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Housing need and availability in Salford

Need and demand for housing

There are between 3,000 and 3,500 applicants (and their families) who are registered on Salford Home Search (Salford’s housing register). These clients have fulfilled the local connection and eligibility criteria. They also have a current housing need, for example (but not an exhaustive list), are owed a homelessness duty, are overcrowded, are under-occupying a social housing tenancy, require rehousing due to a medical reason.

There are approximately 30 new applications received daily.

Accessible accommodation

Some clients have been medically assessed who are then categorised based on their medical assessment and/or mobility issues.

The number of clients registered within the Accessible Accommodation category is lower than the General Needs or Statutory Homeless categories, however, that type of property is in scarce supply.

If a client has been assessed for a particular type of property based on their medical assessment, and placed into the Accessible Accommodation category, they are categorised as shown below.

Clients are only able to place bids on the specific type of property they require. If, for example, a property is advertised as SN3 and a client has been assessed as requiring SN1 or SN2, they cannot bid on anything other than SN3. The same is true for SN1 or SN2. Our partner landlords categorise the properties when they become available.

Categories explained

SN1: Properties suitable for permanent wheelchair users:

Applicants / members of their household, who are permanent wheelchair users and need to use a wheelchair (both indoors/outside) for all activities of daily living: and who require wheelchair adapted housing.

SN2: Limited mobility, no indoor wheelchair use:

Applicants, or members of their household, who do not use a wheelchair indoors, but walk with difficulty, are unable to safely climb any steps/stairs and may need a level access shower. This could include those who may, but not restricted to those who do use a wheelchair or mobility scooter outdoors.

SN3: Mild mobility limitations:

Applicants, or members of their household, who do not use a wheelchair either indoors or outdoors, but who walk with difficulty and can manage some steps to access the property and/or internal stairs infrequently; and who may benefit from access to a downstairs toilet or a wet room/level access shower.

The following tables shows the number of homes advertised (demand) and let on Salford Home Search between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026 in all categories of all bedroom numbers.

Accessible Accommodation

Number of bedrooms Demand Number let
1 bedroom 234 87
2 bedrooms 115 19
3 bedrooms 54 1
4+ bedrooms 13 1
Totals 416 108

General Housing Need

Number of bedrooms Demand Number let
1 bedroom 1260 187
2 bedrooms 572 227
3 bedrooms 628 90
4+ bedrooms 155 16
Totals 2615 520

Statutory Homeless

Number of bedrooms Demand Number let
1 bedroom 67 22
2 bedrooms 132 65
3 bedrooms 117 17
4+ bedrooms 38 4
Totals 354 108

Totals for all three categories

Number of bedrooms Demand Number let
1 bedroom 1561 296
2 bedrooms 819 311
3 bedrooms 799 108
4+ bedrooms 206 21
Totals 3385 736

Waiting times

Due to the scarcity of social housing, the wait for available accommodation can be a long one.  To ensure more choice is available, clients should consider the following:

  • Widen the search area to include all areas of Salford.  You are able to place bids on up to 3 properties at any one time
  • Set up property alerts on your Salford Home Search account to ensure you are emailed when properties are being advertised
  • Include all property types when you consider bidding.  Apartments with more than one bedroom are usually considered to be family accommodation, however, some high rise blocks are excluded from being family accommodation.

Some clients may never be rehoused through Salford Home Search because there will always be other households with greater housing needs, so clients should always consider the private rented sector as an option for being housed. See the current local housing allowance rates in Salford and the wider Greater Manchester area when considering the private rented sector.

This page was last updated on 14 July 2026

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