Salford Home Search home page

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is Salford Home Search?
  2. How does it work?
  3. What is a "band"?
  4. Why am I in this band?
  5. What kind of properties can I bid for?
  6. How can I register with Salford Home Search?
  7. How can I place a bid?
  8. When should I place a bid?
  9. How many times can I bid during each bidding cycle?
  10. How can I find out about bids I have made?
  11. What happens if I don't bid for any properties?
  12. I have not been successful. Is there any point in me carrying on bidding?
  13. Is any priority given to those in urgent need?
  14. Will I get preference if I have a local connection?
  15. Will my personal information be passed to other landlords?
  16. Will all properties be let through Salford Home Search?
  17. Who will be my landlord if I am successful in getting a property?
  18. Will I keep my existing tenancy rights?
  19. If I've got an Anti-Social Behaviour Order or criminal conviction that's spent, how will I be treated?
  20. Are private rented homes included in the scheme?
  21. What should I do if my circumstances change?
  22. Where can I go for more information?
  23. How do I comment, compliment or complain?
  1. What is Salford Home Search?

    This is a new way of letting properties in Salford; the idea is to offer the people of Salford greater choice in which type of property and area they would like to live in.

  2. How does it work?

    This new system means that you bid on any home you are interested in. Each person is placed in a band depending on their housing need. Most properties available to rent through this scheme are also allocated to a band.

    If more than one person bids on a particular property it will be the person whose need, band type and who has been registered the longest who will be successful.

  3. What is a "band"?

    A band is a way of sorting people by housing circumstances and needs.

    Band A - For regeneration applicants.

    Band B - Consists of:

    • Homeless people,
    • People threatened with homelessness with a priority need,
    • People with qualifying medical conditions.

    Band C - Consists of:

    • People with one or more housing needs, who are given reasonable preference, for example children leaving care or households who require accommodation to give or receive care.

    Band D - Consists of:

    • People with no housing need, as they may be adequately housed or have no local connection.

    Properties are also placed into bands.

  4. Why am I in this band?

    You are placed into a band so that your needs and circumstances are identified. People with the most needs will be given greatest priority. If there are two or more people with the same number of needs, the person who registered on the waiting list first, will be top.

  5. What kind of properties can I bid for?

    You can bid for any property, preference will be given to bidders:

    • Who are in the same band as the property advertised,
    • Whose requirements match the property type and size.

    If the successful bidder's requirements do not match the property type and size, such as a single person bidding for a family house, the property may be re-advertised to make better use of the property.

  6. How can I register with Salford Home Search?

    You can register:

  7. How can I place a bid?

    Bids can be made in the following ways...

    • Visit www.salfordhomesearch.co.uk
    • In person at Salford Home Search
    • By phone to the contact centre on 0161 909 6514
    • At any local housing office: Salix Homes and City West Housing Trust

    Bids can be placed by the person registered or by their nominated bidder.

    Remember: To bid you must be registered first!

  8. When should I place a bid?

    You can bid between 10.00am Wednesday to midnight on the following Monday, this is known as the 'Bidding Cycle'. Then a bidding list will be produced which lists, ranked in order of priority, all applicants who have expressed an interest in a property.

  9. How many times can I bid during each bidding cycle?

    You will be allowed to bid a maximum of three times per bidding cycle, but only once per property. Each bidding cycle goes from 10.00am Wednesday to midnight on the following Monday.

  10. How can I find out about bids I have made?

    Successful bidders will be contacted and given the chance to view the property before making a decision. Once the property has been let we will publicise the result on the website and in your local housing office. This will show the successful applicant's waiting time, band and needs. The name of the applicant will not be shown.

  11. What happens if I don't bid for any properties?

    Unless you have a special need, you will not be considered for a home unless you actually bid. It will be up to you or your nominated bidder to actively try and find a home. Salford Home Search will contact people who have not placed a bid for a specified time and find out if they are having difficulty with the system and if they require help in placing bids in the future.

  12. I have not been successful. Is there any point in me carrying on bidding?

    Yes. Whether you become the successful bidder depends on who else wants the particular property. The lower your housing need priority, the longer it may take for you to find a new home. The more flexible you are about the area you want to live in, the type of home you want and the more properties you bid for, the more likely you are to be successful.

  13. Is any priority given to those in urgent need?

    Yes, a proportion of all homes advertised will be allocated for people who we have assessed as having an urgent need. For example, people who need emergency rehousing due to a fire or flood.

  14. Will I get preference if I have a local connection?

    Yes, people with a local connection to Salford will be given priority if you:

    • have lived in Salford for six months out of the last 12 months, or three years out of the last five years,
    • are employed in Salford,
    • have a close family member who has lived in Salford for at least five years,
    • are homeless and Salford City Council has a legal duty to help.

  15. Will my personal information be passed to other landlords?

    Salford Home Search has arrangements with most housing associations and accredited private landlords. By joining Salford Home Search you automatically give consent for us to share information with them unless you ask us not to. They will only receive specific information about you if you bid for one of their properties.

  16. Will all properties be let through Salford Home Search?

    No, the Allocations Review Panel will occasionally let properties in special circumstances, for example following a fire or flood.

  17. Who will be my landlord if I am successful in getting a property?

    Your new landlord will either be:

    • Salix Homes,
    • City West Housing Trust,
    • Salford City Council,
    • Housing Association,
    • A private landlord who is signed up to the council's Landlord Accreditation Scheme.

  18. Will I keep my existing tenancy rights?

    Your new landlord will advise you of your new rights before you are asked to accept a property. Tenants moving from a council owned home to a housing association owned home may lose their right to purchase the property under the Right to Buy Scheme. You should check with the new landlord about any particular tenancy rights you are concerned with.

  19. If I've got an Anti-Social Behaviour Order or criminal conviction that's spent, how will I be treated?

    The policy regarding anti-social behaviour is "In the interests of encouraging sustainable communities, applicants may be excluded from the statutory register, if there is evidence of displayed behaviour, which may affect the management of the tenancy and/or impact on the community e.g. applicants who have behaved in an anti-social manner including some forms of criminal activity such as drug dealing; applicants in arrears of current rent or who have a former tenant debt; applicants or members of their household who have used threatening language or behaviour towards any officer of the council or its housing partners."

    Each applicant will be considered individually following a thorough investigation. Applicants will have a right of appeal against such a decision.

    If there is no longer a criminal conviction registered against your name, it is illegal to disadvantage or discriminate against you in any way. You would be treated equally with any other applicant.

  20. Are private rented homes included in the scheme?

    The Landlord Accreditation Scheme will send us properties from private landlords, which we will advertise on their behalf. If you are interested in these properties, further information and contact details will be available.

    The Salford Safe Deposit Scheme which provides help with deposits is available on 0161 793 2020. You need to contact them yourself if you want assistance.

  21. What should I do if my circumstances change?

    It is very important that you notify us immediately. All offers of accommodation are made based on the information you provide, therefore if you have been offered a property and your circumstances have changed the offer may be withdrawn.

  22. Where can I go for more information?
    • Visit www.salfordhomesearch.co.uk
    • In person at Salford Home Search
    • Call the contact centre on 0161 909 6514
    • Drop into your local housing office.
  23. How do I comment, compliment or complain?

    Housing Connections Partnership are constantly striving to improve the services we provide. If you have any comments, compliments or complaints please contact us on 0161 909 6514 or via the following www.salford.gov.uk/council/complaints/complaintsprocedure.

How to find us

Salford Home Search
45 Hankinson Way
Salford
M6 5JA

Tel: 0161 909 6514
Minicom: 0161 909 6527
Fax: 0161 737 3237

Email: salfordhomesearch@salford.gov.uk
Web: www.salfordhomesearch.co.uk

Download a brochure in PDF format

© Salford Home Search, 45 Hankinson Way, Salford M6 5JA