Broxtowe Homechoice frequently asked questions

How do I apply to join the Housing Register?

Create a Homechoice account and complete the online housing application. You must answer all questions accurately and upload the documents requested.

Your application cannot be fully assessed or activated until we have received all the information and evidence we need.

Can I apply using a paper form?

Unfortunately, paper application forms are not available. If you cannot apply online, please contact the Housing Allocations Team on 0115 917 7777. We can help you complete an application over the phone or tell you about other support that may be available to you.

What if I do not have an email address?

Please contact the Housing Allocations Team on 0115 917 7777. An officer can help you complete your application. If you cannot manage your account or place bids online, your application may be set up for automatic bidding.

What if I do not have access to the internet?

You can:

• contact the Housing Allocations Team on 0115 917 7777.
• contact Citizens Advice on 0800 144 8848
• attend an available application support or drop-in session
• ask your Independent Living Coordinator for help if you are a Council tenant living in an Independent Living Scheme

Where appropriate, we may arrange automatic bidding so that you can still be considered for suitable properties.

Documents and evidence

What documents will I need to provide?

The documents required will depend on your circumstances. We may ask for:

• photographic identification
• proof of your current address
• National Insurance details
• proof of income, benefits, savings or property ownership
• evidence relating to members of your household medical information
• evidence of your housing circumstances
• police reports, court documents or information from support services
• any other information required to assess your application 

Please ensure you provide current and complete documents.

What forms of identification are acceptable?

You will normally need to provide current photographic identification, such as:

• a passport a photocard driving licence
• a recognised immigration or residency document
• another recognised form of photographic identification 

If you do not have photographic identification, contact us before submitting your application. We will explain whether alternative documents can be considered.

Why do I need to provide identification?

We need to confirm the identity of everyone included in your application. This helps us assess your eligibility, keep the Housing Register accurate and prevent fraudulent applications.

What happens if I do not provide identification or any other evidence?

We may be unable to assess or activate your application. We will normally tell you what is missing and give you a reasonable period to provide it.

If you do not provide the requested information by the deadline, your application may be closed.

Why has my Child Benefit evidence not been accepted?

Your evidence must clearly show:

• your name
• your address the names of the children included in the claim
• the Child Benefit payments you receive

A bank statement showing only a payment may not contain enough information. You can obtain suitable evidence through the GOV.UK service for proving that you qualify for Child Benefit: Prove you qualify for Child Benefit - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Assessing your application

How will my application be assessed?

We will assess your application under Broxtowe Borough Council’s Allocations Policy. A link to this can be found at the top of this page.

We will consider whether you are eligible and qualify to join the Housing Register. If your application is accepted, your housing circumstances will be used to place you in the appropriate priority band.

How do I know if my application has been accepted?

We will contact you when your assessment is complete.

If you are accepted onto the Housing Register, we will tell you:

• that your application is active
• which priority band you have been placed in
• your effective or registration date
• the type and size of properties you can normally bid for
• whether we still need any information from you

Please provide any further information promptly, as it may affect your application or priority.

Why is my application not active?

Your application may not be active because:

• it is waiting to be assessed
• information or evidence is missing
• we need to verify some of the information provided
• you need to complete an action on your account
• your eligibility or qualification is still being considered
• your application has been suspended or closed

Check your Homechoice account actions for any requests from us. If you have provided everything requested, your application will be reviewed as soon as possible.

Why is my band different from the band I previously had?

Applications are assessed using Broxtowe Borough Council’s current Allocations Policy and the evidence available at the time of assessment.

Your band may have changed because:

• the Allocations Policy or banding criteria have changed
• your circumstances have changed
• new or updated evidence has been considered
• previous information is no longer current
• further checks have been completed 

We will tell you the outcome of your assessment. If you believe the decision is incorrect, you may be able to ask for a review.

Can I be refused access to the Housing Register?

Yes. Being eligible for social housing does not automatically mean that you qualify to join Broxtowe’s Housing Register.

An application may be refused if, for example:

• you are not eligible under immigration and housing legislation
• you do not meet the Council’s qualification or local connection requirements
• you are under 18 and do not fall within one of the policy exceptions
• serious unacceptable behaviour makes you unsuitable to be a tenant
• information required to assess your application has not been provided
• another qualification rule in the Allocations Policy applies 

There are exceptions to some qualification requirements, including provisions for certain members of the Armed Forces, care leavers, people working in Broxtowe and survivors of domestic abuse. Each application will be considered on its individual circumstances.

If your application is refused, we will explain the reason and tell you whether you can ask for the decision to be reviewed.

Do I need to renew my application?

Yes. We will contact you when your application is due for its annual review.

You must complete the review by the deadline shown in the notification, even if your circumstances have not changed. If you do not complete it, your application may be closed.

You should not wait for your annual review to report a change in your circumstances.

Changes and ongoing applications

What should I do if my circumstances change?

Update your Homechoice application as soon as possible if there is a change to:

• your address
• the people in your household
• your health or mobility
• your income, employment, savings or property ownership
• your immigration or residency status
• your housing circumstances
• any other information relevant to your application 

We may ask you for supporting evidence and reassess your application. This could change your band, effective date, bedroom entitlement or the properties you can bid for.

What happens if I move address?

You must tell us immediately and update your application.

Your housing need may need to be reassessed because it is partly based on your current accommodation. We may ask for evidence of your new address and housing circumstances. 

Bidding for properties

When can I start bidding?

You can bid when your application has been assessed and made active. Your account will show the properties you are eligible to bid for.

How do I bid for a property?