This week sees the launch of Bedfordshire Homefinder, a new scheme which gives people real choice about council and housing association homes. The scheme, which launched on June 11th, is a partnership between the three local authorities and two largest housing associations in Bedfordshire.

Properties available to rent from Partners will be advertised and housing applicants can ‘bid’ for the homes they prefer. ‘Bidding’ simply means that people can register their interest in the property – it does not mean that they are liable for any payments. Instead, applicants must join their local housing register and be assessed before they can use the scheme and people with the highest housing needs will be given priority when bidding closes.

All vacancies will be advertised using Bedfordshire Homefinder (except housing for frail elderly people and some special needs schemes). Adverts will run every fortnight for six days. People can view the adverts on the Bedfordshire Homefinder website or listen to the adverts on a dedicated phone line. People can also place ‘bids’ on the website, phone line or by text.

Although the new scheme won’t increase the numbers of vacancies coming up, the Bedfordshire Homefinder Partnership believes that better information will help people to make realistic choices about their housing. The new service will also be more transparent and accountable to service users.

This high-tech system replaces outdated housing services, where applicants had to wait until a housing officer called them to say they had reached the top of the waiting list. Instead, anyone can view the vacancies and, provided they have registered for housing, can choose which properties they want to be considered for. Using the website, people will also be able to see how many people are bidding on the property, and their own position on the shortlist; they can also withdraw or move ‘bids’ if they want to.

Other local housing associations are also signing up to the scheme, with many of the larger landlords putting all their vacancies into Bedfordshire Homefinder. The Partnership believes this will really help to meet housing needs across the County.

The Bedfordshire Homefinder Partnership has spent two years developing the new service, including consulting residents and housing applicants. The Partnership is committed to making the scheme easy to use, so its website carries information in several languages and formats, including visual display and audio information to help people with sight or reading difficulties.

To visit the Bedfordshire Homefinder website, go to www.bedfordshirehomefinder.org.uk.

About Bedfordshire Homefinder

The Bedfordshire Homefinder partnership is:

• Aragon Housing Association
• Bedford Borough Council
• bpha
• Central Bedfordshire
• Luton Borough Council

Please note that Luton Borough Council will not use the Bedfordshire Homefinder Service until October 2009.

The website and associated services are provided by Home Connections Ltd., a London-based company specialising in delivering choice to homeseekers.

For more information contact:

Helen Bysouth – Housing Consultant / Project Manager tel: 07880 740289
or Geraldine Ryan – bpha / Project Manager tel: 01234 221339 / 07590 227677