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Original poster

Council housing priority

71 replies

Starlight987 · 07/09/2020 21:03

Hi, my first time on here so not sure if anyone can help. We’re a family of 3, my husband and I and my 2 year old son. We’ve been living at my parents 2 bedroom flat for 3 years now.
I have bidded for a house which i am so desperate for, im in 8th position which i know means 7 are before me but i was wondering how it works. Do they just put you in that position due to your band then you will be 8th to be offered the property or do they look into it a bit further when bidding closes and maybe filter it further? I’ve been offered a flat on the 4th flat which I’m really grateful for, but because of my asthma it’s very difficult as there is no lift. Sorry i know 8 is a low chance i just really love the property and i am so desperate right now, I don’t know if I should risk it and decline the property or just take it? Thanks for any help

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Original poster
Starlight987 · 07/09/2020 21:05

Hi, my first time on here so not sure if anyone can help. My husband, toddler and I live in my parents 2 bedroom flat, so there is 5 of us. I have bidded for a house which i am so desperate for, im in 8th position which i know means 7 are before me but i was wondering how it works. Do they just put you in that position due to your band then you will be 8th to be offered the property or do they look into it a bit further when bidding closes and maybe filter it further. They have offered me a flat on the 4th floor but there is no lift and it’s so difficult because of my asthma. Sorry i know 8 is a low chance i just really love the property and i am so desperate right now. Should I risk it and decline the property or just take it as I know that this will be for the long term? Thanks for any help

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MomToTwoBabas · 07/09/2020 21:09

Will they kick you off the list if you do not accept? When I became homeless I accepted top floor of a tower block with a baby. Lift broke quite a few times. Was better than being in a hostel I had no right to be picky.

MomToTwoBabas · 07/09/2020 21:11

Yes I paid rent but council homes are cheap as chips. Was a free home at the end of the day. I worked hard to get a deposit and got out of there.

WhatTimeIsItl · 07/09/2020 21:13

All councils are different but the one I am under offer the property to the top 5 and not all of them accept even if they have bid and then if say 2 bidders are left I think they then go on priority. Good luck, I would definitely hold on for a property you like

Ceilingfan · 07/09/2020 21:20

My friend was 7th, she ended up with the property due to no shows and turn downs.

Good luck

Original poster
Starlight987 · 07/09/2020 21:48

They haven’t mentioned anything regarding that. In the past, I have been offered houses on the 4th floor above and I’ve rejected them. So far they haven’t said anything about that...

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Original poster
Starlight987 · 07/09/2020 21:48

That gives me a slight pinch of hope

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innitbloodysuper · 07/09/2020 21:52

In my area, if you reject a house you go back to the bottom of the list. You should only bid on a property if you really really want it.

Logiclady94 · 07/09/2020 21:53

I work for a housing association and I can advise how it works. If you’ve bid on a property and you are currently in queue position number 8, it means that 7 people in a higher band/priority or have been in the same band longer than you. Your position will be subject to change if an applicant who has a higher priority than you bids on it so your position won’t be final till the bidding ends.

They will then look at the shortlist based on the highest bidder and contact the first three applicants. Depending on the circumstances of each applicant and the property, they will arrange viewings but they will explain each applicants place on the shortlist.
L

Logiclady94 · 07/09/2020 21:55

Yes PP’s are right, at my HA if you are offered properties and you refuse three, you are actually unable to bid for 12 months.

Jimdandy · 07/09/2020 21:55

In my area they let you turn down 2. If you don’t accept the 3rd offer your kicked off the list.

DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 07/09/2020 21:59

In my area you get 2 chances to say no, if you don't accept the 3rd then you get removed from the list and can't reapply for a year.

Logiclady94 · 07/09/2020 22:02

@Starlight987- I would personally ring them and ask them what their cancellation conditions are before refusing the flat. It will go down against you in some shape or form.

I would warn you everyone wants houses these days and they will look to fill houses to maximum occupancy. So if there are families higher on the waiting list and they are a family of 4 that need a 2 bed rather than a family of three it would be offered to them.

ImFree2doasiwant · 07/09/2020 22:02

It really depends on the allocations policy of your local authority. They are all different. The LA I work for (as a housing officer) offers to the 1st on the shortlist. If they refuse, they work down the list. At 8th, honestly, you'd not stand a chance. But as mentioned above, different LA have different policies.

Original poster
Starlight987 · 07/09/2020 22:11

I’ve just checked their policy and it says people who bid and get accepted for a property but then refuse it on a regular basis are at risk of being suspended from bidding for 6 months. I have checked my history and I’ve rejected 4 flats so far..two of those were in a very tall block on the 15th floor and the other on a 4th

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JadesRollerDisco · 07/09/2020 22:12

It depends. Some areas you have the right to refuse, but I have known areas where if you bid on it then refuse you are taken off the list/ stopped from bidding for a select period/ Rebanded. Only bid on places you are actually willing to live

JadesRollerDisco · 07/09/2020 22:13

Why are you bidding on properties you don't want?

Batshitbeautycosmeticsltd · 07/09/2020 22:17

Depends! But not a good idea to bid on properties you don't want.

DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 07/09/2020 22:18

To be honest you're on very dodgy ground. Rejecting 4 offers of a council property is madness, there's never going to be a perfect one, and they may well stop you from bidding.

If you cant walk 4 flights of stairs then I would be seeking a doctor's letter to confirm that so they stop offering unsuitable places for you. It may well mean that you're on the list for years longer though.

Butterer · 07/09/2020 22:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CornishTiger · 07/09/2020 22:20

First yes why are you bidding on properties you don’t want?

Your councils housing allocation policy for social housing will be more specific than what you have said is the wording. Look it up fully.

In our area you can have two reasonable refusals. As lettings frequently say if you’ve bidded it’s expected that you are actually serious in accepting property.

Shortlisting happens after bidding by housing associations. Unless restrictions apply like over 55s then they start with 1st.

The only chance of getting property if you are further down list is if it had a local 106 connection on it. Most homechoice bidding systems can’t filter this and prioritise then. So numbers 1-10 might have bidded even though they don’t have a local connection. Once the lettings team speak to them they check connection and work their way down. Once applicants realise what is required as evidence for local connection they are soon screened out.

Original poster
Starlight987 · 07/09/2020 22:21

The first two houses that I bid for which were on the 15th floor was when I first joined the bidding register, I was just bidding for any houses because someone had told me the more you the more points you get which I later found that was obviously false. And the other one on the fourth floor was advertised wrong it said it only had 30 external stairs which was later false it was actually way more

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LagunaBubbles · 07/09/2020 22:23

Why are they offering you properties that aren't suitable dont get it.

Yellowcar2 · 07/09/2020 22:23

As PP asked why are you bidding on properties and then rejecting them? Confused

Original poster
Starlight987 · 07/09/2020 22:25

@CornishTiger I don’t remember seeing anything with local connections neither home connections. But in the past I have seen adverts where they say priority is given priority to those who are tenants that live around the area. How can I find this out?

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