Homebid

Visit Basingstoke and Deane Homebid website to find council and partner housing providers advertising social housing vacancies each week.

How does Homebid work?

Under Homebid you still have to be accepted onto our housing register. Instead of waiting until you are offered a home, you can play an active role in finding yourself a home.

Empty social housing properties are advertised each week on the Homebid website. Newsletters will be made available at lots of places within the area.

Using Homebid website, you can find out about the area the home is in including schools, shops, and bus routes. The website shows pictures of features and facilities, as well as a photograph of the property (where available). Adverts for properties include information to help you know whether the home is suitable for you. An advert for a three bedroom house might say people with two or more children are most likely to be offered the home.

If you want to be re-housed, you will need to look at the adverts each week to see if there is a suitable home. If there is, you will need to bid for it. Bidding does not mean putting down money - the term bidding is used to mean 'show an interest in'. There are different ways to bid including through the website, by telephone or by text message. People who need extra help with bidding can ask another person to place their bids for them.

Adverts are live between 12:01 am on Thursday morning and midnight on Monday. This gives applicants five days to put their bids on each week. You will have the opportunity to place a maximum of one bid every bidding cycle. After bidding has closed the applicants for each property are shortlisted based on their housing need band and waiting time. The applicant with the highest need band and longest waiting time will be offered the property. At this time eligibility will then be checked. The applicant will be able to look at the home and decide if they want to accept it. If they do not accept the home it will be offered to the next highest person on the shortlist. Applicants will only be made three reasonable offers of accommodation. If a third property is turned down, the applicant will be demoted into Band 3 for 12 months.

The advantage of using Basingstoke's Homebid is that customers have more choice over the homes and areas they live in. The council will still take into account an applicant's level of need for housing when assessing their application,

Using Homebid

For further information, please take a look at the FAQs below:

What should I consider before I bid?

Consider whether you would be in a position to move if you were offered a property.

You will need to ensure that you have your rent in advance and be able to cover moving costs . Details of the amount of rent in advance required are contained in the individual property adverts.

How will I be offered a property and how will I view it?

If you bid successfully, you will be contacted by the relevant housing association. They will explain their specific process with you.

You can expect some/all of the following measures to be in place:

• Telephone/digital pre tenancy assessments.
  
• Virtual viewings with a video of the property.
  
• Requesting that photo ID is provided digitally (photo/scan via email).
  
• Tenancy agreements sent and signed digitally, for example via DocuSign/PDF.
  
• Use of key safes.

I don't have access to technology, how will I be offered a property?

Each housing association will have its own policy on this. If you are unable to complete all or part of the process digitally, speak to the housing association.

Where a physical viewing or sign up needs to take place the following may apply.

• Ensuing that appropriate social distancing is maintained.
  
• Use of key safes.
  
• Wearing appropriate PPE.
  
• Being asked to enter the property alone. The housing officer may wait outside and answer any questions form a safe distance.

Where can I get further advice?

If your query relates to a specific property please contact the relevant housing association.

To speak to the council’s housing team please email housing@basingstoke.gov.uk or call 01256 844844.

Homebid FAQs

How can I apply for properties through Basingstoke and Deane Homebid?

To bid for homes you have to apply and qualify to join our housing register.

Before you are offered a property you may be asked to provide documents to support your application. You will be told what to provide and when. All documents provided must be originals, up to date and valid.

How do I know if I have been accepted onto the housing register?

You will receive a letter which may be via an email confirming that you have been accepted onto the housing register. This will tell you the band you have been placed in, the date your application has been registered from and the size of property you are eligible for.

Can you refuse to accept me onto the housing register?

There are some people who are not eligible to be included on the housing register, such as people with no resource to public funds. If we cannot accept your application you will be provided with a full explanation.

Do I move up bands automatically?

No. Your position within your band may improve as other applicants above you are re-housed and you may move bands if your circumstances change, however this is not automatic.

What if my circumstances change?

It is very important that you tell us of any changes in your circumstances so that we can amend your application.

Inform us of changes in your circumstances.

Do I need to renew my application each year?

Yes, normally on the anniversary of your application you will be prompted to complete an online re-registration form. If you do not complete the renewal when requested, your application may be closed. If you are having difficulty renewing, please contact the housing register team.

How long will I have to wait until I am re-housed?

It is not possible to give a time. To get an approximate idea of likely waiting times you should look at the recent lets to see the bands and effective dates of applicants who have recently been offered a home you would like. You can increase your chances of being re-housed more quickly by broadening your areas and property types.

How many homes are advertised through Basingstoke and Deane Homebid?

It is not possible to say as this will change each week. However, all 'general needs' homes will be advertised within the week they become available.

How often are properties advertised?

Properties available for rent are advertised each week.

Where are properties advertised?

Properties are advertised in the following ways:

• On the Homebid website
• In a newsletter available to view at various locations around the borough.

What information will the property adverts contain?

The adverts will tell you the landlord, location, size, rent and other features of the property. Where available a photograph of the property or a similar house type will be provided and you will be able to access information about the local area and facilities. The advert will also tell you if there are any special requirements that the applicant must meet, such as age requirements, which bands may bid for the property and which will be given priority for the property. It also tells you the number of bedrooms that applicants applying for the property need to be entitled to. If your bedroom entitlement is different to this you will not be able to bid for that property.

How do I apply for a property?

You can do this either through the Homebid website using the property search. If you are unable to access the site, please call the council on 01256 844844. Each housing applicant has an identification number which we have given, which is used to log on to the website. Each property also has a reference number which you use to make sure you have put a bid on the property you are interested in. The system will confirm your bids have been successfully placed.

How many properties can I express an interest in?

You will be able to express an interest in one property each time properties are advertised. However, you will only be able to express interest in properties that are suitable for your family.

How long will I have to bid for a property?

Properties will be advertised from midnight on a Wednesday and you will be able to register your interest in a property up until midnight the following Monday. It does not matter when in the cycle you place your bid. This will not impact your final position.

What help can I get if I cannot bid for myself?

If you are not able to place bids for yourself, you can ask someone to bid on your behalf, such as a friend, relative or support worker. If you are unable to place bids for yourself and unable to ask someone to help you, please let us know.

Will I know how many other people are interested in the same property?

Yes, when you bid for a property you will be told where you are in the queue. This is likely to change frequently due to other people bidding for the same property. Using this information you may decide to withdraw your bid for one property and bid for a different property for which you are higher placed in the queue. You can do this at any time before the closing date.

How do you decide who is offered a property?

Once the closing date for bids has passed a shortlist of interested applicants is drawn up. The shortlist is in order of eligibility according to the criteria stated in the advert details for that property. The applicant at the top of the list will normally be offered the property.

Are there any reasons why a landlord might refuse to accept me?

Landlords carry out their own checks on the people who have successfully bid for a home. They look in to things such as if you have any rent arrears and if so how much, and if you have been involved in any anti-social behaviour. They will also ask for a reference from your current landlord. It is possible that as a result of looking in to these things they may decide not to offer the home to you.

If I am offered a property, will I be able to view it before making up my mind?

Yes. You will be given an opportunity to view the property either virtually or in person. and decide whether you would like to accept it. The relevant housing association will be able to advise on their viewing process.

Can I keep placing bids if I have already been offered a home?

No. If we offer you a property you will not be shortlisted for any other properties until you have made a decision on the first offer.

What if I don't like the property when I have seen it?

You are able to receive three reasonable offers before your application is demoted for 12 months. You will need to consider very carefully before refusing any offers made to you

Will I be able to remain on the housing register if I accept an offer of a property?

If you accept an offer through the housing register, your application will be marked as housed and will be closed. If you later wish to reapply for housing, you will need to make a new application. Your application will be assessed out allocations scheme, taking in to account your circumstances at that time.

How will I know what has happened to the properties advertised?

The recent lets page of the Homebid website gives feedback about the lettings. This includes how many bids were placed and general information about the bidder, such as how long the person had been waiting.

This will give you a better idea of how popular a particular property type or area is and how long you would normally have to wait. You can then decide whether to look for other types of property or areas, or whether to consider other housing options such as to rent privately

What other options are there for housing?

There is a shortage of social housing in Basingstoke and Deane. Most applicants on the Housing Register will have to wait a long time for re-housing. Depending on your circumstances you may wish to consider other options such as renting in the private sector.

How do I request a review of a decision?

Applicants have the right to request a review of any aspect of their housing application assessment made by the council. Requests for a review should be made in writing, including electronically by sending a message to the Housing Team, by telephone or verbally within 21 days of the original notification of the decision. Ideally requests for review should be addressed to a housing officer. The review will be carried out by an officer who was not involved in the original decision and you will be advised of the outcome of the review within 56 days (unless agreed otherwise between the applicant and the reviewing officer).