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Bidding on a council or housing association home

After your application is assessed for a council home or a transfer, we’ll give you login details for our lettings service and let you know which properties for you can bid for.

In this section:

If your bid for a council property was successful

If you're successful, we'll contact you to arrange the viewing and sign up meeting for your new home - the meeting will take place at the property.

If you're being offered a joint tenancy, both of the people named in the offer need to attend the viewing/sign up appointment.

It is important to know that long-term council properties are unfurnished, so if you're viewing a property which someone is currently living in, the furniture will be removed before you move in.

Before the appointment

You will have the opportunity to ask questions on the day, so we recommend you read the agreement before the appointment and bring any questions with you. 

Find a copy of the tenancy agreement and guidance on what it contains.

You will need to bring photo ID and be able to pay the first period rent at or before the viewing.

What happens at an appointment

The appointment generally takes an hour and will involve:

  • be asked to sign the tenancy agreement for your new home – this is a legal document, signing it means you agree to the terms of the tenancy and you will have entered into a legal contract with us
  • be given the keys once you have paid the first weeks rent

If you are on a low income

If you are applying for Housing Benefit, you may still have to pay some rent at your sign up appointment.

If you cannot make the appointment

You’ll need to let the tenancy officer know as soon as possible or you could lose the property.