What is Choice Based Lettings?
Choice Based Lettings asks each customer to actively seek new accommodation. Once registered an applicant can access the full property listings each week via several different means. When an applicant finds a property being advertised that they would like to be considered for, they can place a bid to express their interest. Please note, a bid is purely an expression of interest and does not involve any money. An applicant will be able to bid on properties across Wiltshire (excluding Swindon) as long as the property matches their housing need as assessed by Homes 4 Wiltshire.
For example, an applicant who is assessed as having a 1-2 bedroom need would be unable to bid on a 3 bed house or a young couple would be unable to bid on a bungalow that has an age criteria of over 50 years. It is important to remember that if an applicant does not place bids, they will not be actively considered for any properties.
What does Banding mean?
When an application form is received by Homes 4 Wiltshire, the customer will be assessed and banded according to the Homes 4 Wiltshire Policy. This banding allows applicants to be prioritised by housing need in relation to their current circumstances. For example, an applicant who has been accepted homeless would have a greater housing need over someone currently already in a suitable property.
Within the Homes 4 Wiltshire Policy, there are 5 bandings:
Platinum – Exceptional Circumstances, Statutory Requirements, Move On (priority need)
Gold Plus – Multiple Needs within the Gold Banding
Gold – Seriously Overcrowded, Hazards, High Medical Needs, High Welfare or Support Needs, Insecurity of Tenure, Move On, Harassment, Under Occupation, No Fixed Accommodation, Multiple Needs within the Silver Criteria, Split Household
Silver – Medium Medical Needs, Medium Welfare or Support Needs, Serious Disrepair, Overcrowded, Children in Flats, Sharing Facilities, Armed Forces, Tied Accommodation, Intentionally Homeless
Bronze – Adequately Housed, Financial Capability, Deliberately Worsening Circumstances
Where can I find the properties that are being advertised?
Our bidding cycle is open each week from Thursdays 00:01 to Mondays 23:59. Registered applicants will be able to bid for properties during this time every week. You will be able to view the property listings either:
How do I bid?
The main methods of viewing and placing a bid are as follows:
Bids should only be placed on properties that an applicant would choose to move to.
What properties can I bid on?
You can place a bid on all properties across Wiltshire that you are assessed as being eligible for. Your eligibility for each property will be determined by criteria, such as bedroom need, adapted need, ground floor need, age restrictions or medical need and in certain cases specific planning regulations. For example; A single person will not be eligible for a 3 bed house or applicants under the age of 60 cannot bid on sheltered properties.
Please note there are no restrictions on the number of properties you can bid for each week. Please remember that bids should only be placed on properties that an applicant would choose to move to.
Can I keep my waiting time on the housing register?
Applicants who were previously registered for social housing but did not complete new Homes 4 Wiltshire forms before September 12th 2009, will not be allowed to carry over their existing waiting time. All applicants registered after September 12th 2009 will be issued with a new application date.
How will I know if I’ve been successful?
If you have been successful in bidding for accommodation, you would generally hear from the landlord within 2 weeks of bidding for a property. If you haven’t heard anything within this time you should assume that you have not been successful.
What is Homes 4 Wiltshire?
Homes 4 Wiltshire is the partnership of the Council and the partner Registered Social Landlords.
What sort of ID do I have to provide? Can it be copies?
The following identification is required where relevant:
Proof of ID for every person on the application (driver’s license, birth certificate, passport)
Proof of Address (utility bill, driver’s license, council tax bill)
Proof of residency of children (Child benefit, court order)
Proof of pregnancy (Maternity notes, letter from GP)
Proof of income or benefits (bank statement, Wage slips, DWP documentation)
Proof of savings/stocks and investments (bank statements, paperwork)
If owner/occupier of property, most recent mortgage statement
Confirmation of immigration status and workers registration certificate for persons from abroad
Medical evidence (CSDPA number, blue badge, occupational therapist report)
Notice of eviction (Notice to Quit from landlord)
The documentation required can be in the form of copies, but if a member of the Homes 4 Wiltshire team feels that the documentation has been in any way tampered with, they have the right to refuse the evidence and request to see the original.