Rotherham Key Choices

What is Key Choices?

Key Choices is the system used for letting properties in Rotherham, which completely changes the way in which you apply for social rented housing throughout the district.

The scheme simplifies the way in which you rent a home, as it takes into account the date of your application and also your personal circumstances. It also gives you a variety of properties to choose from, with comprehensive information about each of the properties to rent.
Key Choices has been designed to improve access to social rented housing by allowing you to view available properties and bid (show your interest) from the comfort of your own home via the internet or alternatively you can visit one of your local Customer Sevice Centres or the Key Choices Property Shop. Members who are unable to use or access the Key Choices website can also telephone their bids using our 24hr Bidding Hotline on 0300 111 2790 (Local rate).

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Who can apply for properties through Key Choices?

You must have been accepted onto Rotherham's Housing Register to be able to apply for either rented or low cost home ownership properties through Key Choices. Anyone aged 16 years or over may apply to join the Housing Register.

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How do I apply to join the Housing Register?

If you are not a member and would like to join the scheme you can apply using the online application form.
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How do I know if I have been accepted onto the Housing Register?

You will receive a letter confirming that you have been accepted onto the Housing Register. This will tell you your application number, the band you have been placed in, the date your application has been registered from and your password.

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Can you refuse to accept me onto the Housing Register?

There are some people who are not eligible to be included on the Housing Register. These are:

Certain people who are subject to Immigration Control under the 1996 Asylum and Immigration Act.

Certain people from abroad who are not subject to immigration control but who are not habitually resident in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland.

People (including members of their household) who have been guilty of unacceptable behaviour that makes them unsuitable to be a tenant.
For more detailed information contact our Key Choices Property Shop on 01709 336565.

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What if I need help to fill in a form or to find out about available properties?

Assistance will be provided to those who need help in completing the Key Choices Registration Form or who have literacy difficulties. Applicants who’s first language is not English can select their own language on the web site. For people with disabilities or severe medical conditions, home visits can be arranged. Further information about available properties can be obtained by ringing a local Customer Service Centre or by calling the Key Choices Property Shop on 01709 336565.

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Where will Key Choices advertise available properties?

Properties will be advertised at midnight on Tuesday and the bidding cycle will end at midnight the following Monday. Properties will be advertised 24 hours a day throughout the letting cycle at www.keychoices.co.uk

You can also view adverts at Key Choices Property Shop, Customer Service Centres, Librairies and other public buildings during advertised opening hours.

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How does the advertising cycle work?

At the present time, advertising (bidding) cycles operate for six days. A cycle will commence on Tuesday at midnight and will close the following Monday at midnight. You can place bids anytime during the 6 day cycle. It doesn’t matter what time you place your bid during a cycle, offers are made solely on application date, eligibility and priority status. In certain circumstances, the Council reserves the right not to make an offer.

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What are priority Bands?

Your application will be assessed according to your level of housing need and placed in one of 4 bands. Priority Plus, Priority, General Plus or General. For some areas, a Local Letting Policy may apply and we may take into account whether you have a local connection with Rotherham or are employed etc. Within each band, applications are placed in date order.

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What are Bids?

A bid simply means that you are interested in a particular home. Bids are not made with money, but with the waiting time scheme members build up. You may bid for three properties in any one bidding cycle.

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What do I do if my circumstances change?

It is very important that you tell us of any changes in your circumstances (change form in Abritas) so that we can amend your application. We will tell you if this results in your application moving to a different band. If you move up a band the date used will be the date you move into that band. If you move down a band the date used will be the date that applied when you were previously in that band.

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Do I need to renew my application each year?

Yes, once a year, normally on the anniversary of your application you will be sent a reminder on your account page and also a declaration form, which you must complete and return within 21 days. If you fail to return the form we will assume you no longer wish to be on our Housing Register and your application will be cancelled.

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What if someone in my household has a medical condition?

If someone in your household has a medical condition you will be asked to provide details by completing an application for Medical Priority Housing which will then be considered by Rotherham Council, who will assess your case. Once the assessment has taken place, you will be informed in writing of the decision and any adaptations you may require.

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How often are properties advertised?

Properties available for rent are advertised each week. As soon as we are given formal notice that a property is due to become vacant we will advertise it. As most of the properties are still tenanted, we are unable to provide individual house numbers.

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What information will the property adverts contain?


The adverts will tell you the landlord, location, size, rent and other features of the property. Where available a photograph of the property or a similar house type will be provided and you will be able to access information about the local area and facilities. The advert will also tell you if there are any special requirements that the applicant must meet, such as age requirements, local connection and which will be given preference for the property.

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What is Sheltered Housing?

Sheltered Housing offers people over the age of 50 years their own home, together with a little bit of help when needed. There are several schemes, mostly bungalows, all near to each other, with a common room nearby for social activities. Other schemes are made up of flats all under one roof, with additional facilities, including a communal lounge for socialising, guest rooms and laundries.

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How do I apply (Bid) for a property?

Using this website is one of the easiest and quickest ways to make your bid. Log On to your own Key Choices account and then you can start bidding for properties. If English is not your first language, you have the opportunity here to select a different language.  Please note – you can only log-in when you are a member and have a current Housing application number.  

Bid using our automated telephone system call 0300 111 2790

Our telephone system is open 24 hours a day, is easy to use and available with a multi language feature. Simply dial the lo-call phone number and you will be asked to enter your application number and your date of birth. Once you have done this you can make or withdraw bids on the properties you are interested in.

Telephone system bidding guide: Dial 0300 111 2790

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How many properties can I express an interest (Bid) for?

You will be able to express an interest in three properties each time properties are advertised. However, you will only be able to express interest in properties that are suitable for you or your family.

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How long will I have to bid for a property?

Properties will be advertised from midnight on a Tuesday and you will be able to register your interest in properties up until midnight the following Monday.

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Once I have made a bid can I change my mind?

Yes - you can see your confirmed bid in the Current bids page, and you can withdraw bids here. You have the option to go back to the property lists to make other bids instead up to the maximum of three in any one cycle.

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How long will I have to wait for a reply to my bids?

Once the deadline expires, the property will normally be offered to the person at the  of the short list. This will be someone who has bid for a particular property and has the earliest date of application and/or has the highest priority. In some circumstances, we may offer a property based on need.

Applicants are subject to certain checks being carried out and their circumstances verified, this process may take several days. If you haven't heard from Key Choices within a few days of the cycle ending, you should assume you have not been successful and should try again on the following cycle.

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Will I know how many other people are interested in the same property?

Yes, when you bid for a property you will be told where you are in the queue. This is likely to change frequently due to other people bidding for the same property. Using this information you may decide to withdraw your bid for one property and bid for a different property for which you are better placed in the queue. You can do this at any time before the closing date. It does not matter what time or what day you make your request, all bids are placed in order when the bidding cycle ends, not before.

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How do you decide who is offered a property?

Once the closing date for bids has passed a shortlist of interested applicants is drawn up. The shortlist is in order of eligibility according to the criteria stated in the advert details for that property. The applicant at the  of the list will normally be offered the property.

By viewing the offers process you can see how this works in more detail.

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If my bid is successful for a property, can the landlord refuse to let it to me?

You may not be invited to view the property for the following reasons:

You owe rent or have other housing related debts;

You are a Council or Housing Association tenant and legal action has been taken against you because you have broken your tenancy conditions;

You have not provided the required documentary evidence to support your application by the date given;

Your circumstances have changed and this results in a reduction in your level of priority;

You have provided incorrect or misleading information, which has resulted in your application being awarded a higher priority than it deserves.
NB This is not an exhaustive list.

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If I am offered a property, will I be able to view it before making up my mind?

Yes. You will be given an opportunity to view the property and decide whether you would like to accept it.

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What if I don’t like the property when I have seen it?

If you are offered a property and you decide to refuse it, you will have one remaining offer. If you subsequently refuse a second offer of accommodation, your application will be suspended. During this suspension period, you will be unable to bid and you will also need to attend an interview with a Housing Champion or Housing Officer to discuss the reasons for your refusals and the importance of only bidding for properties if you intend to move.

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How will I know what has happened to the properties advertised?

Information about homes that have been successfully let or purchased through shared ownership is published. We tell you the number of applicants that bid for each property, the band and the registration date of the successful applicant. You can view the results of Recent Lets on our website.
How will this information help me?

It will give you a better idea of how popular a particular property or area is and how long you would normally have to wait. You can then decide whether to look for other types of property or areas where you may not have to wait as long.
What if I am suspended from the Key Choices scheme?

If you have been suspended from Key Choices, you will not be eligible to bid for properties. However, if you contact your landlord and arrange to repay any outstanding debts, or resolve any outstanding issues which may have caused your suspension, we may review your situation and permit you to participate in the scheme once again. However, if you refuse two property offers, your application will be suspended for 13 weeks pending an interview with one of our officers.

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Are carpets and appliances provided?

No - You will normally have to provide your own carpets and appliances. However, if you are moving into a Council property and need help with furniture and setting up your new home Rotherham Furniture Solutions is just what you need.

You can select household items from our furniture brochure or you can visit our Show House to see all the items we provide.
What other options are there for housing?

There is a severe shortage of homes in the Rotherham area. Most applicants on the Housing Register will have to wait a long time for re-housing and many of those in the lower bands will still have a lesser chance of re-housing in the local area. Depending on your circumstances you may wish to consider other options such as a Housing Association or renting in the private sector. Rotherham operates a scheme called  Key Choices Property Management. This team manages properties owned by landlords from the private sector and advertise through the Key Choices scheme.

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Logging On

It is recommended that scheme members Log On with their application details as soon as they visit the website. You will need your application number, and your password will be the date of birth of the main applicant entered in the format dd/mm/yyyy. When you log on for the first time, you may be asked to update certain pieces of information which we currently do not hold. However, you will only have to do this once.

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