About Us 
Using homehunt 
Best Use Allocation System
Demand for our homes is far greater than the number we have available, so we have to ensure not only that we take account of housing needs but also that we make ‘Best use of the properties we let. ‘Best Use’ means in most cases we allocate our properties to applicants who need the bedrooms and bed spaces available, though in some cases, where properties are designed for specific needs, e.g. elderly or health related, ‘Best use’ means allocating if possible to that type of household.
If you apply for properties that match your family’s size and needs it will improve your chances of being successful. If you apply for a larger house than you strictly need you risk losing out to a household who in our view needs all the bedrooms.
To help you decide which homes to apply for; our property descriptions include size and type details, for example, ‘3 bedrooms, 5 person’. A home this size (called ‘3/5’ for short) would meet the needs of a variety of households needing 3 bedrooms and up to 5 bed spaces:
- A couple with three children
- A single person with three children
- A couple with two older children of opposite sexes
- A single person with two older children of opposite sexes
- Three adults
All of these households would make ‘Best Use’ of a ‘3/5’ home, and their applications would be considered ahead of others needing fewer bedrooms.
When working out the number of bedrooms and bed spaces your household needs, please remember the following:
- If you are a single parent with access to your children but do not share in their custody, i.e. your children visit but do not live with you, you should not include them in the calculation of your housing needs. However, you will also be considered to make ‘Best Use’ of 2 bedroom upper floor flats.
- If you have no children, but are pregnant you can only apply for 1-bedroom properties until your baby is born, but you will also be considered to make ‘Best Use’ of 2-bedroom upper floor flats.
Because of high demand for family homes, applications for properties with more bedrooms than are actually needed (for example, to have a ‘spare’ room for visitors or to use as a hobby room) are unlikely ever to be successful.
Most properties are let on a ‘Best Use’ basis, so it’s a good idea to work out your needs before applying for a property.
Top of page