Home Choice Plus

The government has recently consulted on reforms to social housing allocations. The consultation period ended after 26 March 2024.

The consultation sought views on the following issues:

- the introduction of a UK connection test to ensure that it is those with the closest connection to the UK who are eligible for a social home

- mandating the following tests: local connection test, income test, false statement test, and tests for anti social behaviour and terrorism offences

- the introduction of a new ground for eviction for those who are convicted of terrorism offences and implementation of a three strikes and you're out policy for anti social behaviour

The changes, if introduced, will apply to new applicants and all existing applicants on Home Choice Plus. 

The link to the consultation is here:  Consultation on reforms to social housing allocations - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Any changes to the Home Choice Plus policy in light of this consultation will be notified in due course.

Existing applicants are now able to tell us about how their accommodation may be impacting on their health and/or disability via online questions.

To do this:

- log into your account on the Home Choice Plus website

- click on View or Edit your Social Housing Application Form

- scroll through the form to 7.Section B - Your Circumstances and tick Yes under the Medical Need question

- the health and disability questions will now appear

- please answer all of the questions

- then click through the rest of the form and press Submit at the end

The new information you have provided will then be assessed by a member of the relevant Home Choice Plus team. Following asseessment, you will be notified of any changes to your Home Choice Plus banding. 

New applicants who are applying online for the first time will be able to find the health and disability questions by ticking Yes in answer to the Medical Need question when this part of the form is reached.

The three Councils which make up the Home Choice Plus partnership have help and information relating to the cost of living crisis available on their websites.

Click on the links below for up to date information:

https://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/council-tax-and-benefits/financial-support/

https://www.stratford.gov.uk/benefits-support/cost-of-living-support.cfm

Cost of Living Support - bromsgrove.gov.uk

You may also be able to get help and advice from Act On Energy:

https://actonenergy.org.uk

The Home Choice Plus website is being upgraded and improved on Tuesday 27 April 2021.

The improved website will have these additional features:

- Improved security. After the upgrade, you will be required to add a password to your application, in addition to using your memorable date. On first logging on, the system will prompt you to create a password. This must have at least 2 lower case letters, 2 upper case letters and 2 numbers. Symbols and punctuation are not allowed

- Uploading your own documents. You will be able to upload your own supporting documents to your application.  This will be accessed from the My Account page under Social Housing (Upload/View documents)

Please contact your local Home Choice Plus office if you have any problems accessing your account after the upgrade. 

When placing bids on properties, it is important that applicants place bids in line with the lettings criteria as stated in the property advert.

Please read the property advert carefully.

For instance, if the property advert says "For households with two or more children", you should not bid if you have one child.

If you do place bids on properties you are not eligible for, your bid is likely to be skipped.

If you need any further assistance in respect of bidding on Home Choice Plus, or with any other aspects of your application, please contact  your local Home Choice Plus office.