Choice-based lettings
What is Bedfordshire Homefinder?
The Bedfordshire Homefinder service advertises vacancies to rent in Council and housing association properties in Luton and Central Bedfordshire. It has been operating in these areas since 2009. The service is provided by:
- Central Bedfordshire Council
- Grand Union Housing Group
- Luton Borough Council
Central Bedfordshire and Luton Councils maintain housing registers of people seeking housing in their local area. To apply for social housing you need to contact the Councils directly. Go to Contact us for details.
Grand Union Housing Group (GUHG) is the largest provider of housing association properties in Central Bedfordshire and (as Aragon Housing Association) was one of the founding members of the scheme. To be considered for GUHG’s properties you must be registered on the Council’s housing register.
When you apply to be housed through the scheme, the Council you apply to will assess your application in accordance with its Allocation Scheme. You can view the Allocations Schemes below:
Not everyone who applies can be accepted as you need to meet the Council’s criteria. Even if you are accepted, you will probably need to have a high priority to be offered housing as there is very high demand and a limited supply of social housing. You should also consider other Housing Options.
If you are accepted onto the Council’s register you will be sent Login details for Bedfordshire Homefinder and told what type and size of property you are eligible to bid for. When you place a bid, your position on the bidding list will depend on your priority for housing and how long you have been on the housing register. For more information on how to bid, see leaflet How to Bid.
You can place bids through the website or through a smart phone using the Home Connections app – see the links at the bottom of the Home page. (If you have difficulty using the service and have no-one who can help you, the system can be set up to place bids for you automatically – you will need to tell us what type of property and which areas you want to be considered for). Remember, only people on the bidding list will be eligible for the property advertised so it is important that you bid!
For more information about how to use the Scheme, go to User Guides where you will find more information about how to use the Bedfordshire Homefinder service.