The only way you'll find out whether your local housing associations are currently interested in buying your type of property is to ask them directly.
Find the contact details for your local HAs from here:
http://portal.tenantservicesauthority.org/
Then phone them up to see if they purchase properties.
However I can't see any direct link between disliking estate agents and wanting to sell to a housing association. I've never used an estate agent when selling a house; I just don't see the point. I've simply advertised the house for sale myself, saving thousands of pounds.
Chris