Bidding on the housing register, how the choice-based letting system works

Direct answer

Most councils use a "choice-based letting" (CBL) system. After you get on the housing register, you go to the council's CBL website and bid on properties that match your size and type. Bidders are sorted by banding and date order, and the top bidder is offered the home. Bidding is usually weekly. You do not lose your banding by bidding, and you can bid for free.

Key facts

• Government figures show 42,640 households in England were owed a relief duty after being assessed as homeless in October to December 2025. Statutory homelessness in England, GOV.UK
• A further 33,630 households were owed a prevention duty after being assessed as threatened with homelessness in the same quarter. Statutory homelessness in England, GOV.UK

How the register itself works

Before you can bid, you have to be on the housing register. The basics:

• You apply to your local council (each runs its own scheme).
• The council assesses you for eligibility (immigration status, certain debts may exclude you).
• They place you in a band (often A, B, C, D, where A is the highest priority).
• They give you a registration date, used to break ties within a band.

See how to get rehoused, the housing register for the application stage.

What banding usually reflects

Each council sets its own bands but they typically reflect:

• Homelessness duty (often top band).
• Severe medical or welfare need.
• Overcrowding (statutory or extreme).
• Significant disrepair the landlord cannot or will not fix.
• Fleeing violence.
• Reciprocal moves (a transfer agreed across landlords).
• Standard need (low band).

Your banding is the biggest factor in how quickly you will be offered a home. Always read the band criteria on your council website and challenge a low banding if you have evidence it should be higher.

How the bidding works

Once a week (usually), the council publishes a list of available properties on the CBL site. You log in and:

1. Look at properties that match your household size (you are usually capped at the number of bedrooms you qualify for).
2. Read the shortlist criteria (who can bid, what banding is needed).
3. Place a bid by clicking "Express interest" or "Bid."
4. The council closes bidding at a set time and ranks bidders.
5. The top bidder is offered the home. If they refuse it, the next one is offered, and so on.

You can usually bid on up to 3 properties a week, depending on the scheme. Bidding is free.

How bidders are ranked

The council sorts bidders by:

• Banding first (higher band beats lower band).
• Registration date within the band (earlier date wins).
• Local connection sometimes.

Some councils also have "quotas," where a certain percentage of homes go to top band, the rest to other bands, to keep movement across all bands.

How to improve your chances

• Bid every week. People often miss weeks and slip down.
• Bid only on homes you can realistically accept. Refusing offers can put you down a band in some schemes.
• Get medical or welfare evidence for a higher band if your circumstances qualify. A doctor's letter, a social worker letter, an occupational therapist report.
• Challenge a low banding through the council's review process if you have evidence.
• Apply to other landlords too, housing associations have their own waiting lists, and many areas have sub-regional schemes letting you bid across multiple boroughs.
• Consider mutual exchange as a parallel route. See mutual exchange.

How long will it actually take

Honestly, in most of England and Wales, years. Inner London, parts of the south-east, and major cities have very long waits even at the highest band. The council should tell you the typical wait time for your band and size.

If the wait is being made harder by serious disrepair in your current home, that is its own issue. The disrepair claim can run in parallel with the housing register process.

How we can help

The housing register is a council process, not ours. The right places to call:

• Shelter 0808 800 4444
• Citizens Advice 0808 223 1133
• Your local council's housing options team.

If your current home is in serious disrepair and that is part of why you are on the register, we can help with the disrepair claim. Call us free on 0800 030 4669.

Free call: 0800 030 4669 | Start your claim

Sources

• Housing Act 1996, Part 6 (allocation of housing accommodation) (legislation.gov.uk)