10:50am Sunday 5th October 2008
ELGAR Housing Association, part of the Festival Housing Group, became the latest recruit to join the new Home Choice Plus scheme this week.
Malvern customers need only register once to gain access to details of available properties from across four local authority areas: Wychavon, Worcester City, Wyre Forest and Malvern Hills.
This will increase to six local authority areas by the end of the year, with the addition of Bromsgrove and Stratford councils.
Customers will find details of rents, adaptations and the number of bedrooms. Vacant properties will be advertised through the Home Choice Plus website, the Property Line telephone service and council offices.
Clare Huyton, executive director of Elgar and Spa Housing Associations, said: ”Festival is very proud to be part of a scheme that gives residents a greater say in where they live.
“Home Choice Plus is a one-stop shop where customers can register, find vacant property details and bid for homes across four local authority areas.”
Another change under the new scheme will see the current points system scrapped and replaced by banding.
Customers will be put into a band depending on their housing need. Those who have been in the highest band for the longest will get the property they have placed a bid for.
Applicants already on the housing register do not need to reapply.
Elgar Housing Association will be writing to people to ensure they are still in the correct band.
Overall, customers will be able to choose properties from 31 housing associations, across the West Midlands.
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