The partner organisations in Gateway to Homechoice have reluctantly decided to suspend the advertising and allocation of properties through Gateway to Homechoice.
There are a number of reasons why this decision has been taken. In particular:
- All of the landlords using the scheme have stopped the process of works to properties that are vacant as this cannot currently be undertaken safely on a routine basis;
- The organisations are concerned for the safety of staff and members of the public for the process of viewing and signing up to properties;
- It is not practical or desirable, during a period of lock-down for people to move from one property to another and support services (such as removals) are likely to be unavailable.
Local authorities (LAs) have legal duties to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. During the scheme’s suspension, the LAs may have to make direct lets of vacant homes to people who are in temporary accommodation or homeless. Any such direct lets will show in the information about ‘recent lets’ on the website.
Some LAs may continue to register applicants and/or complete the processing of existing applications that are not yet live but no properties will be advertised until housing providers are happy that it is safe to do so.
We will update the website when we have any information about when we think we may be able to resume the system’s operation. If you have registered and have an email address, we will send you updates by email.