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Choice-based lettings – the basics

To apply for a council property you usually need to be on your council’s housing waiting list (sometimes known as a ‘housing register’). To join the waiting list, see the link ‘Apply for a council home’.

Once you’ve joined the waiting list, you should be able to use your council’s choice-based lettings scheme to let them know which properties you’re interested in.

There are rules about what properties you can express an interest in. Expressing an interest in a property is known as ‘bidding’. There is no cost involved in bidding and it has nothing to do with money. See the section ‘Bidding – a step by step guide’ for more detail.

• Find your local council Opens new window

• Apply for a council home

Bidding – a step by step guide

Different councils run their schemes in different ways. The basic steps are shown below but check with your council.

Step 1: find a property

Properties are advertised:

• in local papers
  
• on council websites
  
• in council and housing association offices – often as a weekly or fortnightly leaflet you can take away
  
• in local libraries

The advert will tell you about the property – for example, its layout, the number of bedrooms, if it has a garden etc. It will also contain details about who is eligible to bid for a property.

Step 2: check you’re eligible to bid

Check the advert to make sure you’re eligible to bid for a property. The advert should tell you:

• if the property is suitable for a single person, couple or family
  
• about any other criteria you need to meet – for example, adapted properties may be offered only to disabled people

The council will check you meet the criteria.

Step 3: make your bid

Check the advert to see when the deadline is and make sure you bid before the deadline.

You can usually do this online, by telephone or by text. If you’re already on the waiting list you may have a personal applicant number – this identifies you when bidding.

Some councils limit the number of bids you can make within a certain period. For example, you may only be able to bid for one or two properties a week.

Step 4: the council’s decision

It doesn’t matter who bids first, all bids are looked at together.

Council homes are normally offered to the people who need them most. For example, if you‘re homeless or currently live in cramped conditions. To find out more about how council housing is allocated, see the link ‘Apply for a council home’.

Councils don’t contact people who are unsuccessful because of the amount of applicants they have to deal with. They might provide feedback about properties that have been let on their website or in newsletters.

• Apply for a council home

If you’re offered a property

Normally, you’ll only have a short time to accept an offer. If you don't accept it, you can usually still bid for other properties.

If you keep rejecting offers, you may be taken temporarily off the waiting list.

Where to get help and advice

Contact your council if you’re likely to have difficulty bidding, as they may be able to bid on your behalf or find someone to help you bid. They may also be able to help if English isn’t your first language or you need a large print or Braille version of the advert.

You can get housing advice and more detail about housing options from organisations like Shelter and Citizens Advice.

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