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Gateway to Homechoice

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Gateway to Homechoice

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Gateway to Homechoice logo

Gateway to Homechoice is the new scheme for letting social housing in this district and six other council areas in the region.

Suffolk Coastal has joined Mid Suffolk, Babergh, Braintree, Maldon, Colchester and Ipswich to give its residents the opportunity to bid for any empty council and housing association homes across the seven partner councils.

The main difference between the new approach and what used to happen is that available homes are now advertised and you can express an interest in the homes that suit your requirements. All empty council and housing association homes in the seven council areas are advertised on the Gateway to Homechoice website, at local offices and in a property newsletter, and anyone registered with Gateway to Homechoice can put in a bid for homes they would like.

Follow the link below to go to the Gateway to Homechoice website to view or bid for available homes:

Registering with Gateway to Homechoice

As the old housing waiting list is now closed, new applicants should register with Gateway to Homechoice by completing the registration form on the Gateway to Homechoice website:

When you register for rented council or housing associating homes with Gateway to Homechoice you will be placed in one of five bands depending on how serious or urgent your housing needs are. You will be notified of your band by letter a few weeks after completing the application form with information about the bidding process.

If you were on the old housing register, you will have received a letter from us asking you to re-register by completing the online application form on the Gateway to Homechoice website (or over the phone if you do not have access to a computer) using the reference number enclosed in your letter and your date of birth.

Further information, help and advice

If you are thinking of registering for Gateway to Homechoice you can call 01394 444822, email homechoice@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk or visit the Gateway to Homechoice website (new window) for further information.

If you find yourself threatened with homelessness you should contact Suffok Coastal's Housing Options Team on 01394 444237 or email homelessness@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk for advice and assistance.

If you do not have internet access, computers are available at the Suffolk Coastal's Melton Hill offices in Woodbridge, which are open Monday to Thursday, 8.45am to 5.15pm, and 8.45am to 4.45pm on Fridays, or the Felixstowe seafront office, which is open Mondays and Wednesdays, 9am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 4.30pm.

Suffolk Heritage Housing Association’s Framlingham office at Avocet House, Station Road, Framlingham IP13 9EE (open between 8.45am and 5.15pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8.45am to 4pm on Wednesdays and 8.45pm to 4.45pm on Fridays) and the district’s libraries, also offer internet access to those who want to register.

Alternatively, you can call 01394 444822 to go through the process over the phone with a member of staff.

Allocation scheme

Suffolk Coastal is required to have an allocation scheme in place for determining priorities and the procedure to be followed in allocating housing accommodation. We have adopted the allocation scheme that is being used by all of the partners in Gateway to Homechoice.

Each home that is made available through Gateway to Homechoice will go to the applicant with the highest need in the highest band. If two families or people in the same band bid for the same home, it will go to the people that have been waiting the longest.

You can find out more more about the new banding system and how the new scheme will operate by following the links below:

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