Gateway to Homechoice operates by advertising vacant properties online and gives applicants more opportunities to choose where they want to live.

Gateway to Homechoice works in partnership with seven district/borough councils - Braintree, Colchester, Babergh, Maldon, Ipswich, Mid Suffolk, Suffolk Coastal - and local housing associations.

Step one

Register on line to gatewaytohomechoice.org.uk.  This will take approx 30 minutes to complete the registration.

Step two:

When you have submitted your on line application, Braintree District Council will assess your application and assign you a band to signify your housing priority. You will be contacted by letter to request documentation to support your housing application. You will be advised of your login number and password.

Step three:

When your application has been verified by Braintree District Council,  you will be ready to place a bid on the property of your choice. You can bid for up to two properties each week. The bidding cycle starts and ends at midnight on each Wednesday. Remember it doesn't matter whether you are the first or last to bid as applicants are arranged in order of their band and effective date.

To understand how your eligibility and priority for housing is assessed

Applicants are assessed and assigned one of five Bands which indicate their level of need. Some examples of the criteria for each band are as follows:

 BAND A

• Critical Medical/Welfare award – to include emergency situations
• Successions
• Downsizing tenants currently in three or four bed accommodation

BAND B

• Serious Medical/Welfare award
• Downsizing tenants currently in one or two bedroom accommodation releasing one or two bedrooms within sub-region
• Overcrowding in permanent social housing within the sub-region
• Accepted homeless cases OR threatened with becoming homeless

BAND C 

• Moderate medical/welfare award
• No fixed abode
• Overcrowded in private rented accommodation or social housing outside sub-region
• Shared facilities
• Lacking facilities

BAND D

• Applicants assessed as meeting band C criteria but with no local connection to the sub-region.

 BAND E

• Caravan or mobile home but no housing need
• Applicants who live in a property that is adequate to meet their needs in terms of property type, size and facilities.
• Owner occupiers   

Are you are thinking of downsizing ? You may like to apply for our tenants incentive scheme.  We currently offer £500 per bedroom you release.

View our Guide to Choice Based Lettings.

View our Allocation Policy. This outlines the way all participating Authorities and Housing Associations allocate their properties.

If you would like more information on Choice Based Lettings, please contact Mark Garnham (Housing Options Manager) on 01376 332468 or Mark.Garnham@GreenfieldsCH.org.uk