Bromley housing frequently asked questions

The full process of CBL and bidding is detailed in the Allocations Scheme, which is available on the Bromley website.

Currently, the portal does not provide information on your exact position. You can contact housingsolutions@bromley.gov.uk for your ranking after the bidding cycle has closed.

When you place a bid, your application will be ranked based on priority banding and any preferences assigned to the property. If shortlisted, you will be contacted by the housing association for the next steps.

There are several reasons why you may be bypassed for a property, including:

• Already being shortlisted for another property.
• Public protection or anti-social behaviour concerns.
• Rent arrears without a consistent payment plan.
• The property requiring adaptations that your household does not need.

No. You can be shortlisted for multiple properties, but you can only be under offer for one. You will need to decide about the offer before considering others.

If you have been shortlisted for a property, the next steps will be outlined in the offer letter you receive. This letter will indicate your position on the shortlist (e.g., First, second, or third).

The housing association will first contact the household in the first position and make them a provisional offer for the property. The household will be asked to complete an application form and submit it by a specified deadline. If they accept the offer, they will be invited to view the property and sign the tenancy agreement.

Should the household in the first position decline the offer, the housing association will then proceed to contact the household in the second position. This process will continue until a household accepts the property. In the rare case that all three shortlisted households decline, the property may need to be re-shortlisted, and the process will start again.

If you have rent arrears, you may still be shortlisted for a property, provided you meet certain criteria. These conditions are designed to ensure you are actively addressing your arrears:

If you have less than four weeks’ worth of arrears, you must have entered a payment plan and have consistently adhered to it for at least three months.

If your arrears exceed four weeks, you must have entered a payment plan and maintained it for at least six months.

If you meet these conditions and demonstrate a commitment to managing your rent arrears, your application may proceed through the shortlist process.

The council retains the right to make a direct offer of social housing through the Housing Register, but this is reserved for exceptional circumstances. Due to the ongoing shortage of social housing properties, the likelihood of receiving a direct offer is very low. Most applicants will need to wait for a suitable property to become available and may need to participate in the bidding process.

If the council has accepted full housing duty towards you, you have the right to request a formal review of the suitability of any housing offer. This is in line with Section 202 of the Housing Act 1996. You will be informed of the council’s decision via a Section 184 letter, which will also explain your right to a review.

To initiate a review, you must inform a housing officer within 21 days of the offer being made (not from the day you move into the property). It is important to note that the council will not hold the property for you during the review process. You are encouraged to accept the offer and move into the property even if you wish to request a review.

Should you decline the offer, and your review request is unsuccessful, you may find yourself in a difficult situation. The council could consider its housing duty as discharged, meaning you will need to make alternative housing arrangements. On the other hand, if you accept the offer and your review is successful, you will be made an alternative offer as soon as possible.

If your review request is made outside the 21-day timeframe, or if you do not have the right to request a formal review, you can still raise your concerns by emailing housingsolutions@bromley.gov.uk. You can also provide any new evidence that was not previously considered. In such cases, an Allocations Officer will informally review your offer.

It is essential to understand that disliking an offer does not automatically make it legally unsuitable for your needs. The review process will assess the offer’s suitability based on your individual circumstances, not personal preferences.