Introducing Home Choice Plus

Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Housing Waiting List is changing!  From 1 December 2008 a new way of letting housing association properties will be introduced.   

Properties that become available in the District will be let through Home Choice Plus, a partnership of local authorities which is administered in this area by Stratford-on-Avon District Council.  The Home Choice Plus partnership includes: Malvern Hills; Bromsgrove; Worcester City; Wychavon; Wyre Forest Councils.  

Home Choice Plus, a form of choice based lettings, differs from the current points system by placing applicants in a banding (eg gold, silver, bronze) according to their housing need. Vacant properties will then be advertised and applicants, if they are eligible, will be able to express an interest in the property by bidding on the phone, by text or using the internet. They will be able to place up to three bids in each weekly bidding cycle.   

The District Council has started the mammoth task of writing to all 3,600 current housing applicants asking them to complete a new form in order to have their application 'banded' on Home Choice Plus. The forms should be returned as soon as possible so that applications can be registered in time for the scheme to "go live" in Stratford District on 1 December 2008.  

The new scheme will replace the existing Housing Waiting List and tenants of Orbit Heart of England seeking a move will also need to be registered with Home Choice Plus.     

"The District Council is committed to providing those who are seeking affordable housing the opportunity to have more choice over where they live. The introduction of Home Choice Plus provides this opportunity and is a more transparent way for home seekers to find the home that suits their needs," says Councillor Stephen Gray, Portfolio Holder for Revenues and Housing.   

Until Home Choice Plus goes live in Stratford-on-Avon District, existing applications on the current Housing Waiting List and Orbit Heart of England transfer list will continue to be active and properties will carry on being allocated according to the current policy.