Guide

Housing associations

Publication date
1 July 2025

What housing associations are

Housing associations are not-for-profit organisations that provide affordable homes to people.

Although housing associations are not part of the council, we work closely with them to help local people find homes. For example, we can refer people who have applied for council housing to get a housing association property.

Who can apply

Anyone who is 16 or older can apply to a housing association.

Because of demand, housing associations usually prioritise people from specific groups, including:

  • people on a low income
  • older people
  • disabled people
  • people who need support to live in their own home.

Check the list of housing associations in Renfrewshire below to find out which ones are relevant to you and how to contact them.

How housing associations work

You must apply directly to a housing association, not to the council, if you want to get onto a housing association's waiting list.

Different housing associations cover different areas, so you might want to apply to more than one, depending on where you want to live.

Once you're on a waiting list, the housing association will contact you once they have a suitable home to offer you. Because of demand, there's no guarantee that you'll be offered a home.

List of housing associations in Renfrewshire

There are 14 housing associations in Renfrewshire. They have around 9,000 homes between them.

Check the list of housing associations in Renfrewshire, what types of homes they have, and how to contact them so you can apply.

Housing association Description Locations Type and size of housing Contact details
Bield Housing Association Older people aged 50 and over who are looking for retirement housing Johnstone town centre 1 retirement housing development with 30 flats

Phone: 0141 270 7200

Email: info@bield.co.uk

Blackwood Homes and Care General public, older people, and disabled people Paisley and Renfrew

1,2 3 and 4 bedroom homes

Mix of flats and houses

Around 50 homes in Renfrewshire

Phone: 0131 317 7227

Email: cst@blackwoodgroup.org.uk

Bridgewater Housing Association General public, older people, and disabled people Erskine

1,2 3 and 4 bedroom homes

Mix of flats and houses

Phone: 0141 812 2237

Email: admin@bridgewaterha.org.uk

Cairn Housing Association Older people aged 50 and over who are looking for retirement housing Paisley 1 retirement housing development with 38 flats, which are a mix of bedsits and 1 bedroom flats

Phone: 0800 990 3405

Email: enquiries@cairnha.com

Ferguslie Park Housing Association General public, older people, and disabled people Ferguslie Park area in Paisley

1,2 3 and 4 bedroom homes

Mix of flats and houses

Phone: 0141 887 4053

Email: admin@fpha.org.uk

Hanover Scotland Housing Association Older people Elderslie, Johnstone, Paisley, and Renfrew Mix of sheltered housing, very sheltered housing, amenity housing, and extra care housing

Phone: 0800 111 4646

Email: hello@hanover.scot

Horizon Housing Association General public, older people, and disabled people Erskine, Johnstone, Paisley, and Renfrew

1,2 and 3 bedroom homes

Mix of flats and houses

Phone: 0330 303 0089

Email: e-mail@horizonhousing.org

Key

People who need support to live in their own home

Homes are let through social work referrals, not a waiting list

Elderslie, Erskine, Johnstone, Paisley, and Renfrew

1,2 and 3 bedroom homes

Mix of flats and houses

Around 60 homes in Renfrewshire

Phone: 0141 342 1890

Email: hello@key.org.uk

Link Housing Association General public and disabled people Linwood, Lochwinnoch, Johnstone, and Paisley

1,2 3 and 4 bedroom homes

Mix of flats and houses

Phone: 0330 303 0124

Email: csc@linhaltd.co.uk

Linstone Housing Association General public, older people, and disabled people Bridge of Weir, Johnstone, Linwood, and Paisley

1,2 3 and 4 bedroom homes

Mix of flats and houses

Phone: 01505 382 383

Email: general@linstone.co.uk

Loretto Housing Association  General public and disabled people Bishopton, Johnstone, Linwood, Paisley, and Renfrew

1,2 3 and 4 bedroom homes

Mix of flats and houses

Phone: 0800 952 9292

Email: talk@lorettoha.co.uk

Paisley Housing Association General public, older people, and disabled people Paisley

1,2 3 and 4 bedroom homes

Mix of flats and houses

Phone: 0141 889 7105

Email: admin@paisleyha.org.uk

Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association General public, older disabled people, and people who need support to live in their own home Linwood, Paisley, and Renfrew

1,2 3, 4, and 5 bedroom homes

Mix of flats and houses

Phone: 0800 131 3348 

Email: contactus@sanctuary.co.uk 

Williamsburgh Housing Association General public and disabled people Johnstone, Kilbarchan, Paisley, and Renfrew

1,2 3 and 4 bedroom homes

Mix of flats and houses

Phone: 0141 887 8613

Email: admin@williamsburghha.co.uk