Kent Homechoice
Dartford Borough Council is a member of Kent Homechoice, the Kentwide choice based lettings scheme. The scheme gives you more choice about where you want to live by allowing you to show your interest in a property not only within Dartford but, eventually, properties outside of the borough.
Each fortnight council and housing association properties are advertised via the internet, digital television services and at each library.
Applicants requiring assistance to apply may nominate a friend, relative or advocacy worker from an appropriate agency to apply on their behalf or they can contact the council where we will be pleased to assist.
- To join the scheme
- Current tenants
- How to register
- Finding a property of your choice
- Bidding for a property
- Checking the Results of your bids
- Average Waiting Time
- The successful Applicant
- Successful bids
- Banding categories
- Forms for Kent Homechoice
- Frequently asked questions
- Our partners
- Contact details
To join the scheme
- You must be 16 years of age or over. If you’re aged 16 or 17, someone else, aged 18 or over, will need to act as guarantor on your behalf until you reach 18 years of age.
- You must be living in the UK
- If you are subject to immigration control you're not eligible to join the scheme
- If you or members of your household included in the application have a history of anti-social behaviour which effects their suitability to be a tenant you may not be able to join the scheme.
Current tenants
If you’re already a tenant of the council or a housing association:
- You must have a clear rent account.
- Your home and gardens must be in an acceptable standard of decoration.
- The cleanliness and decorative state of your property will be checked by the Council before an offer is made.
- If you’re a housing association tenant living in Dartford you’ll need your landlord’s written approval before you can join the scheme. Your Housing Association will do another tenancy check when you are close to an offer of accomodation.
Further details are available from the Council or in your tenancy agreement.
How to register
To register to join the Council’s Housing Register, you will need to complete an application form.
You may request an Application form by:
- Downloading an application form
- By emailing housingadvice@dartford.gov.uk
- From the Civic Centre, during normal opening hours Monday to Thursday 8.45am - 5.15pm and Friday 8.45am - 4.45pm.
- From the Swanscombe Cash Office
- By calling 01322 343907
Once you have filled in and sent back your application and it has been assessed you will receive your Kent Homechoice Welcome Pack through the post.
Included in the pack will be your Kent Homechoice reference number, your band, your registration date, bidding by post coupons and your user guide. Due to high costs you will only be sent one copy. You may download a further copy from the Kent Homechoice website.
IMPORTANT:
If you’re not a Council or housing association tenant within the Dartford area, you must re-register with the Council every year to stay on the scheme.
Finding a property of your choice
Once you are registered and you wish to move, you will need to start bidding on available accomodation. Our properties are advertised fortnightly, (for the latest bidding dates please refer to the Kent Homechoice website for the next bidding cycle)
You may view our available accomodation
- Online via the Kent Homechoice website
- On the property board in the Civic Centre
- Displayed at the Swanscombe cash office
- Displayed at all Dartford Council's supported housing schemes
- On the notice boards of all Dartford Libraries
- via our pre-recorded telephone message 01322 343100
- via mobile internet lookinglocal.gov.uk
- via Sky (choose Direct Gov then local services)
- via Virgin Media (press Interactive button, choose News and Info followed by looking local)
- via Internet enabled Wii or PS3 (in your browser go to lookinglocal.gov.uk)
Bidding for a property
Once you have found a property you are interested in you will need to show your interest by making a bid. Detailed instructions can be found in your User Guide.Your bid must be placed before the bidding cycle closes. (usually Monday at midday)
You may place a bid:
- Online via the Kent Homechoice website
- By telephone on the Kent Homechoice telephone line 0906 294 0020. Please note that calls cost 25p/minute and normally take less than one minute.
- By text to 07781 472726 using the instructions within your user guide.
- By Homechoice postal coupons sent to you in your welcome pack.
- Digital Television as mentioned above
- Internet enabled phone, PS3 and Wii, lookinglocal.gov.uk
Checking the Results of your bids
If you’re successful you will be contacted by an officer within a few days of bidding closing, therefore please ensure your contact details are up to date by logging onto KentHomechoice.org.uk
If you need to change your contact details please email us with your Kent Homechoice application number, housingadvice@dartford.gov.uk
If you have not heard from us a few days after the closing date you were not successful. You may check the results of your bid by logging onto KentHomechoice.org.uk
Average Waiting Time
As we never know who is going to bid on a property it is difficult to determine the waiting time for accomodation, you may make your own assessment of the average waiting time by logging onto KentHomechoice.org.uk where the results are displayed.
The Successful Applicant
The successful applicant will be the person who has bid in the highest band and has been on the list the longest. Click for more information on banding.
