What is choice based lettings?

Choice based lettings (CBL) is a system for allocating social housing where applicants are given a choice of properties to be considered for.

In traditional lettings, an organization with a property to let will create a shortlist of all the applicants on their waiting list suitable for the property. They then offer to the applicant who has the highest priority.

In choice based lettings, the vacant properties are advertised. Applicants then bid for the properties they want, which in turn creates shortlists of applicants, which are filtered to remove ineligible applicants. The applicant with the highest priority is then offered the property.

How does CBL affect void times?

CBL has two direct influences on void times. It reduces void times by reducing the number of offer refusals, however properties have to remain available for bidding for a period (usually 3-4 days), when offers can't be made. In our experience these two factors cancel each other out.

We have found that the regular cycle of advertising tends to reinforce a well-managed approach to allocation, and the end result is often a reduction in void times.

How do vulnerable people cope with CBL?

Vulnerable people cope very well with CBL. A well-designed system is easy to use, and in general anybody capable of maintaining a tenancy can engage with CBL. The website access is an ideal way for support workers to help their clients make an informed choice of a suitable home.

It is important that the impact of CBL on vulnerability is monitored closely, so that no vulnerable group is disadvantaged, and improvements can be made where problems are identified. A flexible reporting system is absolutely vital for this.

Will we have to change our allocation policy?

No. You may choose to change aspects of your allocation system. CBL does not impose a particular allocation policy. Who is eligible for each property, and what priority they have, does not need to change. Our CBL system is extremely flexible, and will implement the allocation policy you want precisely.

You may want to slightly re-word some aspects of your policy. In traditional allocations, the shortlist is defined by who is suitable for a property, whereas CBL only restricts by eligibility. For example, you may decide that upper floors of high-rise blocks are unsuitable for families with children, and so remove them from your shortlist. In choice, however, you can choose to leave that to the families themselves – they can choose whether a high-rise is suitable.

What about urgent cases?

You need to ensure that you define “urgent” narrowly enough so that urgent cases, if they bid, would normally be offered a property. If half your list is “urgent” then you’ll have really urgent cases who do not get to the top of the list they want.

In extreme cases you can always let a property directly, outside the CBL process.

Our system also allows you to target properties at particular groups. For example, if you have major refurbishment scheme and so a large number of urgent decants, you can target a group of properties at those decants, offering them higher than normal priority.

What about applicants that don’t have access to the internet, how do they bid?

Our software allows applicants to bid via a number of ways. These are:

• the web
• the telephone
• a text message
• a postcard sent by mail
• a member of staff
• digital TV
• support agencies