Choice Based Lettings

The Government decided (in 2001) to change the way social housing is allocated and therefore, all points based allocation systems (as used by Granta) are to be phased out by 2010 and replaced by a system which gives housing applicants more choice over the property they will be allocated - Choice Based Lettings. The Department for Communities and Local Government is committed to ensuring that social housing tenants have more choice and control over where they live and believe that this is the best way to build communities that are stable, viable and inclusive.

The Homelessness Act 2002 included provision for the introduction of “advertising schemes” when allocating social rented properties and also a requirement for landlords to include a statement in their allocation schemes about their position on offering choice to applicants.

The main objectives of Choice Based Lettings schemes are:

• To empower people to make decisions about where they live and to be able to exercise choice
• To help create communities which are sustainable and inclusive
• To encourage the effective use of limited stock

How it works in general

The new scheme will allow applicants on the housing register to express an interest in an individual property (known as making a bid). Each fortnight, available properties will be advertised in a number of ways – on the internet, in council & housing association offices and in a dedicated property magazine. Applicants will be able to see the full range of available properties and can make a bid for any home to which they are matched (e.g. a single person would not be eligible for a 3-bedroom house). Priority is given to those with urgent needs, but where possible properties are allocated on the basis of who has been registered the longest.

Each landlord will submit details of their available properties to the lead organisation and the lead organisation then co-ordinates the publication and invites bids for properties. Landlords like Granta will then be able to obtain a list of bidders for their void properties and arrange the allocation to the bidder with the highest housing priority, or who has been waiting the longest period of time.

TThe main scheme involving Granta is the Cambridge sub-regional scheme (called Home-Link), which covers 91% of our stock and includes the following local authorities:

• Cambridge City Council
• South Cambridgeshire District Council
• East Cambridgeshire District Council
• Huntingdonshire District Council
• Forest Heath District Council
• St Edmundsbury Borough Council
• Fenland District Council

Other Choice Based Lettings schemes operate/will operate in the following areas where we have properties:

• East Hertfordshire & Uttlesford – February 2008
• North Hertfordshire – early 2009
• Bedfordshire – late 2008
• Breckland – late 2008
• Norwich – already started on 28th November 2007
• Kings Lynn & West Norfolk – already started in 2004

The introduction of the various Choice Based Lettings Schemes across our area of operation will give all applicants, and those tenants wishing to transfer, not only a wider choice of properties, but also the ability to select where they wish to live. This is likely to result in fewer offers being refused by applicants and greater satisfaction amongst new tenants.

For more information on Choice Based Lettings, please see the Home-Link User Guide, visit the website at www.home-link.org.uk or contact one of our Senior Housing Officers on 01223 576756.