Homechoice

You will be able to apply for properties through Castle Point HomeChoice if you are a housing applicant and have registered on the Castle Point Council housing register or you are a tenant of Castle Point Council and have registered for a transfer.

Either at the start of the scheme or when you are accepted on to the housing register we will write to tell you:

• Your housing application unique reference number (a.k.a; your login number).

• The band your application has been placed in and your effective date.

• The number of bedrooms you are entitled to.

You must tell us if there are any changes in your circumstances so that we can reassess your application and make any changes as necessary.

Property Size

You will only be eligible for properties that are suitable for the size of your family. The following table tells you how we normally decide on the number of bedrooms that you are eligible for:

	Number of Bedrooms
Household Type	Bedsit	1	2	3	4
Single Adult
Couples
1 Child families – child under 3 years of age
1 Child families – child over 3 years of age
2 Child families – children same gender
2 Child families – children different gender, eldest child under 10 years of age
2 child families – children different gender, one child over 10 years of age and the other over 3 years of age
Families with 3 or 4 children*
Families with 5 or more children*

Due to limited availability, families with 5 or more children may be given preference over smaller eligible households for properties with 4 or more bedrooms.

*The maximum number of bedrooms will follow the rule for age and gender separation given for families with two children. Non-dependent children over 18, cousins, grandchildren and other relatives will normally be assessed using the same rules.