Very few properties become available to let, with more than a thousand bids received for many of our properties. You will need to bid on properties to be considered for them.
Studios and properties on higher floors tend to receive fewer bids.
Unless you are in Band A or are in Band B and have already been on the housing register for many years, you may be better off looking at alternative housing, such as renting privately.
The average waiting time differs based on the band and number of bedrooms you are allocated.
| Studio | 1 bedroom | 2 bedroom | 3 bedroom | 4+ bedroom | |
| Band A | 1 year | 1 year | 3 years | 2 years | 2 years |
| Band B | 2 years | 6 years | 9 years | 11 years | 8 years |
| Band C* | No lets | 9 years | No lets | No lets | No lets |
*lets to applicants in Band C are rare with the majority of applicants never being offered a property.
How to find and bid on properties
All our properties are advertised on the Home Connections website.
Once you are assessed as being eligible to join the housing register, we will send you an email confirm this, along with the band and number of bedrooms you are allocated. This email will also contain log in details (username and password) to your Home Connections account, where you can place bids on the properties you are interested in.
Properties are advertised each week from Wednesday to Sunday. It does not matter when you place your bid on these days. If you are not able to place bids yourself, someone can bid on your behalf using your Home Connections account.
Once bidding has closed, the highest priority applicants are shortlisted to view the property. To find out how we decide who has the highest priority, read our Housing Allocations Policy 2024 (PDF 506KB).
It is important that you read the property listing fully and only bid on properties you are interested in accepting. This will ensure you are not shortlisted for properties you are not really interested in, and that you do not waste your offers.
To find out more about bidding on properties, visit how to bid on the Home Connections website.
What happens when you are shortlisted
If you are shortlisted for a property, you will be notified by text or email and invited to view the property. If your email address or phone number changes, please let us know on our make a change to an existing application page, so you do not miss out on a property you are shortlisted for.
Properties are advertised as soon as the property is vacated, so there may be work being done to it when you come for a viewing.
Following the viewing you will be asked if you wish to accept or reject the property. Up to 5 applicants will be invited to each viewing, this is to ensure there is someone shortlisted who accepts the property.
If you have the highest priority of those shortlisted, or those with a higher priority have rejected the property, you will be offered the property.
Rejecting a property you are offered
Unless you are downsizing or a care leaver, you will have a maximum number of offers you can receive.
- If we have told you we have accepted the main homeless duty (Section 193 homeless duty), you have a maximum of one offer.
- For all other applicants, you have a maximum of 2 offers.
An offer is when you have been shortlisted for a property and have not been outbid.
For example, if you reject a property, but are second on the shortlist and the person who is first accepts the property, this is not considered an offer as you were outbid. Had the person first on the shortlist rejected the property, and you were then offered the property but rejected it, this would count as an offer.
Make sure you are only bid on properties you are interested in accepting if offered, so you do not waste your offers.
For an offer to be counted, the property must be also suitable for your needs. For example, it must have the right number of bedrooms and the right level of accessibility based on your assessed need. If you are offered a property that is not suitable for your assessed need, this will not be considered as an offer.
Once you have reached your maximum number of offers, we will close your housing register application. You may reapply, however, you may not be eligible to join. If you are eligible to join, you will likely rejoin with a lower priority.