Who can apply for properties through HomeChoice-Link?
You must have been accepted onto Daventry District or Northampton Borough Council's Housing Register to be able to apply for either rented or low cost home ownership properties through HomeChoice-Link. Anyone aged 16 years or over may apply to join the Housing Register, however 16 and 17 year olds will be asked to provide a rent guarantor.
- How do I apply to join the Housing Register?
You will need to complete a Homechoice application form. You can download a Homechoice application from Daventry District or Northampton Borough Council's website. Or apply online if you are applying for housing with Northampton Borough Council. Visit our One Stop Shop's or Outreach Centres, alternatively we can post an application to you. Visit How to Contact Us for contact details and opening times.
- What other documents do I need to provide?
Along with your application form you will need to provide the following:
Proof of identity for all household members (e.g. passports, birth certificates)
2 x Proofs of current address for all applicants (e.g. recent utility bill)
Evidence of your right to reside in the UK if you are not a British Citizen (e.g. passport & other relevant Home Office documentation)
Copy of your tenancy agreement and proof of a clear rent account, if applicable
Before you are offered a property you may need to provide additional documents to support your application. We will tell you what documents to provide. All documents provided must be valid copies, unless otherwise stated. For a full list of acceptable documents contact the Housing Options Team for Daventry District Council or the Customer Contact Centre for Northampton Borough Council, or visit our One Stop Shop for the authority you are applying for. Original documents can be copied by visiting your local authority offices or your nearest outreach centre.
- What happens if I do not provide the required documents?
Daventry District Council applicants: Providing you have properly completed your application form it will be processed but will not be banded until the documents are received. Until you have provided the appropriate documents you will not be able to place a bid (register an interest in a property). We will write to inform you if we require any further documentation, please refer to the last page of your application form for a checklist of acceptable documents. If your application form is incomplete it may be returned to you. The date it is later accepted from will be the date we will register your application.
Northampton Borough applicants:A deadline of 28 days is given for providing supporting documentation to accompany a housing application form. After 28 days if no supporting documentation has been received from you, your application will be cancelled. You will then need to re-apply if you still wish to join the register. If your application form is incomplete, a member of the Applications Team will write to you in order to request further information. if the requested information is not provided to Northampton Borough Council within 28 dyas of the date of the letter, the housing application form will not be placed onto the housing register and the application will be cancelled.
How do I know if I have been accepted onto the Housing Register?
You will receive a letter confirming that you have been accepted onto the Housing Register. This will tell you the band you have been placed in, the date your application has been registered from, and your reference (PIN) number.
What are priority Bands?
Your application will be assessed according to your level of housing need and placed in one of 4 bands, A to D. Within each band applications are placed in date order. Some examples can be found in
Prioritising Applications.
Do I need to renew my application each year?
No, not unless your circumstance have changed, in which case you will need to inform us as soon as you can. Both Daventry District Council and Northampton Borough Council will carry out reviews to ensure all applicants wish to remain on the scheme. Those applicants who are not actively participating in the scheme will have their application reviewed.
What if someone in my household has a medical condition?
If someone in your household has a medical condition you will be asked to complete a Medical Self-Assessment form, For Daventry District Council applicants, this form will be assessed by a Medical Officer. The Medical Officer will make a recommendation on if your priority banding is correct. Northampton Borough Council applicants will be assessed by an Applications Officer, however if necessary, the form may be forwarded to Now Medical. You can continue to choose which properties to express an interest in but must be mindful of your condition and only express interest in suitable properties such as ground floor flat or bungalow if you cannot climb stairs.
How often are properties advertised?
Properties available for rent are advertised each week. As soon as we are given formal notice that a property is due to become vacant we will advertise it. For more details click
Step Two-Choosing, part of our step-by-step guide to using the service.
What information will the property adverts contain?The adverts tell you who the landlord is, the location, how many bedrooms, rent and other features of the property to help you decide which property is right for you. Where available a photograph of the property or a similar house type is provided, you can also access information about the local area and facilities. The advert also tells you if there are any special requirements that the applicant must meet, such as age requirements and which band will be given priority for the property. If you are not in the band stated you may still apply for the property providing it is suitable for your family size.
Through our 24hr automated telephone service on 0300 777 1230
By visiting our offices and using the online facilities that have been provided for Home choice
Bidding by text for Northampton Borough Council applicants ONLY, on 0778 620 0064
How many properties can I express an interest in?
You will be able to express an interest (place a bid) on a maximum of three social housing properties, and you will have unlimited bids on privately rented properties each time properties are advertised. However, you will only be able to express interest in properties that are suitable for your family size.
Will I know how many other people are interested in the same property?
Yes, when you bid for a property you will be told where you are in the queue. This is likely to change frequently due to other people bidding for the same property. Using this information you may decide to withdraw your bid for one property and bid for a different property for which you are higher placed in the queue. You can do this at any time before the cycle closes.
How do you decide who is offered a property?
Once the cycle has closed for bids, a shortlist of interested applicants is drawn up. All bids received will be placed in order of priority need, to produce a list of eligible applicants for each property advertised. The landlord of the property may wish to carry out further checks (I.e. rent checks, housing circumstances). Click
Step Three-Offer for more details.
NOTE: If you have been accepted as statutory homeless, you will need to request a written review if suitability should you wish to decline an offer of accommodation.
How will I know what has happened to the properties advertised?
Information about homes that have been successfully let or purchased through shared ownership is published. We tell you the number of applicants that expressed an interest in each property, the band and the registration date of each property. To see the results of properties that have been let click
Recent Lets.
What if I become homeless?
Households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness will be dealt with outside the scheme. You should contact the Housing Options Team for more advise if homelessness is an issue. We will work with you to try to prevent you becoming homeless and will discuss your housing options with you. You may still express an interest in properties through HomeChoice-Link, providing your application has been accepted on the Housing Register, but in most cases it is unlikely that this will be in time to resolve your homelessness, as most applicants will have to wait a long time before being successful.
- How do I request a review of a decision?
If you disagree with any of the following decisions you can request a review:
You are not eligible to join the housing register
You are not eligible for an offer
You think that you have been placed in the wrong band or given the wrong priority date
Daventry District Council applicants: To request a review you must contact the Housing Options Manager in writing within 21 days. You may provide additional information in writing that you wish to be taken into account when the review is carried out. You will normally be advised of the outcome of the review within 28 days.
Northampton Borough Council applicants: To request a review you must contact the Housing Solutions Manager in writing within 21 days. You may provide additional information in writing that you wish to be taken into account when the review is carried out. You will normally be advised of the outcome of the review within 28 days.