Housing association bidding/choice based letting.

[Graphista]

I'm new to this way of finding somewhere to live and would really appreciate any tips anyone could give?

Reason is we need to find somewhere ASAP and I feel completely confused by the process.

I'm registered with the HA following an appointment, just got email today confirming. Limited no. of bids per week, want to give us a good chance of getting somewhere but also don't want to end up in somewhere not suited for us.

Anyone have any experience of this?

Have no idea how it works but am also using this bloody process. I'm allowed two bids per week. None of the properties ever have photos. I'm usually 142nd in the queue. I don't know whether that means I'm 142nd to be considered or what. It seems like a lottery to me.

Will be watching the thread with much interest.

It is very confusing.

I'm ltd to 3 bids a week and as you say usually no photos just a brief description of the property and address.

I don't know the area very well so am relying on others to advise me on if an address is 'OK' or 'Ooh I dunno can be a bit rough round there'

Hopefully an mner with some wisdom on this will pop along soon

I got my HA house in January this year it is a new build on a very nice "normal" easte. What priority are you? Your priority makes all the difference to be honest. The way they list the bids is in date order of joining the scheme then someone looks through the applications in the order making sure you fit all the criteria for that property and contact you accordingly. I waited about 6 months give or take so not long at all and I was only in a low priority band c, A the highest and D the lowest here. My area give priority to people in full time permanent employment for the new build properties on the "normal" eastes, we ticked that box and the size criteria and got lucky I think. We weren't even 1st on the bidding list think We were 8th but the 7 people in front of us didn't meet the employment criteria.

You can always put the house number and street name into Google maps to see the actual house and you can find out crime rates, employment levels and so on on Zoopla.

Where I am it's point based and I currently have 0 points even though we are in temp accommodation. 6 months I don't think is quick at all. We need somewhere ASAP as I said.

Thanks for reminder re zoopla although sometimes one street can be OK and the street around the corner isn't.

Why if you are homless do you ha e no points that doesn't make sense, have you questioned this?

We joined the list end of September and got our house first week of January for a housing association house that is quick. We were in no real need as we were in a private rent where we had lived for 8 years, so we were in one of the lowest bands and we only got into that as we were struggling to pay the rent as it had gone up over £150 a month in that time but we had never missed a payment.

Type in post code and use streetcheck.Crime stats are a mile radius and it gives a breakdown of crimes and the roads they were on. Also gives demographic etc etc Also street view is good.Good luck.

CBL schemes are all different but most rank you on housing need (banding) and then who has waited longest in that band. They usually publish statistics for lettings each cycle so see who the previous properties went to. For example, If all the three beds went to people in band A or B who had been waiting for 3 years then you get a good idea of your chances. Coming 142nd on the shortlist is not good tbh. Try bidding on flats instead of houses and in less desirable areas then reassess your chances. Realistically you may be better off private renting

6 months is bloody quick. When I moved in my next door neighbour had been here 2 years (temporary accommodation) so she's here 2 years and 7 months now.

If the weekly process starts at midnight on a Tuesday for example, log on at night and drop your bids then. It's first come first serve, so get there first :)
Unfortunately you can't be too picky, and it's unlikely you will find your 'dream' property.

It's not first come first served at all. The shortlist is produced when the bidding time finishes and is strictly ordered by priority and time waiting. For example if a band A bidder who had been waiting longest bids five minutes before the bidding closes he would automatically be number one on the list. The council and landlord then work down the list and offer it to the highest person on the list who fits the criteria for that property.
If it was first cone first served it would make a mockery of the housing need measure and there would be no need for banding.
OP if you are in council provided temporary accommodation are you sure that they aren't bidding for you or doing a direct let? Zero points sounds wrong

I'm a housing officer so hope can advise.

If there are no photos, Google the address to view the area, or go and gave a look before bidding. You should be able to tell whether you consider it too rough for you, or not.

Only bid for properties you want!

It's really really not first come first served. The properties will be allocated on a needs basis. Our area has low, medium and high band. Others will have a,b,c,d etc or gold silver and bronze.

The people who bid for each property will be on a shortlist. The property will be offered to the bidder in the highest priority, and who has been in the band for the longest time.

So high band since 12th November is ahead of high band since 12th January.

Some properties have specific conditions for you to eligible for them. Such as you need to have a local connection to the area, or be in work, etc.

All of this will be explained in the councils allocation policy, or their guide to their scheme.

6 months is quick.

Why do you have no points? Have you made a homeless application? I assume you have if you are in temp. What decision had been made on your application?

Hi, nottalotta has excellent overview - if you name the HA or area (some areas operate CBL schemes across a group of HA's - for example Durham Key Options covers HA's across County Durham) then someone can probably give you a more detailed info?

0 points as assessment of if I'm 'unintentionally homeless' hasn't been completed yet. I am following that up.

Can't name area or authority as very very small county and too identifying sorry.

Been told by person I did registration with its not first come first served BUT local people have said to me in their experience it is first come first served.

Absolutely not being picky! When other local people are saying somewhere is a 'maybe' and it's not getting a lot of bids I'm thinking go for it as fewer bids means more chance of getting it - but I don't know how true that is and that's partly why I started this thread. Where we are now is considered by some to be a less than desirable area yet we've found it to be fine so far.

Nottalotta good to get advice from the horses mouth as it were. Thanks to all who have taken the time to reply. As I said I find it confusing and a bit overwhelming.

Fewer bids doesn't equal bad area. We had a 3 bed semi detached house in a premium area, coastal, very very exoensive, lots of second homes there. But 25 miles or so from the town where the majority of our applicants live. It got 7 bids and went to someone in low band.

My bidding category is PH. Anyone know what that means?

Sounds good Dixie

Notta yes I know sometimes there's other reasons properties don't attract as many bids. Eg houses as opposed to flats very sought after here but if the bidder has young/primary age children they wouldn't probably want the houses as they're on main roads and away from the schools. But I appreciate being reminded. It was just a general point.

letter also states 'the Council is satisfied that you are eligible for assistance, homeless, in priority need and not intentionally homeless'.

See I've not had my letter yet as this is all quite recent