Frequently asked questions
- I don’t have a login. How can I register for this site?
To access properties on Bedfordshire Homefinder you must be on the Council’s housing register. If you want to apply for housing in Luton, click here for information. If you want to apply to Central Bedfordshire Council, click here for information.
- I have been bidding for properties but not been offered anything. What can I do?
There is a shortage of social rented housing and the Councils’ waiting lists are very long. Properties are offered to people with the highest priority and waiting time. If you have a lower priority or you have not been on the waiting list for very long that is probably why you have not been successful. There are things you can do to maximise your chances of success though. Some locations and property types are very popular and lots of people bid. If you can be flexible about where you live and the type of property you want, you are more likely to be successful for the less popular homes. For more advice about how to bid effectively, see leaflet How to bid.
- How does the Council assess my priority on the waiting list?
Each Council has a Housing Allocation Scheme which it uses to assess all housing applicants. This is to make sure that everyone is treated fairly. To view the Councils’ Allocations Schemes, click on the links below.
- What else can I try?
For advice about other sources of housing, please go to the Housing Options area on the Home page.
- I need a home with adaptations for someone who is disabled. Can you help?
We do advertise some properties which are adapted for people with mobility needs. Adaptations vary and if your needs are very specific we may not have properties which exactly meet your needs. In some cases adaptations can be made to a property to make it more suitable; we would need advice from an occupational therapist about this. For more information about housing for people with a disability, click here.
- My family has grown up and left home and my house is too big for me. I need to move to somewhere smaller. Can you help?
If you are a Council or housing association tenant you will be given priority for under-occupying your home, provided you are happy to move to a property which is the right size for your household. If you’re a single person or a couple you can normally only be considered for a one-bedroom flat. Some landlords offer help with moving costs if you are downsizing – you need to check with your current landlord whether you qualify for any financial help or incentives.
Older applicants can be considered for particular housing schemes with an age restriction. This means that you can choose to live in a block with neighbours of a similar age, rather than with younger people or families. These flats are generally more secure and also benefit from additional support services for those who need them. For more information on Housing for Older People, click here.
- I need an extra bedroom for my mum/daughter/grandchildren to stay sometimes. Is that possible?
There is high demand for all social housing but particularly for family sized homes. You can only be offered a property large enough for people who live with you permanently. We cannot offer you a ‘spare’ bedroom and if you are on benefits you would not receive full benefit for a property that is deemed to be too large for you. Help with housing costs is limited to the Local Housing Allowance rates for the area you live in. You can check the LHA rate for specific areas and the number of bedrooms you are entitled to here:
- I am working but on a low wage. Will I be able to afford the rent if I am offered a property?
Some properties are let at “affordable rents”. These are around 80% of private rents for the area so can be expensive, depending on the location. (Affordable Rent is a government scheme to help housing providers generate income to invest in building more homes). Properties let at traditional social rents are generally cheaper so you can opt to bid only for these properties. Depending on your household composition and total household income you may be eligible for help towards housing costs. To find out what you might be entitled to go to https://www.entitledto.co.uk/.
This questionnaire will take you through your circumstances and give you an idea of what help might be available.
- If I become a tenant with a social landlord through Bedfordshire Homefinder, will I be able to buy my property at a later date?
Some Council tenants have the right to buy, but only if they have had a secure tenancy for at least three years. Various other restrictions apply as well. For information, you will need to check with the Council once you have taken up a tenancy. You can also visit the Government’s advice pagehttps://www.gov.uk/right-to-buy-buying-your-council-home. Most housing association tenants do not have the right to buy their homes, unless the property was built after 1997. Again, there are various other restrictions in place and the landlord will be able to advise you further.
- If I become a tenant with a Council or housing association, can I pass my tenancy onto my children if something happens to me?
The law allows the spouse, partner or adult child of a tenant to succeed to a tenancy where a tenant dies. A succession of tenancy can only happen once, so if a couple have a joint tenancy and one partner passes away the remaining partner succeeds. In that case, there can’t be a further succession to an adult child. A person can only succeed to a tenancy if they have lived in the property for at least 12 months before the tenant dies, and if it is a suitable property for them. For instance, a single young adult can succeed to a tenancy but if the property is a three-bedroom family home they will be offered a one-bedroom home instead. Only one person can be a successor tenant so if you have more than one adult child only one, normally the eldest, will succeed.
