Homechoice South Gloucestershire

Advertising Properties

All the properties available to let are advertised. There is a weekly advertising round, which runs from Friday to Thursday. You need to bid for properties that you think are suitable, no bids will be placed for you.

You can bid for a maximum of 3 properties in any advertising round and you will not be able to bid if you are under offer for another property. When placing bids, you can see where you stand in relation to the other bidders at that time and this gives you an idea of how likely it is that you will be successful - if you are very low on a shortlist, it may be worth looking at other properties that are not as popular.

Properties are advertised in the following ways:

•  Via the property search section on this website.
•  In a newsletter available from the Council's One Stop Shops and libraries

The adverts tell you the landlord, location, size, rent and other features of the property to help you decide which properties are right for you. Where available, a photograph of the property, or one similar, is provided and you can access information about the local area and facilities.

The advert also tells you if there are any special requirements that the applicant must meet, such as age restrictions, which band will be given priority for the property, whether pets are allowed and so on. If you are not in the band stated you may still apply for the property providing it is suitable for your family size.

If you need other details that are not contained in the advert, you should contact the landlord, who manages the property - the Council will not have this information.

 

Preference Bands

The Council’s policy is to have a target of lets to applicants in bands A, B and C as follows:

• 60% to Band A
• 30% to Band B
• 10% to Band C

This means that each property will be advertised with preference to a particular band.

Don’t be put off bidding for a property if it is advertised to a band other than your own. You can check where your bid is in relation to other bidders at any time during the bidding round, and this will help you decide on what properties to bid on.

Please note that properties will not necessarily be advertised in the proportions listed above. When a property is advertised as preference to a particular band, it may not necessarily be offered to someone in that band. For example, they may refuse the property, or it may not be suitable for them. In this case, applicants further down the shortlist, who may be in a different band will then be considered for it. We will monitor this over time to make sure our target of lets to each band are being met.

 

Expressing Your Interest in a Property

To apply for a property, you bid for it - bids will not be placed for you. You may only bid for a property that is suitable for your family size.

You can bid in one of the following ways:

• Online through our website. You must login to your account first
• By telephoning the Council on 01454 868005
• In person at a Council One Stop Shop
• By completing and returning, or posting the coupon on the printed property advert sheet

Please note - the Council is not responsible for coupons sent through the post that are not delivered, or that are received after the bidding round has closed.

Properties Currently Available

To find out the properties currently available click on the property search link.

Helping You to Use the Service

If you, or someone you know, would like help to use our service, please contact our Housing Contact Centre on 01454 868005.