Join the Housing Register
Southampton City Council’s housing register is temporarily closed, so we are unable to accept new applications due to changes being made to the system. Applications that have already been received will be processed as normal. Homebid will remain open.
Registration for Southampton Homesearch is now open.
Southampton Homesearch
The new online form is now available for you to register.
Homebid is:
- Changing to Southampton Homesearch
- Moving to a daily bidding cycle
- Moving from points to bands
The new system will be open for bids from Tuesday 1 April 2025.
You are required to register on the new system to ensure you remain able to bid for accommodation. If you have an active Homebid account, you will be able to continue to bid as normal in the usual way until the new system is live.
Online form
The new online application form is now open, and you are able to use it to register for Southampton Homesearch. Please use the link below to complete the application form.
You will need an email address to register. You must ensure that you use your own email address as we will use this to send you communications, and for you to access your account.
Before you can apply to join Southampton Homesearch, you will need to create an account. Once you have created an account, you will then be able to log in and complete the online form.
Register for Southampton Homesearch
Changes to the Allocations system
Southampton Homesearch will replace Homebid in April 2025. It will not open for bids until this time.
If you already have an active Homebid account, please continue to bid in the usual way. You will still need to set up an account for Southampton Homesearch for when this goes live in April 2025.
For those who do not have an active Homebid account, your new Southampton Homesearch application will be processed and, if accepted, you will be able to bid from April 2025.
Visit Southampton Homesearch.
I do not have an email address
It is very easy to set up an email account; some of the more popular options include:
Alternatively, if you have a family member or support worker who can manage your account for you, they can set up an email account for you and register on your behalf. If someone is creating an account on your behalf, they must remember to enter your name on the first screen not their own.
Bidding
There will be changes made to the way properties are advertised from April 2025.
Properties will be added to Southampton Homesearch as they become available, and will be advertised for seven days. This means that properties are added daily.
Your account can be set up so that you are notified of any new properties added that may meet your housing need. Applicants will still have three bids to use. If you are not successful in a bid for a property when it is allocated, you will be able to reuse that bid on another property.
If you are at risk of homelessness
Contact us
If you have any questions or would like support, please contact us:
Our policies
Nominating an advocate
If you find it difficult to understand or just want extra help in understanding your housing issues, you can give consent for information and documentation to be disclosed to someone you trust.
For more information, see nominate an advocate.
What documents do I need to provide?
UK applicants
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- Current passport or UK birth certificate
- National Insurance number proof, for example: national insurance card, wage slip, P45, letter from benefits agency
- Proof of current address, for example recent utility bill, recent bank statement, tenancy agreement
- Birth certificates for all children in the household
- Proof of child benefit for all children in the household
European Economic Area (EEA) applicants
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- Current passport
- Proof of EU Settled Status or pre-settled status, or your share code, available at View and prove your immigration status
- Proof of current employment or UK Permanent Residence card
- National Insurance number proof, for example, national insurance card, wage slip, P45, letter from benefits agency
- Proof of school attendance or GP registration for all children in household
Applicants subject to Home Office Immigration Control
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- Current passport
- Current Visa and Home Office documents or Biometric ID card
- National Insurance number proof, for example national insurance card, wage slip, P45, letter from benefits agency
- Proof of current address
All applicants
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- Birth certificates for any children in household
- Proof of child benefit for any children in household
Frequently asked questions about the changes to the Housing Register
What are the changes being made to the Housing Register?
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We are currently updating our application form to make the application process simpler and more efficient. When the register is open you will be able to apply online and set up an online portal to send and receive communication in relation to your application to join the Housing Register.
Did you know that the Allocations Policy is also changing.
What has changed?
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People applying for a council home will be assessed on their level of need rather than the number of points that they have accrued. Applications will be allocated to one of four bands: A, B, C, and D, with A being the highest band.
There are five main changes coming into effect when the Housing Register re-opens:
1. Moving to a banding system
We are moving from a points based system to a banding system.
2. Refusals
Under the new policy applicants will be able to refuse two offers of accommodation without penalty however if a third suitable offer is refused, they will be placed the lowest band (band D) for six months. After this time, as long as their circumstances or household need has not changed, they will be placed back into the band they were previously in. If they then refuse one further offer of suitable accommodation the application will be closed and they will be removed from the waiting list.
3. Bedroom eligibility
We are moving in line with Housing Benefit ruling on bedroom eligibility. More information can be found on our benefit and welfare webpages.
4. Local connection
Changes to residency requirements. Applicants should:
- Currently have lived in city for three years
- Lived in city for three out of five years prior to date of application
- Have permanent paid employment in the city and to have been in employment in the city for a minimum of two years
5. Re-registration requirements
Applicants will be required to register to confirm that their details remain accurate once a year. A reminder will be sent through the online portal.
When can I apply to join the Housing Register
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When the Housing Register is re-opened, we will ensure that communications are issued to notify residents that they are able to make an application. We cannot provide any dates at this time.
A very small proportion of applicants may have an urgent need to move because of disability, medical, or welfare grounds. This includes people living in conditions which pose an imminent, unavoidable risk of serious physical or mental harm, and for whom other housing options are not reasonably available.
If you feel you meet this need then please complete the triage form on the website. You can upload evidence to support your case. If you do not provide enough information your case may be refused at this time.
How long will it be before I know if my application has been accepted?
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We will aim to notify you as soon as possible if your application has been accepted. If we are able to accept your application, you will be issued with an application number to access your Homebid account.
What happens if my application is refused?
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If you do not meet the urgent criteria to join the waiting list whilst it is closed, we will notify you in writing or via email.
If your application is not accepted and you are in housing need as per the Allocations Policy 2019, you will be eligible to keep the qualifying date that you would have been awarded when you reapply once the Housing Register is re-opened. If your application is not accepted you will need to reapply once the Housing Register is re-opened. If at that time you are, and remain in housing need as per the Allocations Policy 2019, you will be eligible to keep the qualifying date that you would have been given.
Once you re-apply, when the Housing Register reopens, you will need to provide the letter or email containing this information. You will then be notified in writing of your qualifying date. Please note that if you are not in housing need when you reapply your application will not be accepted.
How does it affect my current application?
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If you applied before 18 November 2024, your application will be processed as normal and you will be notified of the outcome of the assessment of your application. If you already have an active Homebid account, you will be able to bid as normal. You are still required to update your application if there is a change in your circumstances or contact details.
How long will it take for me to be housed?
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Due to the limited availability of social housing, waiting times are considerable and, in most cases, it takes years before an offer of accommodation is made. By changing to a banding system, we are aiming to ensure that those with the most acute housing needs are given the greatest opportunity in accessing alternative accommodation.
Under the current points-based system we publish a list of let properties twice a month. This contains details on where the property is located, number of bedrooms, type of property, how many bids were placed and how many points it was let for. This can be accessed on the internet by visiting Southampton Homebid results.
