New county-wide housing scheme goes live

Archived press release

Date Published: 20/05/09

Bucks Home Choice launches this month

Residents on the Aylesbury Vale housing register are set to have a greater choice over where they want to live when Bucks Home Choice (BHC) goes live on 28 May.

BHC, which is a choice-based lettings scheme, will for the first time allow those on the housing register to express an interest in rented social housing when it becomes available.

The available properties will be advertised every two weeks on the BHC website at www.buckshomechoice.gov.uk and in the district council’s offices, so everyone can find out what’s on offer. Applicants can express their interest in a property online, by phone or text, or by posting a special coupon.

Currently those on the housing register are offered properties when they become available based upon the level of points their application attracts.

Under BHC, people will be assessed and placed into one of four priority bands (A to D) according to their housing need. Applicants will then be invited to register their interest for those properties in the banding for which they are eligible.

At the end of each fortnightly cycle, all those who have expressed an interest will be shortlisted based on applicants’ needs, local connection and how long they have been waiting. The property will be offered to the applicant at the top of the shortlist.

BHC has been developed by a partnership of the four Buckinghamshire district authorities – Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, South Bucks and Wycombe – along with the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust and the Paradigm Housing Group. Tenants and new applicants may register with any of the BHC partners and this can be done online or with an application form.

Nigel Brooke, AVDC’s Corporate Director (Services), said: “Bucks Home Choice will help residents in many ways. Applicants can actively seek a home rather than waiting to be offered properties, and will have more choice over where they live. There is an enormous demand for social housing and this new system aims to be as fair as possible.”

Matthew Applegate, Chief Executive of the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust, said: “We are delighted that existing and future residents will now have the opportunity to choose their new home in such an innovative and accessible way, resident choice is something we fully support. Our commitment is to provide as many affordable homes as we can for rent and over the next five years we are planning to add at least 300 more homes to the Bucks Home Choice list.”

The scheme will be open to residents from Thursday 28 May at 9am when the first round of properties available will be advertised.

Housing staff across the county have written to tenants and applicants to let them know about the new system.

Anyone needing help to complete an application form or further advice about BHC can call AVDC on 01296 585168 or 585197 or email housingneeds@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk