Choice Move FAQs and Top Tips

Along with your completed application form, you have to provide the following:

• Proof of identity for all household members e.g. passports or birth certificates
• Proof of current address for all household members over 16 e.g. recent utility bill
• Birth Certificates or Child Benefit letter for children under 16
• Evidence of income
• Evidence of your right to reside in the UK if you are not a British citizen e.g. passport and other relevant Home Office documentation

The following documents may also be required (dependent on circumstances) in order to process your application:

• Tenancy Agreement (if currently renting)
• Previous address (if you have moved in the past six months)
• Bank statements for all accounts held (if not receiving income related benefits)
• Evidence of indefinite leave to remain (if from outside the EU)
• Evidence of any owned property (currently owned or within previous five years).

We aim to process applications as soon as possible in order of the date the information was received.  You will receive a letter confirming if you have been accepted onto the Housing Register.  It will also tell you the band you have been placed in, the date your application was registered and the size of property you are eligible for. 

Yes. When a customer bids for a property it creates a shortlist of interested parties. The shortlist is calculated in band order (Band 1 to 4) and then in waiting time within each band.

It is very important that you tell us of any changes in your circumstances so that we can amend your application.

We will tell you if this results in your application moving to a different band.  If you move up to a higher band, the date used will be the date you moved into that band.  If you move down to a lower band, the date used will be the date that applied when you were previously in that band or any earlier date when you were in a higher band.

If someone in your household has a medical condition, you will be asked to provide details, which may then be considered by an Allocations Officer who will put forward a recommendation.

You can continue to choose which homes to express an interest in or bid on, but must be mindful of the recommendation and only bid on suitable properties, such as a ground floor flat or bungalow, if stairs would be a problem.

You may be asked to complete a Medical Needs Assessment Form.

You can express your interest or bid on a maximum of six homes in each property cycle (each cycle lasts for seven days from midnight on Tuesday to midnight the following Tuesday).  You can bid in the following ways:

• Online through the Choice Move website
• By telephoning 01246 217670 to request for a bid to be placed.

Queue positions are not given during an advertising cycle as positions are likely to change throughout the week as other applicants bid on the property.

Once the closing date for bids has passed, a shortlist of interested applicants is drawn up.  The shortlist is in order of eligibility according to the criteria stated in the advert details for that home.

The applicant at the top of the list will normally be offered the home.  If you have not been contacted with 7-10 working days of the bidding cycle closing, you should assume your bid has been unsuccessful.  Please try again in the next bidding cycle.

If you are threatened with becoming homeless, for example, a family member/friend has asked you to leave their home or you have been served a notice to terminate your tenancy, please contact North East Derbyshire District Council's Housing Options Team on 01246 231111.  They will be able to assist you with homeless prevention and housing advice.

The Housing Options Team will work with you becoming homeless and will discuss your housing options with you.  If this is unsuccessful you may be offered temporary housing.  You may still express an interest or bid on homes through Choice Move, providing your application has been accepted on the Housing Register.

If you are in need of emergency housing - you are homeless tonight or will become homeless in the next 28 days, call the Housing Options Team on 01246 231111 during office hours.  For emergency out of hours, contact the Call Derbyshire Out of Hours Team on 01773 728222.

Contact North East Derbyshire District Council's Housing Options Team

If you are unhappy with any decisions that Rykneld Homes has made, you can request a review in the first instances, decisions may be for example:

• You are not eligible to join the Housing Register
• You are not eligible for an offer
• Your application has been cancelled other than at your own request
• You think that you may have been given the wrong banding or priority date

To request a review you must do so within 21 days of the date you are notified of the decision and the reason for it.  You may provide additional information in writing that you wish to be taken into account when the review is carried out.  You will normally be advised of the outcome of the review within 28 working days.  If you are still unhappy with the decision, you have the right to appeal; again this must be done within 21 days of the date that you are notified of the review decision.