Basingstoke’s new social housing scheme has been put through its paces by an Observer employee having gone live last week.
Homebid, a choice based lettings scheme, has been adopted by the borough council with the aim of revolutionising the way social housing is given out. Instead of waiting to be offered a home, residents will play an active role in finding the right property for them. Empty social housing properties will be listed each week at www.basingstokehomebid.org.uk with details including nearby schools and facilities, and people eligible for the property can register their interest by ‘bidding’ for the property. The successful applicant will then be given the property.
Basingstoke Observer employee Louise Smith, a single mother of two, has been on the social housing register for over a year and said she found the new system a massive improvement.
She said: “I found the website very helpful in giving plenty of details on the properties I am eligible for and it was easy to use – it is definitely an improvement on the last system. There are now so many opportunities and ways to put in an application for a home which will make it a lot easier in the long run.
“But I am still not totally convinced I will be able to find a property suitable for me as some of the properties I am eligible for are in areas I don’t want my children to grow up in. That said, I am happy with the new system and found it extremely helpful – I think it has given me privacy.”
The new system is not just confined to the web, with updates lists available at points around the borough and bids can be placed by phone and text message.
Cabinet Member for Housing, Health and Culture, Cllr Cathy Osselton, said: “Basingstoke and Deane Homebid will give people more say over the sort of property they would like to live in, but it must be remembered that the number of properties available will not increase through the scheme. Homes will also still only be offered to the person with the most points and most in need of that type of property.
“I am delighted that the borough has introduced this new way of assigning social housing and I hope people will prefer having more say over the types of properties they put forward for.
Anyone wanting more information can call 01256 844844 or visit www.basingstoke.gov.uk/go/homebid.
