Choice-based lettings
This content applies to England only.
Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. Get advice relating to Scotland
Choice-based lettings (CBL) schemes are designed to introduce an element of choice for people who apply for council and housing association homes. Choice-based lettings allow people applying for a home (including existing tenants who want a transfer) to bid for properties which become available on a points-based system.
At the moment not all councils in England offer a choice-based lettings scheme.
How do choice-based lettings schemes work?
If your council operates a choice-based lettings (CBL) scheme, ask them for more information about it. The rules will vary from one area to another and can be complex, but in most areas schemes work as follows:
Available properties are advertised locally in printed publications as well as on the internet. Details of the latest properties will usually be published in leaflets or in newsletters available from local libraries, housing offices and community centres. There may also be a special website advertising properties in your area. To avoid missing out, check these regularly and stick to any deadlines for bids.
The list of available properties will say which type of household can bid for each one (ie if it is for an elderly or disabled person, or for a household which needs a certain number of bedrooms).
You can then apply (or 'bid') for any particular properties that you like. In most areas you can bid online, by phone, by text or by post. Different councils have different rules about how many properties you can bid for in one go.
The local council’s housing department, or the housing association which is running the scheme then sorts the bids it receives in order of priority, and the person with the highest priority normally gets first refusal on the property. If that person turns the offer down, the next person on the list gets the chance to see it, and so on. In some areas, more than one applicant may be invited to view the property at the same time.
Who gets priority?
Most choice-based lettings schemes operate a two-stage process to help councils work out who should get the property. This is designed to make the system as fair as possible, and to try to ensure that the property goes to the right person(s). The stages are generally as follows:
The initial application stage
When you make an application for housing, the council’s housing department will assess whether you are eligible and how much priority your household should be given.
The bidding stage
When you bid for properties your priority status will normally be reviewed again and compared with that of other bidders to ensure that the household with the highest priority is successful.
All schemes are legally required to give priority to certain categories of people – the rules on this are the same as for traditional ‘waiting lists’ They may also give additional priority if you are pregnant, have dependent children, have been in care or are vulnerable for other special reasons.
Other factors that can be taken into account include:
- the length of time you have been waiting for a home
- your financial circumstances
- how long you were in your previous home
- whether you have a history of rent arrears.
If your circumstances change, for example if you are expecting a child, inform your council as soon as possible as your level of priority may well change.
Large homes, with four or more bedrooms, are in short supply in most areas. Councils usually reserve these for large families. If you need a large home it is normally best to apply for any such homes that are advertised, as vacancies are usually few and far between. Some councils and housing associations let adjacent homes together, which can be suitable for some families - eg large extended families who need to live close together.
Priority cards
Some councils will give people with the most urgent need for re-housing a 'priority card'. This will provide you with an advantage when bidding for a particular property. Priority cards usually only last for a certain period of time (eg 12 weeks) but this can be extended. For more information on the rules around priority cards, contact a local advice centre.
What if I have a disability?
It may be necessary to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people so as to prevent anyone from being unfairly disadvantaged by a choice based lettings scheme. This could include giving certain households extra time to bid, or in some cases providing the information in an accessible format such as Braille, or an audio recording.
This can also mean that in cases where there is a shortage of accessible property for disabled people, that councils will need to identify properties which may be suitable for adaptation before any bidding starts.
Making property accessible can include creating wider doorways, toilets and bathrooms that provide wheelchair access, and kitchen units that are lower to the ground, for example. If there is a lack of specially adapted property available, and one is found that is suitable for adaptation, the council’s housing department should then give additional priority to any disabled applicants who bid for it.
What happens if I do not accept a property that I have bid for?
If you refuse to accept a property for which you have made a bid, the whole process starts again. However, some schemes will penalise you (ie by taking away some of your priority points) if you turn down several offers, or don't make any bids at all.
If you have been given extra priority because you applied as homeless and you do not accept a property that you have bid for, you could lose any priority which you were given because of your homelessness application. You will still be able to bid for any future properties that do come up, but will have less chance of getting them as your priority will be lower.
What if I have difficulty using the scheme?
Councils should take reasonable steps to ensure that their choice-based lettings scheme is accessible to everyone. However, depending on your circumstances, you may find it difficult to bid for properties, or you may not have enough priority to bid for the properties you like.
If you are in this situation you should get advice about what you can do to increase your chances of being offered a home.
Councils should provide advice and information to help you understand how the scheme works, especially when you first join. If you have been bidding for properties but don’t seem to get anywhere, you can ask for feedback on why your bid was not successful.
If you are not happy with the way the council has dealt with your application, contact a local advice centre to find out whether there is anything you can do. An adviser can check whether you’ve been given the right amount of priority and/or might be able to challenge a decision that the council has made about your application. Use our directory to find an advice centre in your local area.
