What happens when a property is vacated
How new tenants are selected
What happens next?
Viewing the property
Accepting the property
What happens when a property is vacated
When a property is vacated by a tenant it is inspected and all necessary work is ordered to bring the property up to Hillingdon Homes 
Minimum Lettable Standards [121kb]. The property may have some of this work carried out after the new tenant moves in. Hillingdon Homes do this to try and minimize the length of time a property is left empty. However all the work needed for health and safety reasons is always carried out prior to a new tenant being expected to move in. At the same time as the work is being carried out Hillingdon Homes begin the process to select the person who will be made the offer of the property.
How new tenants are selected
Properties are allocated to new tenants through the Locata choice based lettings system. Under this scheme available properties are advertised on a fortnightly basis in the Locata free sheet available from Area Housing Offices, libraries and a number of other locations throughout the borough. To be considered for a property you need to become a member of Locata [3Mb]. You do this by completing an application form. Your priority to move is assessed by the LB Housing Assessment and Reception Team. When you are assessed you will be placed in one of four priority bandings. Your application is then entered on the Locata system. Click here for summary Hillingdon Council Allocations Policy [350kb]
Once you have been entered on the system you are able to express an interest in being offered one of the advertised properties by making a 'bid' through Locata. When the bidding closes all the people expressing an interest are displayed on a shortlist. The Allocations Officer looks at the shortlist and selects the top cases to attend a viewing of the property. Cases are prioritised by their banding and the length of waiting time.
You can find out more information about Locata.
If you need advice about making a transfer application you should contact your Local Community Offices. If you are registered on Locata but need help or advice about making a bid you should contact the Customer Services Team
What happens next?
The Allocations Officer will check that the top listed cases are all eligible to be made an offer of the property. For example if the property is in sheltered housing the person must be 60 years or over to be eligible.
They will also check that since registering for transfer there have been no changes in the your individual household details or other circumstances that would mean that the offer is no longer appropriate for you. They will also check that you have a clear rent account.
Once they have conducted these eligibility checks then a viewing of the property will be arranged.
Viewing the property
Between 5 and 10 top priority cases are invited to a viewing. Viewing's are carried out by the Community Housing Officer or Scheme Manager. At viewing's information is given about rent charges, repairs work and the anticipated tenancy start date.
If more than one of the top priority cases wishes to accept the property after viewing it then the person with the highest priority who has waited the longest will be made the offer of the tenancy. If they decide not to accept the property then it will be offered to the next highest priority case and so on until the property is accepted.
Accepting the property
When you are made an offer of a tenancy you will be asked to sign a new tenancy agreement and if applicable complete a notice to end your current LB Hillingdon tenancy. If the tenancy is a joint tenancy then both prospective tenants need to sign the agreement. The tenancy start date will be the first available Monday following receipt of the keys.
You will be given details of any assistance that will be offered towards decorations and about any repairs that are to be carried out after you have moved in. You will be invited to complete a Housing Benefit form to make sure that you obtain all assistance you are entitled to with the rent from the start of your new tenancy.
You will also be given a copy of your signed tenancy agreement, a copy of the tenants handbook, the gas safety certificate for the property and other advice to help you move and settle into your new home.
