Housing Register and Bucks Home Choice

If you want to be considered for a tenancy with a Registered Provider (formerly known as Housing Associations or Registered Social Landlords) in South Bucks you need join the Housing Register / Bucks Home Choice lettings scheme. (BHC)

Registered Providers traditionally offer Assured Tenancies at rent levels which are generally much lower than the market rents and offer more security. In the future it is possible that there will be a greater range of rent levels and tenancy terms because the way that affordable housing is built, developed and subsidised is changing. When properties are advertised information about the rent and services charges is included.

BHC is a choice based lettings scheme that operates across four Buckinghamshire district councils, Chiltern, Aylesbury Vale, South Bucks and Wycombe. BHC replaced the previous local allocations systems and allows applicants – home seekers and some RP tenants who want to move – to exercise more choice about where they live. Registered Providers use BHC to find a new tenant when they have a vacancy.

An overview of BHC in South Bucks:

• Fully completed BHC applications are assessed and then awarded one of four bandings based on the level of housing need - ranging from A for highest priority applications to D. You must make sure that you keep your application up to date and inform us of any changes to your circumstances. If there are medical factors which affect your housing need you must provide supporting information from your GP or other relevant professional.
• Vacancies are advertised every two weeks (via websites, free-sheets etc.) and applicants are invited to ‘express an interest’ in properties. This is the time to check out the local area, schools, services to make sure the area is suitable for you. Applicants can express an interest via the internet, post, telephone, texting or in person.
• For each vacancy, all those applicants expressing an interest are shortlisted and then sorted into priority order based on (i) the applicant's priority band, (ii) whether or not they have a local connection with this District and (iii) how long the applicant has been on the register.
• Once all those applicants expressing an interest in the vacancy have been shortlisted and prioritised, the vacancy will then be offered.

If you wish to apply to Bucks Home Choice or want to find out more about how the scheme works, please visit the scheme website at www.buckshomechoice.gov.uk. (Opens new window to bucks home choice website) The website contains everything that you will need to know about the scheme (including a user guide) and you can apply on-line. A paper copy of the Bucks Home Choice application form can also be obtained from the Housing Options Team at the Council Offices in person or by telephone 01895 837200

IMPORTANT NOTE – South Bucks District Council transferred its entire housing stock to Beacon Housing Association in 1991. Beacon are now part of the London and Quadrant Housing Group known as L & Q who are the main providers of social rented housing in this District.

There is a very high demand for properties owned by all Registered Social Landlords in South Bucks. This means that some households will have little prospect of actually obtaining a tenancy via Bucks Home Choice. Therefore, it is important that anyone looking for housing in South Bucks considers all of the options that are available to them.

The Housing Options Advisors can provide advice and information on the full ranges of housing options in the District, for example private sector tenancies via the Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme or getting help to buy a property through the new YourChoice open market Homebuy scheme.