Dorset Council is urging people who are on the current housing register to re-register on the new Dorset Council Home Choice system no later than Wednesday 1 December to keep their place on the housing register.
In July the council began work to introduce the new Dorset Council Housing Allocation scheme and replace legacy policies and housing registers.
The new, more user-friendly system being introduced will make it easier for customers to apply to be on the housing register, receive information about their application and bid on properties.
Existing applicants were contacted over the summer about the changes and interim arrangements have been put in place to support people who have a change in circumstances or an urgent housing need.
New deadline gives more time
Originally customers were advised they needed to re-register by 1 October 2021, but a new deadline of 1 December 2021 has been set to help ensure everyone who wishes to remain on the register for social housing has time to re-register.
Bidding for properties
Existing applicants will be able to continue to bid for properties that become available on the current system until the end of November 2021.
What about new applicants?
We are also opening the new register for people who want to apply for the first time from 1 October 2021. We will be updating our website where applicants can create a new customer account and submit a new application.
We will prioritise the assessment of all customers who are carrying out a re-registration process in the first instance but submitting your application and required documents early will mean new applicants can benefit from an earlier effective date.
These applicants will be able to bid for properties from 1 December 2021.
Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Safety said:
“We opened for re-registrations in July this year and the initial response rate was slow which may have been affected by summer holidays.
We have continued to promote the need to re-register since the summer and the response rates have increased. By making sure our current applicants re-register in time means they will keep any waiting time they have already accrued.
We need people to re-register their current details so that our new register holds the most up to date information and applicants are in the banding that accurately reflects their current housing need.”
Support available to re-register
The new Dorset Council Home Choice system requires customers to have an email address to re-register.
If you need help to complete the application please ask a friend, family member or find support from Dorset Council’s Digital Champions.
Find more information online about the re-registration process.
So I have re-registered. Does this mean that I will lose the banding I had before?
Hi, you can find more information about how housing needs are now ranked here: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/housing-register/housing-register-bands.
Kind regards,
Imogen
I’ve just gone onto the new site to register home choice and my internet won’t except it what do I need to do
Hi Victor, more information about applying to be on the housing register is available here https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/housing-register
If you’re struggling, the Dorset Digital Hotline – 01305 221048 – can help with things like building confidence using the online system and electronically submitting supporting documents.
Kind regards,
Imogen