Home-Options is the Choice Based Lettings scheme for the Derbyshire Dales. It is the way to apply for social housing in the district.
Social landlords advertise their empty properties on the Home Options website. You can then search for an empty property that meets your needs, in a place where you want to live.
How do I apply?
You can apply using the online application form. Once you have applied, please make a note of your application number. Please make sure you send us any document we have requested, otherwise we will not be able to process your application. You can find out more information about applying on the Home-Options website.
If you don't have access to the internet at home, you can use the computers at your local library. If you cannot use a computer or struggle to fill in forms, please contact us for further advice.
Derbyshire Dales District Council is required by law to protect the public funds it administers. We may share information provided to us with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud. Please see the Sharing Information page for more information.
What happens next?
When we have all the information we need from you, we will write to you to let you know your application is 'live'. You can then place a 'bid' on a property (this means you have expressed your interest in it. You do not use money to 'bid'). At the end of the bidding cycle, the property is normally offered to the person who has bid on it who is in the highest priority band, or who has been in that band for the longest time if there is more than one person.
Please note that you have to be active and bid for any property you wish to live in. You will not be offered any property unless you place a bid for it.
Do I have to use the internet to use Home-Options?
No. You can visit our offices at the Town Hall, Matlock or contact the Home-Options team who can help you with an application or with bidding. If you need any assistance to use Home Options, please do not hesitate to contact us. We can also provide information in other formats or other languages to help you to access the scheme.
Other options
Please note that Home-Options does not mean there are any more properties available. There are still many more people in need of housing than there are vacant properties, and some properties receive over a hundred bids.
If you are in a low priority band, and you find that you are consistently being placed low on long shortlists, this means you are likely to have a long wait for social housing. You may wish to consider other options, such as private rented housing. Existing social housing tenants are also advised to consider a mutual exchange and to register with the Exchange Locata website.
