Lettings in Bradford have risen by a fifth since the launch of choice-based lettings and interest from minority groups has increased.
Bradford is one of the government's 27 pilot choice-based letting schemes.

Lettings are up from 963 last year to 1172 for the same period this year. Lettings to Asian people have risen by more than half

– a fact welcomed by the Yorkshire council, which has been criticised for failing to attract tenants from ethnic minorities.

Tenancy refusals have plummeted from 600 to 190.

A report to Bradford council by housing director Geraldine Howley says the website that allows customers to view homes on offer has received millions of hits. Specially set-up kiosks with internet access have recorded 163,000 viewing sessions since the service went live in April.

Howley said: "We are overcoming the myth that council housing is only for those in desperate need and showing we can attract new customers."

Customers join as members of the pilot Homehunter scheme and can bid for homes they like. Up to 400 homes are advertised each fortnight, attracting 1500 bids. The system is also linked to a special service for disabled customers that includes a register of all adapted housing in the city and the service offers support packages for vulnerable tenants in partnership with Horton Housing Association.

The scheme is being rolled out further with North British and Brunel housing associations joining; they will advertise their homes on the same website.

South Wales-based Charter Housing Association and Lincoln council have also bought the system and plan to use it for their own separate schemes.

Source

Housing Today