Council Housing

[PrettiSilver]

A friend was telling me that she bid on a Council Property last Saturday, 20 November with a closing date the next day, Sunday 21 November.

Immediately it came back that her bid position was “2” (it was “4” on the last property, she unsuccessfully bid on).

She was given a “view date” for five weeks time, at the end of December.

As she ‘didn’t want to put all her eggs into one basket’ she decided to keep on looking, but noticed that all of the remaining properties now have the “bid” function removed.

She has tried to call the Housing Department, but they do not pick up the phone, she is hoping that this means this is an offer in principle, so that’s why she is now no longer able to bid on any other properties.

Anyone out there that can throw some light on this?

Many thanks in advance. 😉

hi,

normally if your being considered for a property then you cant bid on any other property.
but you she wont officially get the property until she has viewed, ,accepted and had all checks done etc.

Thank you so much for your response, I’ve just spoken to my friend.

She also wonders whether she is the only one who will view (via photo at the moment, due to Covid), as she told me she can remember watching a documentary many years ago, where there were four interested parties all viewing the same property. She said it was heartbreaking watching the other parties disappointment in not getting the property.

I told her hopefully not as I’m sure Councils have learned to be more diplomatic and would only offer to the next suitable person if the prospective tenant declined the offer.

I think I saw that documentary as well. Was it called ‘how to get a council house’?

I believe that they took several people at once as if the first prospective tenant declined it would save the admin of getting the next one in to view.

Fingers crossed for your friend!

@TheDuchessOfBeddington

Yes.

That’s what it was called. 😉

Yes once she is matched to a property them she won't be able to bid on anything else.

How was she told about the viewing? There could be many reasons why an offer hasn't been made to the person in position one.

I don’t know about now with Covid, but in our area they also do multiple viewings of council properties. You could have 3 or 4 potential tenants viewing at the same time, number 1 on the list gets first opportunity to accept and so on. If someone on the day says yes, they take the deposit and give the keys on the same day.

By deposit, I mean first week’s rent!

Thanks for coming back.

She said as soon as she clicked the “Bid” button, it came up that she was “Bid Position” 2 and gave her a view date for the end of December.

The previous property she unsuccessfully bid for, her “Bid Position” was 4.

Thanks for coming back.

Due to Covid, they are sending her pictures of the property, presumably on the “view date”.

Hope it goes well for her! Keep us posted!