Residents on the social housing register will ‘bid’ for properties when a new online scheme is unveiled next month.
Homebid, a Choice Based Lettings Scheme will be launched on Thursday, June 10 allowing residents to play a more active role in choosing their new home. Similar initiatives have run up and down the country for a decade but Basingstoke and Deane borough council officers claim they have waited till now to offer the ‘Rolls-Royce’ of services.
Each week, empty social housing properties will be advertised on a dedicated website and printed newsletters will be made available across the area. When a resident who wises to be re-housed sees a property they are interested in, they place a ‘bid’ by phone, text or via the website and the most suitable ‘bidder’ will be selected and offered the property. If they then reject the home it goes to the next highest person.
There are currently around 5,000 people on the housing register.
Cllr Cathy Osselton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Health, told the Observer: “We expect around 90% of users will use the website, though there are other methods available. The list is updated as new properties become available.
“We are not the first local authority to do this but the experience has been that once people find out about the process, they will engage. We had concerns about older people in sheltered housing but we will be ensuring that properties are let conventionally as some elderly people do not have internet access. This is a government initiative stating all local authorities should provide some kind of choice based letting by the end of 2010.
“This gives totally transparency and allows people to actively acquire their property rather than just being put their by the council – it is better communication with our residents in need of social housing.”
A series of events will take place next week to teach residents about the new scheme. This will take place on Overton Community Centre, Winchester Street, from 5pm to 7pm on Monday, May 24 and Kingsclere Village Club, George Street, from 5.30pm to 8pm on Wednesday, May 26.
For the Homebid website visit www.basingstoke.gov.uk/go/homebid
For more information contact Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on 01256 844844.
