Choice Based Lettings

The Council in partnership with East Durham Homes wants to make finding a home as simple, fair and open as possible. To do this a policy called Choice Based Lettings will be introduced to replace the current lettings process in April 2008.

Choice  Based Lettings is a government scheme to improve and modernise the way council properties are let, giving tenants more choice and control over where they live.

Why introduce Choice Based Lettings?

The Government requires all local authorities to operate a Choice Based Lettings scheme by 2010. Choice Based Lettings is seen by the Government as a method to empower people to make decisions over where they live and exercise choice. The District of Easington and East Durham Homes are supporting its introduction and will be operating a Choice Based Lettings Scheme from 2008.

What is Choice Based Lettings?

Under a Choice Based Lettings scheme, empty properties will be advertised and applicants will have to contact us to say they want to be considered for that particular property (usually called “bidding” or “expressing an interest”). East Durham Homes will still operate an allocation policy to ensure that statutory obligations are met.

Choice Based Lettings will provide:

• A letting system which is clearer and easier to understand

• More information about the properties available

• The ability to decide when you bid for property

• More information about property availability, and details on the popularity of properties

• More choice and involvement when choosing a home and area.

• The opportunity to find a home sooner, by bidding for a home that has less demand

• Stability. If you choose your own home you are less likely to want to move later.

What Choice Based Lettings is not

Choice Based Lettings is not the answer to the housing shortage in some areas and we will not be able to house everybody on the housing register.

Using a Choice Based Lettings system will not mean that:

• We have to follow another council’s allocation policy. We will continue to use our existing allocation policy

• Empty properties will take longer to fill; or

• More properties will become available to let

For further information on the Choice Based Lettings Scheme please use the attached link to the East Durham Homes website. However if you have any views or suggestions in relation to the development of the scheme then please do not hesitate to contact Marie Smith or Allison Carrahar using the contact details below.