All our available properties are advertised through a choice based lettings scheme called Birmingham Home Choice. This is a new way for people to rent a home in Birmingham and replaced the Urban Choice scheme on Thursday 25th February 2010.
Birmingham Home Choice is open to all new housing applicants and exisiting tenants who want to move. It is run in partnership with Birmingham City Council. If you would like to apply for a new home, please follow the steps below to register for the Birmingham Home Choice scheme. If you need any further information or help on making a bid, please call us on 0121 766 1100.
If you are already registered with Urban Choice, you can continue to bid for properties using your existing ID and PIN number on the Birmingham Home Choice website, www.birminghamhomechoice.org.uk.
How to apply for a new home
STEP 1
To apply for a new home you must first call Birmingham City Council on 0121 303 1111 to register with Birmingham Home Choice. When your application is accepted, you will be issued with your own user identity number and PIN giving you access to the service.
STEP 2
You need to look through adverts on the Birmingham Home Choice website at www.birminghamhomechoice.org.uk. You can view the list of homes for rent each week and bid on the properties that you are interested in. Properties are advertised from 12:01am on a Thursday morning to 11.59pm the following Tuesday. Therefore you have until midnight on Tuesday to place your bids on the properties you like.
STEP 3
Make a bid to show your interest in the property. To make a bid, you must have your User ID, PIN and individual property advert reference number. Please ensure you meet the property letting criteria shown in the advertisement.
You can bid for a property either:
on-line at www.birminghamhomechoice.gov.uk.
by telephone, using our Interactive Voice recognition system on 0845 330 3183.
by SMS text messaging, using mobile telephone on 07800 002 429.
by digital television.
STEP 4
Once the bidding has closed, Birmingham Home Choice will have a list of everybody who has registered an expression of interest for a property. They will then contact those who have been shortlisted for the property.
STEP 5
If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to view the property with other applicants. At the viewing, customers are asked if they're still interested in the property. If more than one customer shows an interest, the home will be considered for the person in the highest need band. If there is more than one person in that band, the person registered longest will qualify.
STEP 6
If you are to be considered for the property, you will be invited to a lettings interview at our offices. If successful , the property will be offered to you and we will invite you to sign a tenancy agreement.