Choice based lettings

The way housing is allocated in Lambeth has changed. No longer is it simply a method of getting what you are given. Lambeth has moved to a system called Choice Based Lettings.  

How does it work?

Flats and houses that are available for letting are now advertised across the borough via posters in libraries and housing offices, and on the internet on a special choice based lettings website called "Home Connections". As with estate agents, there are photos and descriptions of the property.

Visit the Lambeth Home Connections website for the properties available for letting this week.

'Bidding' for a home

You need to be on the transfer or housing waiting list to register your interest in a property. You can register your interest in an advertised property by phone, text message, or through the Lambeth Home Connections website. This is called 'bidding' for a home – but no money is involved.

There will be some conditions. For example, you will only be able to bid for houses that are the right size for your household. There will be an age restriction on sheltered housing, and only disabled people will be able to bid for adapted housing.

The council will collect all the 'bids' received and will invite the highest priority household who has put in a bid to come and view the property. If after seeing the property they want to proceed, they are made a formal offer of the tenancy. If not, the next highest priority person is invited to view it.

There are some things that choice-based lettings can’t change. For example, there is a severe housing shortage in Lambeth, which means many more people want to move into council or housing association housing than there are homes available for letting. This is something we will be faced with for the foreseeable future.

Nevertheless, the evidence from other councils is that people are a lot happier with choice based lettings than with the old system where all the decisions were made by council officers.

Applicants who have registered and are who able to bid are sent an information pack with their details, and our booklet 'Choice Based Lettings – a User Guide'. This gives full instructions on how to view details of available properties, and how to make a bid for a property.

Please note: council tenants in rent arrears will not be sent information on choice based lettings, and are unable to bid.

Join the Housing Register

If you want to join the Housing Register, please download and print out the Housing Register application form and return it to the address shown on the form.

Join the Transfer List

Existing council tenants wanting to join the Transfer List can download and print out the Transfer List application form, and give it to their Housing Officer in their area housing office or tenant management organisation.

The allocation scheme

The council has approved a new housing allocation scheme that will be used when choice based lettings start on 30 April. This is the set of rules that all allocations will follow.

A summary of the scheme is contained in our booklet Applying for housing in Lambeth.