Choice based lettings

Council and Housing Association properties which are becoming available to let (including Hightown's properties) are advertised every two weeks on Choice Based Lettings websites. Some local councils also print a paper copy of the advert and make it available at the council offices or different locations in the area - you can find details of where they are available from the Choice Based Lettings websites. The adverts include details of the properties available and you can decide whether you want to be considered for any of them.

If you see a property you would like to be considered for, you will need to express your interest. This is known as ‘bidding’. Usually you can bid for up to three properties each fortnight, so you should check that you are eligible for the properties you bid for – for example it must be suitable for your family size. More information about how properties are advertised and how to bid can be found in the User Guides for each system. You will usually be able to bid on line or by phone, and some schemes will also take bids by text messaging or post.

You can see how properties in previous adverts were let by looking at the feedback sheets on the websites. You can see the priority of the successful bidder (their band or points) and how long they have waited to be housed. You can use this information to help you decide which properties you might want to bid on (for example, if houses are going to bidders who have been on the waiting list a very long time, but flats are going to people who have only been on the list a short time, you may decide to bid on flats rather than houses, in order to get a property more quickly).

You must be registered with the local authority where you wish to live in order to participate in their Choice Based Lettings scheme.  You can get an application form by contacting your local council office or by downloading an application form from the council’s website, or for more information go to www.direct.gov.uk/socialhousing.  If you are accepted onto the scheme, your level of priority for housing will be assessed and you will be told which band you are in, or how many points you have. Your priority will affect your chances of being housed.