Croydon Council is launching a choice-based lettings scheme to give those eligible for the housing register greater choice about where they live and the type of home that is suitable for them.
The new Croydon Choice system will go live on Monday 22 May – and the council says it is a new way of allocating social housing properties in the borough, giving those on the housing waiting list more choice and making the process more open and transparent.
As before, families and individuals who are eligible for the housing register will have their housing needs assessed and they will be placed in a band according to circumstances – banding is the method by which the council prioritises applications for housing.
But instead of the council contacting applicants when a suitable home becomes available, the properties will be advertised on the Croydon Choice website as soon as they become available.
Applicants can then choose which ones they are interested in among those that they are eligible for – and tell the council which properties they are interested in by expressing an interest or “bidding” through the website or mobile app.
Properties are open to bidding for a minimum for three days, with the closing dates clearly labelled on each advert – those with the highest priority will be given first consideration.
Croydon Council’s Cabinet Member for homes, regeneration and planning, Councillor Alison Butler, said:
“This is a huge step forward for social housing in Croydon, making the way the council allocates housing far more open and transparent to thousands of families and individuals on the housing register. Croydon Choice allows those people choice over the area and the type of property they would like to live in.
”Previously, those on the housing register had to wait for the council to contact them with an offer of a property – they did not know what other properties may have been available, or how long they would have to wait for a particular type of property.
“The choice-based letting system puts those waiting for a home back in the driving seat, giving them greater choice, which helps to build stronger communities.”
The added that the process of “bidding” through the choice-based letting scheme simply means tenants putting their names down – and has nothing to do with paying money.
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