Urban Choice has now closed
Birmingham Home Choice starts on 25 February 2010.
Birmingham Home Choice is the new choice based lettings scheme that is replacing Urban Choice.
In order for us to prepare for Birmingham Home Choice, we have needed to close down Urban Choice in advance of the new scheme. Urban Choice therefore closed on 7th February 2010.
The last time that bids were taken on Urban Choice was 7th February 2010. You are no longer able to view properties or place bids on them via Urban Choice.
Any applicant who has been shortlisted to view properties advertised up to 7th February will be contacted by a member of the Urban Choice team to make arrangements to view the property.
If you are registered with Family or Midland Heart Housing Associations, you will be able to use your current user ID and PIN numbers once the new Birmingham Home Choice scheme starts.
However a different arrangement applies to Birmingham Home Choice applicants registered with the Council. For these customers the scheme is being phased in.
Phase One will open only for applicants who are registered for a one bedroom property. If you are one of these customers you will shortly be receiving a letter explaining what you need to do. With the letter, you will receive your new user ID and Personal Identification Number (PIN) – your existing Urban Choice User ID and PIN numbers will not be valid for the new scheme. You will also receive a copy of the user guide for Birmingham Home Choice.
Once the scheme has become operational for one bedroom applicants, Birmingham City Council will then contact all other customers on its housing register so that further phases of the scheme involving other customer groups can be launched. If you are one of these customers, you will be sent a letter showing your new Birmingham Home Choice User ID and PIN number. A User guide will be enclosed with the letter. The letter will tell you the date from which the Birmingham Home Choice scheme will be open to you and customers like you.
Whilst the scheme is closed properties will continue to be let. This will be done by selecting applicants in accordance with the landlord’s allocations policies. An officer employed by the landlord will do this. Therefore, if you have been selected for a property, the landlord will contact you in the usual way.
Birmingham Home Choice starts on 25th February 2010.
For further information on Birmingham Home Choice, visit the website at
Enquiries:
Midland Heart customers – 0345 602 0540
Family Housing Association customers – 0121 766 1100
