The Government's definition of affordable housing is housing provided to eligible households whose needs are not met by the market. It includes:
social rented housing
affordable rented housing which is let by local authorities, or by private registered providers of social housing, to households who are eligible for social rented housing. Rent is controlled to be no more than 80 per cent of the local market rent
intermediate housing, defined as homes for sale and rent provided at a cost above social rent but below market levels. Intermediate housing can include shared ownership and other low-cost homes for sale and intermediate rent