Home Choice Plus
Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction
This guide has been produced to answer some frequently asked questions and provide
you with a realistic picture of your chances of obtaining social housing in Wyre Forest via
the Home Choice Plus scheme.
Frequently Asked Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
Does Home Choice Plus just cover Wyre Forest?
What does bidding for a property mean? Do I have to pay for this?
What does it mean by banding?
What does it mean when a property advert says “preference will be given to
existing transfer tenants”?
5. Does Wyre Forest District Council own any properties?
6. I am pregnant but I can only bid for 1 bedroom properties?
7. I am pregnant and my current property will be overcrowded once the baby is
born can I have the overcrowding banding?
8. I have moved and would like to change my address?
9. I need to update my details on Home Choice Plus e.g - phone number?
10. How will I know if I have been successful when bidding for a property?
11. I have been on Home Choice Plus for sometime and I have not been successful?
12. I have been waiting ages for a property and my friend has only just registered
and been successful?
13. I don’t understand what it means when it says I have been “skipped”.
14. I am having trouble logging into My Homepage on the Home Choice Plus website?
15. Can I refuse a property even though I have bid on the property and have been
offered it?
16. I want to find out more about a property. Who should I call?
17. How long will I keep my banding for?
18. I haven’t got an address and I can’t register without one. What do I do?
19. I have a problem with disrepair at my accommodation. Can I get a higher
banding?
20. I want to bid for a property via the telephone but I am confused?
21. What does it mean when I see a property is still showing as “open” on my historic
bids?
22. How do I register when my application has been closed/housed?
23. My online application is incomplete what do I do?
24. Do the properties on Home Choice Plus allow pets?
25. What does “match suggested” mean?
26. What do I do if I need more assistance?
Q1
Does Home Choice Plus just cover Wyre Forest?
A1
No when you register with Home Choice Plus you are able to bid for properties in:
Worcester City, Malvern Hills, Wychavon, Wyre Forest, Bromsgrove & StratfordUpon-Avon Districts, however where you appear on the property shortlist will be
determined by your local connection to each district as well as your housing need.
Q2
What does bidding on a property mean? Do I have to pay for this?
A2
Bidding means registering an interest in that property - this does not mean that
you have to pay to bid on a property.
Q3
What does it mean by banding?
A3
Home Choice Plus operates a banding system this is awarded according to your
housing need. The Home Choice Plus booklet will advise you of all the bandings
and reasons for them to be awarded. If you require a booklet please follow these
instructions:


Go to www.homechoiceplus.org.uk
Click on the ‘Further Information’ tab on the left hand side.
Click on ‘Download’ an Information Booklet - this will have all the
information you require.
Q4
What does it mean when a property advert says “preference will be given
to existing transfer tenant”?
A4
When you apply for Home Choice Plus you will be registered as either a transfer or
a register applicant.


Transfer = You are currently a social housing tenant
Register = You are currently Not a social housing tenant.
A number of properties are reserved for transfer tenants because this allows
current tenants to move out of unsuitable properties. If you are a register
applicant you can still bid on these properties but you will be skipped if a suitable
transfer applicant has bid on the property, even if you have a higher banding.
Q5
Do Wyre Forest District Council own any properties?
A5
Wyre Forest District Council sold there housing stock in 2000 to Wyre Forest
Community Housing. We are no longer responsible for any properties in the
district - we just administer the Home Choice Plus scheme.
Q6
I am pregnant but I can only bid for 1 bedroom properties?
A6
Home Choice Plus will only allow you to bid for family sized properties when you
are 25 weeks pregnant or over; Your details will automatically be updated so that
you can bid for family sized accommodation once you are 25 weeks pregnant.
Q7
I am pregnant and my current property will be overcrowded once the
baby is born can I have the overcrowding band?
A7
If you will be overcrowded once the baby is born the banding will only be awarded
once the baby is born and not while you are pregnant. Please inform us and
supply the birth certificate once the baby is born and request an overcrowding
Q8
A8
form.
I have moved and would like to change my address?
Any changes in circumstances should be done online by following these
instructions:







Go to www.homechoiceplus.org.uk
Click on ‘My homepage’ tab at the top of the page
Log in as normal using your password and memorable date
Click on ‘My Social Housing’ tab on the left hand side.
Under ‘Update your application’ click on the highlighted blue ‘click here to
update your details’
You will then be requested to verify all you details are correct and you are
able to change any that aren’t. Please make sure you go through all the
pages and click ‘Submit application’.
NB: Your changes will be sent to the Home Choice Plus team and your
application will be updated.
Q9
I need to update my details on Home Choice Plus e.g. phone number?
A9
Please follow instructions on Q8. You can change any details via this method.
Q10
How will I know if I have been successful when bidding for a property?
A10
If you have been successful with a property bid then the Landlord will contact you
directly via a letter or a telephone call. There are no set timescales that the
Landlord will contact you within but if you have not been contacted within 3 weeks
of the end of the advert cycle then it will be more than likely that you have not
been successfully for that property. NB - you will not be informed if you have been
unsuccessful.
It is really important to keep your details up to date. If you’re not sure what
details we have on the system follow these instructions:
 Go to www.homechoiceplus.org.uk
 Click on ‘My homepage’ tab at the top of the page
 Log in as normal using your password and memorable date
 Click on ‘Current Details’ tab on the left hand side.
 This will produce a summary of important details we hold.
If you need to update any of these details then please follow instructions in Q8.
Q11
I have been on Home Choice Plus for sometime and I have not been
successful?
A11
Unfortunately Home Choice Plus has large number of applicants registered (over
3500) with many in high bandings. There is a shortage of social housing in Wyre
Forest which means that you can be on Home Choice Plus and not be successful
for years and, in some instances, never be successful. There are other options
available to you such as housing via the private sector. If you require advice
about your housing options please visit www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk and go to the
Housing section or alternatively call the Housing Advice Team (find contact details
at the back of this leaflet under Useful Contacts).
Banding
Percentage of Applicants in banding
Priority
Gold Plus
Gold
Silver Plus
Silver
Bronze Plus
Bronze
Reduced Preference
<1%
15%
5%
<1%
<1%
61%
16%
1%
The table above shows the breakdown of the register by bandings.
Number of Properties let during 2013/2014
Priority
Gold Plus
Gold
Silver Plus
Silver
Bronze Plus
Bronze
Reduced Preference
1 Bed
22
105
2
0
0
6
2
0
2 Bed
37
89
18
2
2
50
6
2
3 Bed
25
44
23
0
1
20
1
0
4 Bed
5
6
5
0
0
4
0
0
Total
89
244
48
2
3
80
9
2
The table above shows number of general needs properties let in 2013/2014, the
number of beds and the banding of the successful applicant.
Please note this does not include sheltered accommodation.
Q12
I have been waiting ages for a property and my friend has only just
registered and been successful?
A12
Unfortunately we can’t discuss anybody else’s application with you as this is
confidential to each applicant. We can assure you that the properties are offered
in the same fair way each time. When the social landlord offers a property the
system organises everybody who has bid on the property in order of the highest
banding at the top and then in date order of when that band was awarded, not
how long you have been on Home Choice Plus.
Q13
I don’t understand what it means when it says I have been skipped.
A13
If you have been ‘skipped’ for a property this means that the Landlord has had
reason to offer the property to someone below you on the shortlist. This could be
due to a number of reasons:

You have bid on a transfer property and you are not a transfer applicant.
(please see question 4)
 You have bid on a property that is too large or small for your family.
 You have bid on a property with an age restriction and you don’t meet this
criteria.
 The landlord has evidence of previous/current rent arrears.
 The landlord has evidence of previous anti social behaviour issues.
There maybe other reasons for skipping but if you feel you have been unfairly
skipped for a property or you would like to make enquires in to how you can be
considered for future properties then you should contact the Landlord directly and
Q14
A14
speak to their lettings department. (Please find contact details at the back of this
booklet.)
I am having trouble logging into My Homepage on the Home Choice Plus
website?
There could be a few reasons why this is and you should take the following steps
before you call the Home Choice Plus help line.




Are you entering the correct unique reference number? This will be on your
welcome letter you received when you first registered with Home Choice
Plus.
Are you entering the correct memorable date? This will be your date of
birth unless you have changed it. The date should be entered in this format
dd/mm/yyyy or the system will not allow you to log in.
Have you clicked or ‘Forgotten your memorable date?’ If so it will have
prompted you to enter your unique reference number and sent a new
memorable date to your email address you provided when you first
registered with Home Choice Plus (or any updated email address you have
provided us with).
Have you tried too many times and it now has a message to try again in 30
minutes? We would advise here that you leave it for a few hours, if
possible, to enable the system to refresh.
If you have tried the advice above and you are still unable to log onto My
Homepage then please call the Home Choice Plus advice line or call into our
Customer Services Centre for advice. (Please find contact details at the back of
this booklet.)
Q15
Can I refuse a property even though I have bid on the property and have
been offered it?
A15
If you are on a Priority band then you only have one offer of suitable
accommodation and refusing this could result in you losing this banding (for more
detail please see you homeless acceptance letter or speak to your Housing
Officer). If you don’t have Priority band and you have decided that you don’t like
the property you have bid on then you can refuse this property, but please ensure
you have thought through this decision as an offer of property can be rare and
you may not be offered another one in the near future. The officer may also
consider that you have refused a property suitable for you and move you into the
Reduced Banding category – please see the allocations policy for more
information.
Q16
I want to find out more about a property. Who should I call?
A16
You should call the landlord who has advertised this property - the landlord for
each property is shown in the property advert. All landlords contact details are at
the back of this leaflet under Useful Contacts.
Q17
How long will I keep my banding for?
A17
Each banding has an expiry date as explained in the Home Choice Plus booklet
and will be subject to a review after this date. Your banding is subject to change
at any point if your circumstances change or we believe the banding has been
incorrectly awarded.
 Priority = Until your homeless application has been discharged.
 Gold Plus = 6 months
 Gold = 12 months



Q18
Silver Plus = 6 Months
Silver = 12 Months
Bronze Plus = 2 years (will be reduced to one year when allocations policy
changed)
 Bronze = 2 Years (please see above)
I haven’t got an address and I can’t register without one. What do I do?
A18
If you currently have no address or correspondence address you should see if
family or friends would mind been a C/O address for you. If you are unable to find
a C/O address and you are homeless then a C/O address will be provided for you
as it is essential to have an address on the system. This is because if you are
offered a property then the landlord will need to send you a letter. You will need
to take responsibility for checking, on a very regular basis, with any care of
address you give to see if you have been sent a letter, as offers of property are
usually withdrawn after one or two days if no contact is made.
Q19
I have a problem with repairs at my accommodation. Can I get a higher
banding?
A19
This depends on whether you own, privately rent or rent your property from a
Housing Association. Please see following advice on repairs to your home:



If you own your property you should contact the Care & Repair agency who
maybe able to assist if you are unable to pay for your repairs. You can find
contact details under Useful Contacts section.
If you privately rent your property you should contact the Private Housing
Team at your local Council who will be able to advise you accordingly. If
your repairs are significant enough and a notice has been served on your
landlord then the Private Housing Team will advise Home Choice Plus of
this. You can find contact details under the Useful Contacts section.
If you rent from a social landlord or Housing Association then you should
contact your landlord directly about carrying out repairs. Contact details for
social landlords in Wyre forest are under Useful Contacts.
Q20
I want to bid for a property via the telephone but I am confused?
A20
There are 2 telephone numbers to call when bidding via the telephone system.
The first telephone number provides you with a description of the properties
available and the property reference numbers. Take a note of the properties you
want to bid on as you will need the reference number when calling the bidding
line. The second telephone number allows you to place a bid on a property by
using the property reference number, your unique reference number and
memorable date.
Q21
What does it mean when I see a property is still showing as “open” on my
historic bids?
A21
Where the property is showing as open it is likely that no decision has been made
on who the property will be let to.
If the property is still showing as “open” over a month after the advertisement it
is likely that there has been a administration error and the advert has not been
completed by the Social Landlord correctly.
Please contact the social landlord direct if you would like to know the outcome of a
property. (Please find contact details at the back of this booklet.)
Q22
How do I re-register when my application has been closed/housed?
A22
If your application has been closed or you have been housed you can reapply by
following these instructions:
 Go to www.homechoiceplus.org.uk
 Click on ‘My homepage’ tab at the top of the page
 Log in as normal using your password and memorable date
 Then click on the “apply for social housing” button highlighted in blue.
 Complete form and submit.
Q23
My online application is incomplete what do I do?
A23
If your online application is incomplete you can carry on with the application by
following these instructions:
 Go to www.homechoiceplus.org.uk
 Click on ‘My homepage’ tab at the top of the page
 Log in as normal using your password and memorable date
 Then click on the “My Social Housing” button on the left hand side.
 The page should now say “Online Application Incomplete”
 Then click on “Resume you Online Application”
 Complete form and submit.
Q24
Do the properties on Home Choice Plus allow pets?
A24
This will be reflected at the bottom of each advert as an icon.
Q25
What does “match suggested” mean?
A25
This means that the Housing Association who owns the property has match
suggested you to a property which they feel you are suitable for but they will still
need to do all the necessary tenancy reports and checks with their criteria’s and
once this has been completed and you have passed all the checks they will then
make you an offer of the property via post, phone, text or e-mail.
Q26
What do I do if I need more assistance?
A26
If you struggle to use computers or do not have access to the internet then our
Customer Service Centre team are happy to help at The Hub. You don’t need an
appointment - just visit the offices any Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday
8:30am to 5pm and Wednesday 10am to 5pm, excluding holidays.
Useful Contacts
Organisation
Wyre Forest District
Council
Bromford Housing Group
Contact Details
Postal
Wyre Forest House
Address: Finepoint Way
Off Stouport Road
Kidderminster
DY11 7WF
Visit
us at:
The Worcestershire Hub
Kidderminster Town Hall,
Vicar Street,
Kidderminster,
DY10 1DB
Tel:
Web:
Email:
01562 732928
www.wyreforestdc.gov.co.uk
[email protected]
Address: 1 Venture Court
Wolverhampton
WV10 6TB
Tel:
Web:
Email:
Festival Housing Group
Address: Partnership House
Grovewood Road
Malvern Link
WR14 1GD
Tel:
Web:
Email:
Jephson Housing
Association Group
0330 1234 034
www.bromfordgroup.co.uk
[email protected]
01684 579 579
www.festivalhousing.org
[email protected]
Address: Jephson House
Narrowboat Way
Hurst Business Park
Brierley Hill
West Midlands
DY5 1UF
Tel:
01384 471 000
Web:
www.jephson.org.uk
Email:
[email protected]
Rooftop
Address: Rooftop Housing Group Limited
70 High Street
Evesham
WR11 4YD
Tel:
0800 0421 800
Web:
www.rooftopgroup.org
Email: www.rooftopgroup.org/form.asp?form=1
Sanctuary
Address: Sanctuary Midlands
164 Birmingham Road
West Bromwich
Birmingham
B70 6QG
Tel:
0800 131 3329
Web:
www.sanctuary-group.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
Waterloo Housing
Association
Address: Waterloo House
76-78 Boldmere Road
Sutton Coldfield
West Midlands
B73 5TJ
Tel:
0121 355 4501
Web:
www.waterloo.org.uk
Email: www.waterloo.org.uk/main.cfm?type=CU
Worcester
Community Housing
Address: Progress House
Midland Road
Worcester
WR5 1DU
Tel:
0800 197 2805
Web:
www.wchnet.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
Wyre Forest Community
Housing
Address: Community House
Stourport Road
Kidderminster
DY11 7QE
Tel:
0800 169 5454
Web:
www.communityhg.com
Email:
[email protected]
(Home Choice Plus &
Housing Advice)