Gloucestershire Homeseeker

Gloucestershire Homeseeker is a partnership formed between all six Local Councils in Gloucestershire and many of the Housing Associations and social landlords (known as Registered Providers).

How do I contact Gloucestershire Homeseeker?

There is not one central team for Gloucestershire Homeseeker.

Gloucestershire Homeseeker is administered by all 6 local Councils and each Council Housing Team will still manage the applicants for their area.

You must therefore contact your local Council's Housing Advice/Options Team if you need any assistance with your Gloucestershire Homeseeker application, or if you need housing advice. Click here to find contact details for your local Council's Housing Advice/Options Team.

What is Choice Based Lettings (CBL) scheme?

CBL is the term used to describe the type of system Gloucestershire Homeseeker is.
CBL is a system for letting social housing and is designed to offer more choice and participation for applicants in selecting a new social rented home. CBL is a much more open, transparent and customer-based approach in letting properties than a system using points. CBL systems replace the traditional way of allocating housing (points system) where housing officers seek to match applicants who have priority on the waiting list to available vacancies. CBL gives the applicant the control whereby they bid on a property they would like to live in.
CBL has been guided by Central Government (Department for Communities and Local Government) supporting local authorities to develop the new CBL system in their area. For more information from the DCLG about CBL systems visit the website.

Why change to a Choice Based Lettings scheme?

Similar schemes have been increasingly and successfully implemented across the country since 2002. It has been demonstrated that this type of scheme helps to make the process of applying for a home simpler, fairer and easier to understand.
Following the success of pilot schemes in 2002, central government gave all local authorities a target to move towards this new way of allocating social housing by 2010.
Gloucestershire Homeseeker is our county's Choice Based Lettings scheme.

Does this mean that there are more properties available?

Unfortunately not. There is still a shortage of affordable rented housing in the county with a high demand for vacancies. However, people seeking re-housing will have accurate information on how many homes are actually available, where these homes are located and their chances of being housed. As the system is much more transparent, housing applicants will have all the information necessary to make their own informed choices.

What if I own my home?

If you or anyone in your household owns a property, you may not be eligible to have a tenancy. We will however look at the circumstances of each case to see if there are reasons why an application should be allowed, an example would be needing to move because your home is unsuitable due to health reasons. We will consider what other options are available to you to resolve your housing situation. Some charitable landlords may however exclude homeowners if this is part of their published waiting list criteria.

What if I want to move to another District in Gloucestershire?

You can bid for any property that you are eligible for in any district. However, if the advert says priority is given for connection to the District, then those applicants will be shortlisted first when the landlord considers who will be successful. Then any applicant who has a connection with the county of Gloucestershire, and last, those who have no connection to the county at all. This is why it is important to fill in the details on your application form if you work in another district or have immediate family connections with more than one district.

What other housing options should I consider?

Your local Housing Advice/Options Team will be able to give you details of any schemes they have to help households set up a private sector let. This is generally quicker than waiting for social housing that is in high demand and a suitable property may be available where you want to live. Properties are advertised in local Lettings and Estate Agents or on various web pages.

Mutual Exchange - if you are an existing social housing tenant you may like to consider a mutual exchange. This is where you swap homes with another social housing tenant in another area. Both landlords will need to agree any such move. If you are interested please visit the Homeswapper website to find out more information.
Home Ownership - there are several different low cost home ownership products available – please visit South West Homes for more information.

What do you mean by a 'vulnerable or potentially disadvantaged' household?

This term is used to identify applicants who may need additional support in accordance with the Policy of the Gloucestershire Homeseeker scheme. Click here to view the Inclusion & Access Strategy.

What do you mean by a shortlist?

Once the deadline has passed for registering a bid, a list of households who have met the advertising criteria for each individual property is taken from the electronic system by the landlord. Generally, the offer will be made to the household who is in the highest housing needs band with the earliest start date.

What is a Registered Social Landlord (RSL)?

RSL's was the term introduced by the Housing Act 1996, for housing associations registered with the Housing Corporation, now theHomes & Communities Agency. RSL's have access to public funding for the capital costs of providing housing. These are charitable, or not for profit landlords, such as Housing Associations.
This term has now been replaced by the term Registered Provider.

What is a Registered Provider (RP)?

A term introduced by the Housing & Regeneration Act 2008, to replace the term Registered Social Landlord.

What is Social Rented Housing?

This is housing of a high standard provided at below market cost for households in housing need by Local Authorities and Registered Providers. It operates on a basis of accepted and regulated standards of good practice in relation to physical conditions, management, letting, equal opportunities and accountability.