Bid for properties

Once you are accepted onto the housing register, you can start the search for a new home via the Locata bidding system.

Sign into the Locata website and start looking at the properties you are eligible for (if you are logging in for the first time you need to create a password and activate it from your email account).

You put your name down for properties you would like to live in. This is known as ‘bidding’. It does not involve money - you just put your name down to show your interest.

Adverts are added to the Locata website weekly and each one is available for 7 days. You can ‘bid’ for up to a maximum of three properties that you are eligible for each week.

Before you bid, make sure the property is suitable for you and that you are happy to move to the area that it is located in.

Then, all you need to do it click the 'Place Bid' button.

You should only bid for properties you really want as you may be penalised if you turn down homes offered to you.

If you find it difficult bidding or you are unable to bid online, contact the Locata housing team.

After bidding closes, the landlord will draw up a shortlist and do further eligibility checks.

They will invite the highest priority bidder that has waited the longest time to view the property. Sometimes, they will invite more than one bidder to the viewing.

The landlord will always offer a property to the highest priority bidder that attends the viewing.

We are unable to respond to queries on the outcome of bids. You can log into Locata and visit the 'Your Account' page to track progress and see the outcome of past bids.

Most properties are listed on the website once they are let. The feedback tells you how many people bid for each property as well as the band and registration date of the successful bidder. 

Once you view, and are offered a property, you will get 24 hours to decide if you want it.

The property may go to the next priority bidder if it can’t be offered to the highest priority bidder or if they turn it down.

If you turn down an offer of housing, we’ll ask you why, look at any relevant information available and decide if it was reasonable or unreasonable for you to refuse it.

Decision letter

We will write and tell you if your decision was reasonable or unreasonable. If it was unreasonable, we will tell you how or if this will affect your position for housing.

Penalties for unreasonable refusal

If you’re a homeless household that has refused one reasonable permanent offer of housing, we will no longer house you.  Your temporary housing will be cancelled and you’ll have to make your own housing arrangements.

Appeals

If you do not agree that you refused a property offer unreasonably, you can appeal. We tell you how to do this when we write to you.