Council Housing is available via a scheme known as "Huis-Aan-Bod", run by a collection of Woningbouwverenigingen (Accomodation Associations). Homes obtained through this scheme are extremely reasonable in price and value. The system goes as follows: you register with the agency for about f 25,- (contact the address/number below and ask what papers you will need to do this) and are given a membership number. You can then take part in a kind of house 'lottery' once a week where new flats coming up for rent are advertised in a weekly paper also called Huis-Aan-Bod. (This is a supplement to, and comes together with the free weekly Vrijdagskrant or Friday Paper of Leiden). You may apply for 2 properties every week and will be allocated a house eventually on the basis of how long you have been waiting etc. It usually makes more sense to start applying after having been a year or so on the waiting list - your chances are much greater then.
Contact:
Woningbouwvereniging Leiden
Schuttersveld 9, Leiden
phone: 071 5226236