Home Choice Plus

This year on Home Choice Plus, there will be a 2 week bidding cycle over the Christmas period.

The 2 week cycle commences on Tuesday 17th December 2024 and will run until midnight on Monday 30 December 2024. 

The usual weekly bidding cycle will start again from Tuesday 31 December 2024. 

The government has issued a response to last year's consultation on proposed changes to social housing allocation tests. The response can be read here: Government response to the consultation on changes to social housing allocation tests - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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