Ideal Choice Homes

Ideal Choice Homes is the new choice based lettings system for rented accommodation in the Lancaster district.

What is choice based lettings?

Choice based lettings is the new way we will be letting council accommodation in the Lancaster district.

The scheme will include, housing association properties, shared ownership properties and social housing tenants who are looking for a swap (mutual exchange).

Under Choice Based Lettings vacant properties are advertised, and applicants are able to bid for any property which they are eligible for. At the end of the advertising period, the person in the greatest housing need out of all those who have placed a bid for a property will be offered and invited to view it.

Most homes advertised by Ideal Choice Homes will tell you which band will be given preference. This means that at the end of the advertising cycle, we look at applicants who have expressed an interest in the home in the order of the preference band.

Therefore, a property offered as preference to Band B means that we look at all the Band B applicants who have expressed an interest in this home first. Only if no one matches this criteria will we then look at at Band A applicants, then Band C and so on. However, if your band does not have the preference for the home, this does not mean that you cannot select it, but it may mean that your chances of being successful are lower.

Please be aware that a bid does not involve any money. By bidding you are simply expressing your interest in being considered for the vacancy.

How to participate

To be eligible to bid for properties through Ideal Choice Homes you must apply to join the Lancaster City Council housing register. You can do this on-line at www.idealchoicehomes.co.uk

Once you have registered you will be informed of your band, and what type of property you are eligible to bid for.

Useful information

For further information about choice based lettings and the Lancaster City Council allocation policy, why not have a look at the following:

• CBL User Guide - This useful guide explains how the choice based lettings process will work from start to finish, and what you will need to do to take part. Remember, this system will not come into effect until October 2011.
• Frequently Asked Questions - We have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about how the system will work. If there is anything we have missed that you would like to ask, please get in touch,
• Housing Allocation Policy - This booklet explains in detail how we allocate accommodation. It includes details about how to join the housing register, how we process and prioritise applications and how Ideal Choice Homes works.

The best way to access information about ideal Choice Homes is by visiting the website at www.idealchoicehomes.co.uk.

New Development

Due for completion in 2012

Adactus Housing Group is currently developing 30 units of 1 and 2 bedroom flats at Greyhound Bridge, Lancaster. These properties will be for rent and will be let through Ideal Choice Homes.

More information to follow.