Homes for rent (social housing)
To apply for social housing with Be One Homes, you’ll need to register with your local council’s choice-based lettings scheme. This page explains what choice-based lettings schemes are and how to use them to apply for a home in one of the areas we serve.
What is social housing?
Social housing refers to homes where the rent is linked to local incomes. Provided by local councils and housing associations (like Be One Homes), it’s an affordable and secure way of renting your home.
Rent increases are also limited by the Government. This means your home stays affordable long-term, so you aren’t priced out of your community by rising rents.
Demand for social housing exceeds the number of available properties:
It’s why we’re investing in new build housing developments to increase the number of homes available, and working to make empty homes ready for new tenants.
We get more than 100,000 expressions of interest for our properties each year and for each home listed, there are on average 50 bids. Therefore, properties are allocated on a needs first basis.
Tap on a link below if you’d like to learn more:
Learn about how social housing is allocated
The way social housing in the UK is allocated, and how those decisions are made, is often complex.
Learn about what we do with empty properties
We know it can be frustrating to see empty properties when people need homes. Here’s what happens and why.
Learn about our new build development programme
We're increasing the supply of affordable housing to help ease housing waiting lists, provide more family homes and help customers who want to downsize.
How do I apply for social housing with Be One Homes?
To apply for social housing with Be One Homes, you’ll need to register with your local council’s choice-based lettings scheme. We’ve included links to the different choice-based lettings schemes below.
Choice-based lettings (sometimes abbreviated to CBL) schemes let you make choices on where you’d like to live based on your needs and preferences.
Most choice-based lettings schemes are operated by your area’s local authority, meaning they can vary depending on where you’d like to live. Please note that properties from many other housing providers (not just Be One Homes) are advertised on choice-based lettings schemes.
Register with your local authority's choice-based lettings scheme:
You'll need to register with your local authority's choice-based lettings (CBL) scheme before you can see available properties and bid on any of them.
We've included links to the different choice-based lettings schemes below.
You'll be separated into a priority level:
When you sign up to a choice-based lettings scheme, you'll be separated into a priority level (or 'band') based on your needs and current situation.
This priority level affects the likelihood of you being successful when you bid on available homes, and is based on factors like:
- your connections to the area,
- the size and condition of your current home,
- your income,
- whether or not you're at risk of homelessness,
- and more (factors can vary depending on the local authority).
'Bid' on suitable properties:
All choice-based lettings schemes work through a bidding and 'points' system.
When our rented properties (including new build ones) are available on the relevant choice-based lettings schemes, new and existing tenants can place 'bids' (which do not involve money) on properties if they think they're suitable for them.
Most choice-based lettings schemes will have limits on how many homes you can bid on at any one time. It's important to ensure you only bid on properties you really want to avoid wasting your time.
The property is offered to the most appropriate applicant:
Once a property is closed to bidding, applicants' bids are checked and the property is offered to the applicant that is highest on the priority list.
Please remember that you could lose priority 'points' if you reject an offer for a home that you've placed a bid on.
Frequently asked questions about applying for social housing:
Before you continue, here are some of the most common questions we’re asked about applying for homes through choice-based lettings schemes:
New and existing tenants can use choice-based lettings schemes to place bids on properties they're interested in.
If you'd like to apply for one of our properties, you'll need to register with the relevant local authority's choice-based lettings scheme for the area you'd like to move to.
So you can find the right choice-based lettings scheme for your area, we've included links to the different schemes for the areas we serve below. Just tap on the relevant area for details.
If your application is accepted and you're deemed eligible, you'll be placed on a waiting list. You'll then be able to bid for homes that are suitable for you using the local authority's choice-based lettings scheme.
Look through the available properties on the choice-based lettings scheme's website and select the property you wish to bid on. You’ll need to be logged in to place a bid.
You should only bid on properties that are suitable for your size of household. Remember that most choice-based lettings schemes will have limits on the number of active bids you can have at any one time.
When you find a property that you’re interested in, we suggest you know or visit the area before expressing an interest and check to make sure you meet the criteria for that property as it may not be appropriate for you.
If your bid is unsuccessful, you’ll need to submit a new bid on another relevant property. When you bid, you'll continue to compete with other applicants.
There is no special priority based on the number of bids you've already submitted.
If you've been successful in bidding for a property, we (Be One Homes) will contact you by phone, email, or letter, making an initial offer of the property.
It’s important you ensure that your contact details are correct before you confirm your bid on a property. If your contact details aren't up to date, you could miss out on an offer.
You’ll be able to view the property before you accept it.
If you've been successful in bidding for a property, we (Be One Homes) will be in touch to advise on what we'll need from you before confirming the property is yours.
This could include a reference from your employer, previous landlord, housing benefit form, or other details.
Where would you like to apply for a home?
We own and manage properties in the following areas. Tap an area to find the right choice-based lettings scheme for each local authority:
To apply for a home in Bolton, you must register first with the Homes for Bolton choice-based lettings (CBL) scheme before you can see available homes and bid on them.
