Before you apply
It's very unlikely that you'll be offered social housing because the waiting list is very long.
Bristol has:
- approximately 500,000 people
- 27,000 council homes
- 12,000 housing association homes
There are over 22,000 households currently bidding for social housing homes.
Unfortunately, we don't have social housing for everyone, and even people with the greatest need often wait several years before they're offered somewhere to live.
People on the housing register have told us that if they had known how unlikely it was that they'd be housed, they would've looked at other options earlier like moving into private rented accommodation.
There is far more private rented housing (around 60,000 homes) and there is supported housing for those with particular needs.
You only have to make one application to HomeChoice Bristol Go to https://www.homechoicebristol.co.uk/Data/ASPPages/1/30.aspx (opens new window) to be considered for Bristol City Council properties and all social housing properties owned by partner social housing providers.
What you need to do
You'll need to register your details Go to https://www.homechoicebristol.co.uk/HouseholdRegistrationForm (opens new window) first.
After you've registered your details, you'll need to complete the online application form. The form remembers the details you used when you registered.
The online application form is quite long. You can save each page as you go through it, but give yourself plenty of time, especially if you have a large household.
You must be eligible for social housing to apply for a property through HomeChoice Bristol.
Your application could get rejected if you don't qualify.
Before you apply, it may be useful to check if you qualify for HomeChoice Bristol.
When your application has been assessed we'll let you know:
- your application reference number, this will be the same as the registration number given to you when you registered your household
- the band your application has been assessed into
- the number of bedrooms we think your household needs
If we need to make a home visit, a member of staff will arrange to visit you.
How long it takes
It can take 4 weeks to assess an application. In some instances it may take longer.
Proof you need to provide
You won't usually need to provide any documents until you're offered a property. We may ask for some information depending on your cicumstances.
Your application will be put into one of four bands, depending on your housing need. The highest is Band 1 and the lowest Band 4.
When bidding for a property, applicants are prioritised on shortlists in the following order:
- Applicants in the highest band, and then
- Within each band, by the effective date
Applicants at the top of the shortlist will normally be offered the property unless there are restrictions in place.
Our Housing Allocation Scheme has detailed information about the banding system.
Your application will be assessed, and you will be told if you qualify to be included on Home Choice Bristol.
Once your application has been assessed we will contact you to tell you the following:
- Your application reference number, which will be the same as the registration number given to you when you registered your household
- The band your application has been assessed into. Your application will be put into one of four bands, depending on your housing need. The highest is band 1 and the lowest band 4
- Your application will be given an effective date, the date the banding was awarded to your application
- The number of bedrooms your household has been assessed as needing
When your application has been assessed and placed into a band, you can start bidding for properties.
You'll need your reference number and your memorable date to start bidding.
Properties are advertised weekly. You can put a bid on up to three properties each week.
What happens if your bid is successful
If you make a successful bid, and are offered a property, we'll contact you with details of what you need to do next.
Homechoice Bristol is the name of the scheme that Bristol City Council and partner Housing Associations use to allocate their properties.
All properties are advertised and applicants on the housing register who qualify for that size of property can then express an interest in properties they wish to be considered for. This is called placing a bid.
The assessment of the applications is completed by the HomeChoice Bristol team and the letting of properties is done by the landlord, Bristol City Council or any of our register Social Housing Partners.
Each week, available properties are listed for eligible households to apply for. This is known as placing a bid'
Each application is assessed based on housing need, priority and suitability.
There's a high demand for social housing in Bristol. If you're on a lower band it may be worth looking at other housing options that are available to you.
There's information about becoming a private tenant, affordable housing and housing support for vulnerable, older or disabled adults on our housing pages.
You can also fill in the HomeChoice Bristol housing options assessment Go to https://www.homechoicebristol.co.uk/EhoWizard/Add (opens new window)which will give you advice on the different housing options that may be available to you.
If you currently live in social housing, you could exchange your property with one somewhere else in the UK using the Homeswapper service.
We work with housing associations in Bristol as part of HomeChoice Bristol.
Each housing association is set up to provide homes for a particular group of people. Some provide housing for people in housing need and others provide accommodation for a particular group such as older people.
Some housing associations provide housing and support for people who need support or assistance to help them set up their home or to live independently.
You must tell us if there are any changes in your circumstances so we can:
- reassess your application
- make any necessary changes to your band and priority date
To tell us about a change in your circumstances:
- go to the HomeChoice Bristol website Go to https://www.homechoicebristol.co.uk/HouseholdLogin (opens new window)
- log in using your reference number and memorable date
- tell us what's changed
We'll let you know of any changes to your assesment, once we've reviewed your application.
You must not give us false information or withhold information to get a property. If you do, you'll lose the property and we'll take legal action against you that could lead to a fine or imprisonment.
For more information about the Housing Register and other housing advice, go to the HomeChoice Bristol website.
You can talk about more complex rehousing queries at our Citizen Service Point.