes may be released in stages. Registering your interest with developers and keeping an eye on new developments in your preferred area can therefore help you hear about properties earlier.
You may also want to compare the costs and benefits of buying a new build with an older property before making a decision.
How can I find a home before it is advertised?
One of the less obvious ways to find a home is to look before it reaches the wider property market. Some properties are marketed privately, while estate agents may have potential buyers in mind before formally launching a property. There are also properties described as “pre-market” or “off-market”, although these terms can mean different things depending on how a property is being sold.
If you are looking to buy, it can therefore be worth:
- Registering with local estate agents
- Telling agents exactly what you are looking for
- Registering your interest in new developments
- Checking property websites regularly
- Looking for properties described as coming soon
- Searching for off-market or pre-market properties
Being ready to move can also help. If an agent knows you are a serious buyer and understands exactly what you are looking for, you may be easier to match with a property that becomes available.
What does off-market property mean?
An off-market property is generally a property that is available for sale but isn’t being openly marketed through the usual channels. The exact meaning can vary. Some sellers may not want widespread advertising, while an estate agent may already have potential buyers who could be interested.
Off-market properties can therefore be harder to find, but they can provide another route for buyers who are prepared to look beyond the biggest property portals.
What does pre-market property mean?
Pre-market usually refers to a property that is being prepared for sale or promoted to potential buyers before a full public launch. For a buyer, this can provide an opportunity to find out about a property earlier. For sellers, marketing pre-market houses can allow an estate agent to test interest and potentially find a buyer before a property is widely advertised.
This is another reason why registering directly with agents and property platforms can be worthwhile if you are actively looking to buy.
Do I need to use just one property website?
No. There is no reason why your property search has to rely on one website or one source. Different organisations advertise different types of homes, and some specialist properties may never appear in the places you normally search. For example, someone looking for social housing may need to check their local council or housing association, while someone looking for a new build may be better served by registering with developers.
If you have a specific requirement, look for websites and organisations that specialise in that type of property.
What should I do if I can’t find the right home?
If you have been searching for a while without success, don’t automatically assume that there are no suitable properties available.
Review your search criteria and consider whether you can be flexible about:
- Location
- Property type
- Number of bedrooms
- Budget
- Furnished or unfurnished accommodation
- New build or older property
- Renting or buying
- Specialist housing options
You may also be searching in the wrong places.
A person looking for a pet-friendly rental, for example, could have more success using a search specifically focused on pet-friendly properties. Someone looking for affordable home ownership may need to look at shared ownership rather than conventional properties for sale.
The more specific your requirements, the more important it becomes to search across different sources.
How can MovingSoon help me find a home?
MovingSoon brings together property opportunities for people looking to rent or buy, including affordable homes, specialist housing, new builds and other properties.
Rather than relying on a single type of property search, you can explore different options based on the type of home you are looking for.
Whether you’re searching for an affordable rental, a pet-friendly home, shared ownership, a new build, retirement housing or a property that may be available before it reaches the wider market, it is worth checking different sources regularly.
Looking for your next home?
Start your search on MovingSoon and explore the different types of homes available.
Final thoughts: the best way to find a home
There isn’t one single way to find the right home. The best approach depends on what you need, where you want to live and whether you are renting or buying. Start by defining your requirements, work out your realistic budget and then search across the sources that are most relevant to you.
Don’t overlook specialist options such as affordable housing, shared ownership, supported housing, key worker accommodation, rooms to rent or retirement housing. And if you’re buying, consider looking beyond properties that are already being widely advertised. New developments, pre-market and off-market properties can provide additional opportunities.
The property market is constantly changing, so checking regularly and registering your interest with relevant providers, agents and property websites can improve your chances of finding the right home.
The most important thing is not to limit your search to the first place you think of. The right home may be advertised somewhere you haven’t looked yet or it may not have been advertised at all.
