Published: Friday, 5th February, 2010 4:00pm

Choice is all yours to make bid for home

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THOUSANDS of people on the housing register will now be able to bid for a home for the very first time.

An auction of homes began in Bracknell Forest on Friday last week as part of a new scheme called My Choice that allows those on the register to have a say on where they live and in what property.

Each week the scheme's website will feature homes ready to be rented out and these will be allocated to the highest bidder, determined by the band that the person or family is placed in, according to their housing need.

Simon Hendey, chief officer for housing, said: "Bracknell Forest My Choice really does what it says on the tin - it gives people on the housing register a choice on where they live in Bracknell Forest.

"Unfortunately, this doesn't mean there will be more properties available but it does mean the housing process is much easier, clearer and modern - and I hope many people have a look at www.bfcmychoice.org.uk to get a feel for the new system."

People who are already on the housing register have already been sent information detailing how they can get bidding for a property to rent from one of 19 different housing associations.

The council has around 4,000 people on the housing register and has around 400 property vacancies available each year.

As well as being advertised online, the vacancies will also be advertised in a newsletter available at council offices and Bracknell Library.

Councillor Dale Birch, executive member for adult services, health and housing, said: "Bracknell Forest My Choice is very exciting as it is a way of giving social housing applicants in the borough a real chance to select where they live and what property they live in. It marks the end of the old and outdated system of housing officers allocating properties to people - which offered people and families no opportunity to have a say on where they called home."

Visit www.bfcmychoice.org.uk or call 01344 351197 or 01344 351198.