If you have found a property that is the right size for your household and you would like to be considered for it, you need to tell us. This is called placing a bid. A bid is not a financial bid, but an expression of interest in a home.
You can place a bid in the following ways:
Full details on each of these ways to bid are in the How to Bid guide (click here). Remember, you must place any bids by the end of Tuesday each week. You cannot place bids on a Wednesday.
If you need help to bid, contact your local council using the information provided in the How to Contact Us section (click here).
You can use this website to view available properties, place bids, review your bidding history and keep your application up to date. You will need your registration number and your memorable date to log in (click here).
If you do not have a computer with internet access, you can use an Internet kiosk situated in many of the council’s buildings, or you can use the internet at your local library. You will need to be a member of your library to do this but it is free to join. To check where your local library is and the opening times please visit http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/home/leisure/libraries.htm
You can ask your local council to send you postal coupons. Your registration number will be on the coupon. You need to write in the reference numbers of the properties you want to bid for and post the coupon back. You can only use one coupon for each weekly letting cycle.
You can bid in person by coming to one of the Council offices. You will need to have your unique reference number with you and some identification.
You need to text your registration number, followed by your memorable date, followed by the property reference number. For example, “73651 29/04/2010 12642”. You must send the text message in exactly this format, because it will be read by a computer system, not a person. The number to text is 07537 402595. You should save this in your phone to make it easier for you to bid in future.
You can telephone us on 0300 011 0311. The automated telephone service will then ask you to use your telephone keypad to key in your application number, your memorable date and the reference number of the property you want to express your interest in. Calls are charged at no more than the UK national rate, even if calling from a mobile phone. Free minutes as part of a calls package can also be used with this number.
What happens next?
Once bidding closes, Homesearch places each bidder into a property shortlist. The shortlist is ranked by local connection to the area the property is in, priority band (i.e. Band 1 at the top) and then by waiting time within that band. The shortlist for each property is then passed to the property landlord, who will normally contact the person at the top of the shortlist to arrange a viewing.
If the landlord does not contact you, you have not been successful in bidding, so please try again for another home on the next letting cycle.