Frequently asked questions

1. How do I bid on a property?

   If you are interested in a property, you should ensure that you are willing to accept the offer if you are the successful bidder.

   Once you are logged in to your account you will only be able to bid for the size of property that you are eligible for. You may be able to bid for a smaller property if it is not managed by one of our registered providers.

   You will not be able to bid for a property larger than you have been approved for.

   You should not bid for a property that you would not consider living in. If your bid is successful and you are offered the property, we will count this as an offer even if you later change your mind. You should consider visiting the area and checking out the location before making a bid so that you are sure that you are interested.

   Properties may be advertised with restrictions on (such as ground floor properties) may only be open to applicants who cannot manage any stairs. Some properties may have medical adaptations i.e. level access shower, wet rooms or wheelchair accessible / adapted. Applicants who require the medical adaptations will be prioritised for these particular properties. We will be very clear when we advertise a property of any restrictions or conditions that will apply.

2. How to bid?

   Bidding just means letting us know you are interested in being considered for a property.

   You can bid directly by logging into your application to see the properties that are available to you. When you have searched for a property and decide you want to bid, click on the "full property info" button which gives you more detailed information if you decide to place a bid you click on "bid property".

   You can make a maximum of three bids per week.

   If you need help bidding, you should contact the Lettings Team on [email protected].

   You need to bid before the deadline advertised as if you bid after this, you will not be considered.

   Please note that if you bid for a property and are highly placed, your bidding position is dependent upon your circumstances being checked and verified.

   If you have forgotten your login details please contact the Lettings Team on [email protected] to recover your password.

3. What is a bid?

   A bid is your expression of interest in being considered for an advertised property. Placing a bid does not guarantee that you get the property. The Lettings team still need to check and verify your information to ensure the property is suitable for your household.

4. Why do I have to bid?

   We can only consider people for properties that they have told us they are interested in.

5. When can I bid?

   Properties can open on any weekday and close on the Sunday of that week at midnight. Check adverts regularly through the week, to see if new properties have been added to the weekly cycle. The closing dates for bids is clearly labelled on each property advert.

6. Is there any advantage if I place bids early in the advert cycle?

   No. Many people think they will be prioritised first if they bid for a property early. There is no advantage because your priority will remain the same irrespective of the time you place your bid.

7. What happens if I do not bid?

   We will not be able to consider you for any available properties.

8. How many times can I bid?

   You can only bid for 3 properties in any one week. This means, once you have placed your third bid you will not be able to place anymore in that week, unless you remove one of your existing bids to add a different property.

9. What is the best time to bid?

   There is no best time to bid, however as you place your bid you will be given a queue position for that property which will change as more people bid during the cycle.

10. What will be my final queue position?

    You should check your bid position before the advertised bidding time closes. You can also see your final queue position after the cycle has closed.

11. Can I change my mind and remove my bid(s)?

    Yes, you can withdraw any or all of your bids, but only during the current weekly cycle in which the property is advertised. You should only place bids for homes you are interested in.

12. How do I check my bidding history?

    You can do this on this website. You can see your current bids with their bid position as well as bids you have made in the past.

13. How will I know if my bid was successful?

    If your bid was successful, you will receive an invite to view the property in your Home Connections inbox, by text message, and/or by email. At this viewing, you will be asked to complete a customer feedback form to confirm if you are interested in accepting the property.

    Please note: in some circumstances (auto-bidding), you may still be offered the property even if you’ve rejected it.

14. Can I change my mind after viewing a property?

    If you have been invited to view a property, and have been made an offer for that property, we will expect you to accept the tenancy.

15. Where can I find more information?

    For full details of the bidding process and lettings, please see our Allocations Policy.