Choice based lettings - frequently asked questions

How will Choice Based Lettings differ from the allocations scheme?

At the moment properties are allocated to households on the waiting list. Usually the applicant with the highest number of points is offered the property. Applicants can refuse the property but after two refusals your application will be suspended from the list for 12 months. With Choice Based Lettings empty properties will be advertised. You decide which properties you apply for so you will have greater choice in deciding where to live.

How will I apply for the new Choice Based Lettings Scheme?

If you are already on the housing waiting list, you will automatically be contacted to let you know your priority under Choice Based Letting. If you are a new applicant you will need to fill out an application form to join the Housing Register. We will work out your housing need and place you in one of four bands: Band A, B, C, or D. There will also be a suspended band for applicants who are not eligible to apply for properties (bid), for example because of rent arrears with their current landlord.

What are the priority bands and how will I know which one applies to me?

Under Choice Based Letting, applications are assessed according to the level of housing need and placed in a band. Band A covers applicants in the greatest housing need who are considered to have an urgent need to move due to a serious risk to their health, safety or well-being. Applicants in Band B are in housing need but there is not an urgent risk to their safety, health or well-being. Applicants in Band C will have moderate housing need but still wish to move. Band D is for applicants with no assessed housing need. You will be assessed based upon the information you provide in your application form and we will write to you to let you know what band you are in.

How does the registration date work with the banding?

Once your application has been assessed and awarded a banding, you will also be given a registration date. If your circumstances change and you move into a higher band, your registration date will change to the date the higher band was awarded. If you move to a lower band, you will keep your original registration date.

Will all properties be advertised?

All properties will be advertised unless the Council or one of its partners needs to move a tenant urgently, for example whilst major work is carried out in their property or when we must make an offer to an applicant to meet a statutory housing duty.

Where will properties be advertised?

Properties that are due to become vacant will be advertised weekly – as part of the consultation process we are seeking your views on how best to do this.

What information will the adverts contain?

The adverts will aim to tell you the location, size, rent and special features of the property. It will also tell you which band of customers can bid and whether there are any age or other restrictions. We will also try to include a photograph of the property and some information about the local areas and facilities.

What will I need to do if I am interested in a property?

If you are interested in an advertised property and you meet the eligibility criteria, you will need to apply for the property by the closing date on the advert. This is commonly known as “bidding”. You will be able to bid via a website, by telephone or by visiting one of our offices.

How will you decide who is offered a property?

Once the closing date has passed, all the bids will be put on a list. The list will be ordered by eligibility, band and application date – so whoever is eligible for the property, in the highest band and the longest application date will be offered the property first.

What if I am unsuccessful?

Once the letting process has been completed we will provide statistics on the type of household the property was let to and their banding. However, no personal details will be released.

An example of how CBL works:

You are a tenant with Salisbury District Council or a housing association with properties in Salisbury district area. You live in a three bedroom house. Your children have grown up and you would like to move to a smaller property.

You complete an application form for housing and when it is registered you are advised of the banding you have been given and the date your application was registered. In this case you would be in the Band B (Gold) band because you under-occupy your accommodation.

The properties are advertised on a weekly basis and the advertisement gives information such as the size and type of property, the location, the rent and any other available information. There may be restrictions as to who can bid such as if the property is a bungalow you may need to be over 60 years of age.

You find a property you want and you apply (bid) for the property. There will be a deadline for bidding and after that time the council will consider the bandings of those people who bid for the properties. If there were two families in the Gold band who want the property it is likely to go to the applicant in the highest need with the longest date registered.

The council will then advise the successful applicant and will publish the banding and date of the successful family so that other people can see why that bid was successful.

Contact details:

Telephone:
01722 434280

email:
housingadvice@salisbury.gov.uk...

Postal address:
26 Endless Street
Salisbury
SP1 1DR