Apply for Gateshead Home Choice

See if you're eligible

Anyone can apply for social housing but not everyone is eligible. To find out if you can join our housing register, you'll need to answer some questions to see if you are likely to qualify.

Join the housing register

Log into My Housing Account and fill out the application form.

On the form, you'll need to tell us if you or a household member has a health issue that affects housing needs. You'll also need to upload some documents.

• Create a My Housing Account
• Fill in a housing application form (opens new window)
• Documents you need to apply

After you apply

A member of the Lettings Team will review your application in line with our Allocations Policy. This ensures a fair decision. Due to high demand, processing can take a while.

After we review your application, we'll send you a letter to let you know our decision.

If you're accepted: The letter will explain your housing need category and the reason for the level of need. A higher priority means a greater need and a better rank in home bids. The letter will also contain your Home Choice login so you can start bidding for homes.

If you're not accepted: We'll explain why and how to appeal. Don't worry - there are other options for finding a home.

Bid for a home

Gateshead Council and other social housing providers advertise available properties every week through Gateshead Home Choice. The weekly adverts are open from Thursday at 00.01am until Monday at 11.59pm.

A bid is a way of telling us you want to be considered for a property. You can only bid on a property if your application to Gateshead Home Choice was successful.  

To make a bid, register or log into My Housing Account, and go to Gateshead Home Choice. If you need help to place bids you can call us for help or come into the civic centre.

In here, you can view properties and add a maximum of three to your basket. From your basket, you then confirm which properties you want to bid for.

Once you've made a bid, you can withdraw it and place an alternative bid if you want.

Only bid on properties you would move to. Bidding on homes you are not prepared to accept may affect your housing priority.

There are three advert types

Waiting time
The property is shortlisted by who has waited longest. Priority awards are not considered.

Highest need
Applicants with any type of priority award are shortlisted first, then by highest priority, then by who has had the priority award the longest.

Medical
Applicants with medical awards who need the adaptations in the property will be shortlisted first, then shortlisted by the highest priority award, then who needs most of the adaptations in the property, then by who had the medical priority award longest.

View a property

When the advert closes, all bids placed will be ranked in priority order. If your bid is successful, we will contact you to confirm your housing situation has not changed and arrange for you to view the property. If you like the property and want to move in, we'll update your information. Then we'll assess affordability to make sure you can pay the rent.

Keep your application up to date. If your situation has changed and you haven't told us, you might not be able to move into the new home.

If your bid is successful

We aim to sign you up to the new tenancy over the phone within a week. The tenancy will then start the following Monday.

We are not able to help with removal and decoration costs but support may be available through one of these organisations that offer housing support.

If your bid is unsuccessful

We will only contact you if your bid is successful. If you have not heard from us within a week of placing your bid, please assume you have been unsuccessful.

Gateshead has more people seeking council housing than there are homes available. You can get on the housing register, bid on homes and not be offered a home right away. It might take a while to move to your preferred area and type of home.

If you find yourself in this situation, we're here to support you. We have other housing options that might suit you, and we'll do our best to help you find a suitable home.

Tell us about a change in circumstances

Please tell us immediately if anything changes and it affects your housing. This includes changes since you registered or last updated your application. Not updating your information could affect your housing offer.