Choice Based Lettings
Choice-Based Lettings (CBL) is a system used by local councils and housing associations to allocate social housing. Instead of being assigned a property, eligible applicants can view available homes and "bid" on those that meet their needs. Properties are advertised online or through local portals, and bids are assessed based on priority and housing need.
Applying for Council Housing
You can apply for council housing through your local authority. Each council has its own rules, and most require joining a housing register. Eligibility usually starts at age 18 (some councils allow applications from age 16).
How Housing Is Allocated
Councils use a points or banding system based on housing need and each Council manages this differently in accordance with their Allocations Policy. Priority is given to customers in the highest need for re-housing.
Choice-Based Lettings
Some councils use a choice-based lettings system, allowing you to bid on available properties. Once accepted onto the housing register, you can:
- Search for homes via council websites, offices, or local libraries
- Check eligibility for each property
- Bid online, by phone, or text
- Wait for the council’s decision
What happens next?
If your bid is successful, the Lettings Team will contact you. The response time may vary depending on the number of properties we’re managing.
When placing a bid, please ensure the property is in an area you’d genuinely like to live. Review the advert carefully for specific requirements such as adaptations, parking, or floor level. While property visits are discouraged, we recommend familiarising yourself with the local area.
In some cases, you may not be considered for a property. If this happens, we’ll explain why. For more details on the checks carried out during verification and reasons for withdrawal, please refer to the Lettings Policy.
Renting a home FAQs
If you are at risk of becoming homeless make immediate contact with the Local Authority in the area where you currently are or where you would like to live. They will be able to provide you with the correct advice and support.
Platform Housing group do not offer emergency accommodation and therefore you will need to contact the Local Authority for advice and support.
If you can rent a home, we may have properties that are immediately available in a location of your choice. Visit our Rent a Home page to view all our available homes and follow our social media for updates.
We work closely with Local Authorities via nominations through the choice-based lettings scheme. Once you have a live housing application through the Local Authority you will be able to bid on any properties that are advertised.
Generally, permission is not required to keep a pet, however, in low rise flats, this is restricted to one cat or one dog only. We do not allow pets to be kept in our high-rise flats other than assistance dogs. Permission may be required for Retirement Living and Village accommodation. This will be discussed during the application stage with the Lettings Officer.
Visit our Help and Support page to see what support is available on Cost of Living, Energy Price Increase, Debt Advice, Money, Benefit and Job Support.
We will always try to make sure that our homes are let to the most appropriate household need.
There may be times that we will restrict who can apply to live there. See the non-exhaustive list below;
- A local lettings plan (LLP) – these are put in place to help us to create a balanced community where people want to live and more importantly, stay
- S106 Development – this is a legal binding document agreed by the Local Authority and the developers
- Age restrictions – some of our homes are restricted to certain age groups for example, Specialist Housing all customers must be 60+ or 55+ and in receipt of DLA/PIP
Your Lettings Officer will carry out an affordability assessment to check that you can afford the home and maintain your tenancy.
The Lettings Team will contact you if you have been successful, depending on how many properties we are managing at that time will depend on how quickly we can contact you.
We strongly advise that when you are bidding for a home you ensure it is an area you would like to live. Please read the advert carefully for any specific criteria e.g. adaptations, parking, floor level etc. Whilst we advise not to visit the property, we do recommend you familiarise yourself with the area.
You will be contacted by a Lettings Officer to confirm that you are still interested in the property and if you are, you will be matched to the home.
You will need to complete a housing application form and provide all the relevant documents to support your application so the Lettings Officer can verify your application.
The list below shows some of the documentation that we may ask to see, note this list is non-exhaustive:
- Current UK/EU/EEA Passport
- Photo driving/provisional licence
- Birth certificate
- Biometric Residence Permit
- Proof of Child Benefit
- Payslips dated within the last 3 months
- Bank statement dated within the last 3 months
- Benefit entitlement letters dated within the last 3 months
- Universal Credit statements dated within the last 3 months
- Proof of Address within the last 3 months
- Supporting information such as; medical evidence, criminal convictions etc
It is important that you answer all the questions that are asked by the Lettings Officer when filling in the application form.
There are occasions where you may not be considered for the property, and you will be given the reason why, refer to the Lettings Policy for further information on what checks are carried out during the verification process and a list of some of the reasons you may be withdrawn from a property.
Whilst we do not require any fees or deposit you do need to pay one month’s rent in advance (a degree of discretion may be applied according to individual circumstances).
It is also expected that future rent payments are made via direct debit and a credit of at least one month’s rent is built up over time, regardless of income. These arrangements will be discussed by the Lettings Officer at the offer stage with payment taken at sign-up; a small amount each week can be added to any Direct Debit arrangements to build up this credit.
Your rent is charged and will need to be paid on the 1st of the month however if your payday or benefits payment day is different to this, we will work with you to build up a credit paid at any frequency to ensure your account will eventually have no arrears.
Once the Lettings Officer has carried out the verification process and confirmed that you are a suitable customer in line with our Lettings Policy, you will be formally offered the home, however there may still be occasions where properties can be withdrawn.
You will be emailed your tenancy agreement to read, and you will need to confirm you agree to the terms and conditions. To do this you will then need to sign electronically and return the agreement to us within 48 hours of receipt, don’t worry this is an automated and simple process. You are required to do this before viewing the property, but don't worry - the agreement won't become legally binding until after you've viewed the property in person and confirmed that you still wish to accept it (read on for more details)
The EPC, gas certificate and electric certificate will be sent to you via email when available, with a decoration voucher if you've been awarded one.
Once we have received a date from our contractor Platform Property Care to let us know the home is safe and ready to move into. On occasions we are sometimes given target dates and we will share this with you where possible.
We will not know what work is required until the property is empty and will not leave the property empty for longer than is completely necessary.
During this period, you must not visit for health and safety reasons, our operatives are not allowed to let you in to have a look around.
Once we have received a date from Platform Property Care you will be contacted by an Empty Property Officer to arrange a date and time for viewing.
During this time the Neighbourhood Officer will contact you either by phone to give you the key safe code to get into the home or they will meet you there. The Neighbourhood Officer will answer any queries that you may have so please make sure to tell us if your mobile number changes.
You will be asked whether you wish to accept the home and if you do then the Neighbourhood Officer will need to finalise some details with you either face-to-face or over the telephone. If your appointment is via the telephone once the call is finished you are able to keep the keys and start moving in. If you are face to face we will give you the keys during the appointment.
Your tenancy agreement will be signed by a representative from Platform Housing and will be returned to you by email. This then becomes a legally binding document.
If the property has gas central heating then an engineer will need to visit to test the boiler and show you how to use the heating and hot water system. This will be booked in at the same time as arranging your viewing appointment.
Your gas and electric supplier will be British Gas, it is important that you contact them immediately with your metre readings and ensure there is credit on both pre-payment metres before the engineer attends.
Existing customers would not usually be eligible to reapply for any further transfers for a period of 2 years from the date of their last move unless there is an exceptional change in circumstances and/or they meet a reasonable preference criteria on having re-applied to the Local Authority.
If you find yourself in a position where you need accommodation and are a care leaver or under the age of 18, you will need to contact the Local Authority for advice and support.
