07 October 2008Kent Homechoice is the Choice Based Lettings scheme for the Sevenoaks District. Follow the links below for the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the scheme.
What is Kent Homechoice?
How do I apply to the scheme?
How are applications prioritised?
How are homes allocated under Kent Homechoice?
What type of property can I bid for?
How many bids can I make?
Once I’ve made a bid can I change my mind?
How do I know if my bid is successful?
I’m homeless - can I still choose a home through Kent Homechoice?
Can I still bid if I have rent arrears on my housing association tenancy?
How can I find out more?
For more information, please call the Housing Options Team at West Kent Housing Association on 01732 749433 or e-mail housing.options@wkha.org.uk
What is Kent Homechoice?
In Autumn 2008 Sevenoaks District Council (in partnership with the Housing Options Team at West Kent Housing Association) will introduce a new Choice Based Lettings scheme called Kent Homechoice.
Choice Based Lettings is a new, interactive way of allocating Housing Association and Registered Social Landlord properties, giving applicants more choice about where they live and helps them to understand more clearly their likelihood of being rehoused.
It is a Government requirement for all councils to have a Choice Based Lettings scheme. Please note that there is no Council housing in the Sevenoaks District as the Council transferred its entire housing stock to West Kent Housing Association in 1989.
Kent Homechoice will allow tenants and new housing applicants more choice to bid for the properties they are interested in. All available properties will be advertised on the Kent Homechoice website when it goes live later this year and also in a fortnightly Kent Homechoice freesheet.
The freesheet will be distributed at set drop off points throughout the District which will include Council Offices, West Kent Housing Association Offices, libraries and Citizens Advice Bureaux.
People looking to move will be invited to bid for properties based on the type of housing they are eligible for, for example, whether they need a three bedroom family home or a one bedroom sheltered flat.
If you are already registered on the Sevenoaks District Housing Register and would like the Kent Homechoice freesheet automatically e-mailed to you each fortnight, you will need to provide the Housing Options Team with your e-mail details.
The Housing Options Team can be contacted on 01732 749433 or e-mail housing.options@wkha.org.uk.
How do I apply to the scheme?
If you have already applied and been accepted on to the Sevenoaks District Housing Register as an applicant, you will become a member of the Kent Homechoice scheme by completing a reregistration form automatically be sent to you in July 2008.
If you are not currently registered on the Sevenoaks District Housing Register you may apply by completing a Sevenoaks District Housing Register application form.
Forms are available from the Housing Options Team at West Kent Housing Association who can be contacted by telephone on 01732 749433 or by e-mail housing.options@wkha.org.uk.
At the time you complete your application to the Sevenoaks District Housing Register, you will be asked to complete a short questionnaire about whether you feel you need any extra help in accessing the Choice Based Lettings scheme, for example, whether you need special arrangements to receive the Kent Homechoice freesheet each fortnight because your health prevents you from collecting one from one of the drop off points. Alternatively you may need extra help to manage the bidding process.
Once you have sent us all the information we will write to you to confirm the details held concerning your application, which will include your registration date and number, the type of housing you are entitled to bid for and the points your application has been awarded.
How are applications prioritised?
People applying for registration on the Sevenoaks District Housing Register are awarded points to reflect their circumstances.
For full details regarding how applications are awarded points, please click on the following link to view the Sevenoaks District Housing Register Allocations Scheme (
PDF File 172KB file details).
If you don’t agree with the points you have been given, you can appeal in writing but before you do, please make sure that you have understood all of the information we have given you.
How are homes allocated under Kent Homechoice?
Every two weeks the details of the properties that are either empty or becoming available are advertised on the Kent Homechoice website and in the Kent Homechoice freesheet.
The property advert will tell you all about the property, for example how many bedrooms, what the rent is, whether it is a housing association property and whether any restrictions apply.
You can only bid for the properties you are eligible for and you can make a maximum of three bids per fortnight. All the bids for a property are short listed in priority points order.
Where two applications have the same level of points they are prioritised based upon who has been registered on the Sevenoaks District Housing Register the longest.
Once the time for bidding is closed, the relevant Housing Association contacts those at the top of the shortlist to offer the property. You can make bids via the Kent Homechoice website, by telephone, by text message or by posting a special voucher.
What type of property can I bid for?
You can only bid for the type of property for which you are eligible and the property adverts will clarify the type of property available.
The property adverts will provide information concerning:
You can bid for up to three properties in every fortnightly cycle. Each cycle begins when the Kent Homechoice freesheet is published and the bidding deadline will be one week after that.
Once I've made a bid can I change my mind?
Yes - you can change or withdraw your bid and can choose to refuse the offer if you want to. You are not penalised for refusing an offer and can bid again as soon as you are ready.
How do I know if my bid is successful?
If you are offered a property, the relevant Housing Association will contact you to make an arrangement for you to view it as soon as possible. You can decide to accept or refuse the offer when you view the property or within 24 hours of viewing – no longer. Arrangements can be made if you have any special needs or requirements.
We will not write to you if your bid is not successful but we publish feedback about the number of bids we had for each property and also how many points the successful bidder had been awarded on the Kent Homechoice website and in the Kent Home Choice magazine.
I'm homeless - can I still choose a home through Choice Based Lettings?
Yes - if your temporary accommodation is coming to an end or there are other special circumstances.
Can I still bid if I have rent arrears on my housing association tenancy?
You can bid for properties you are eligible for but an offer will not normally be made to a transfer applicant in rent arrears. If you want to move, it is important that you keep your rent payments up to date.
How can I find out more?
The Council is holding Kent Homechoice workshops at the Council offices in August 2008. The first one taking place on 7 August 2008.
Applicants on the Sevenoaks District Housing Register are welcome to attend. There will be the opportunity to try out the bidding process online and ask Council and Housing Association officers questions about the process.
If you wish to attend one of the workshops, please contact Jane Ellis on housing@sevenoaks.gov.uk or telephone the Social Housing Team at the Council on 01732 227465.
A user guide for the scheme will be available in the Autumn which will be downloadable from this site nearer the time.
The user guide will also be available in other formats such as large font, other languages and audio tape on request.
You may also contact the Housing Options Team at West Kent Housing Association on 01732 749433 or e-mail housing.options@wkha.org.uk.
