Choice Based Lettings

Yes, if you haven’t already registered with us you will need to fill a form. You will then be given a reference number which you must use when bidding. You cannot bid until you have registered.

We will advertise all our available properties each week, from 12pm on Thursdays to 5pm the following Wednesday until 12pm. You need to bid for the properties you are interested in either by:

Logging on to the website www.traffordhousingtrust.co.uk

Ringing the Homes to Rent Hotline

Calling in to one of the five property shops

You can bid at any time throughout the bidding period, it isn’t first come first served.

To let us know you are interested in a property, you need to place a bid. This doesn’t involve money, you are simply expressing an interest. All the bids are logged and we can then decide who to offer the property to. All you need is your reference number (we will write to you with this) to make a bid.

After the bidding has closed, we will see who has the longest “status start date”. This is the date you are given either when you first register, or if you are moved to a different category. The property is then offered to this person, if they refuse it, it will go to the next person, etc. For example:

• You are in Band B and register in November 2005, this is your status start date
• You then bid in January 2006 for a two bedroom house in Sale.
• The person who is offered the house is in Band B and has a status start date of May 2004.
• This person has been waiting for 18 months longer that you. This gives you an indication of how long you would wait for a two bed house in Sale.

We will contact you by phone by the Monday after the bidding has closed. We may ring later, if the property is refused by the first person it is offered to. If you are not successful, we will not be able to ring you to let you know.

You can bid for as many properties as you like, but you will only be considered for properties that you are suitable for. By this we mean that we will offer the properties to people who match the requirements. For example, a single person would be offered a one bedroom property, and would not be offered a three bedroom house. To help you with this, we will attach labels to the adverts, which will tell you the type of applicant the property is suitable for.

Yes, we will be available to assist those people who have difficulties in bidding or accessing the process.

There will not be positions as such. You will know your status start date and category and this will not change unless your circumstances change. So the longer you have been in that band, the better chance you have of being offered a property. You will be able to look at properties that have been let and see the status start date of the person who the property was let to, this will give you an idea of how long it may take to find a home.

There is no simple answer for this. We have over 9,000 homes, but only 800-900 of these become empty each year. If you are looking for sheltered or elderly persons accommodation we will always be able to accommodate you. For other properties we will have reports available which will be able to give you an indication of timescales.

Yes, if you are a successful bidder, have viewed the property and wish to accept it you will need to provide 2 references, one from your current landlord where possible.

Yes. You can bid for any number of properties. You can only be made one offer though if the property is suitable for your housing needs. Your Homeless caseworker will be able to give you more advice.