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:
Follow this link for help downloading and opening PDF
files.