This website uses cookies to give you the best online experience. If you'd like to know more please read our cookie policy
Welcome to the Hackney page on the East London Lettings company website.
Important Note for Hackney Customers:
Following a cyberattack on the Council's servers, please can you ensure your contact details: telephone number, email and current address are up to date on ELLC.
An officer from the Lettings Team will call you directly during the nominations process for a property you have placed a bid on.
You may be overlooked or bypassed for a property if an officer is unable to make contact with you.
Take part in council housing research
We’re looking to talk to people who’ve applied for council housing in Hackney recently. We’d also like to hear from people who might not have applied yet but are interested in finding a council or housing association property to move to.
You might have looked into a council or housing association home for yourself or for someone else. This could be because your current property is unsuitable or you’ve been asked to leave your home for example.
We’d like to talk to you about your experience finding a home. We’d also like to get feedback on some new ideas to help residents with their housing. We’ll then use what you say to improve how we do things.
It would take between 30 and 60 minutes of your time. The research is taking place in October and November 2020, during weekdays and early evenings. We’d like to do this over a video call if possible, we can discuss the best way to do this with you.
If you’re interested, please sign up to take part in research.
We’ll then get in touch to arrange a time and answer any questions you may have.
The housing crisis in Hackney
Due to the increased demand for council housing in Hackney, the vast majority of people who are on the housing register may never receive social housing property.
We strongly recommend that you consider all alternative housing options. For most people, the most realistic option is to rent in the private sector.
See housing options and advice for further information on how you can find settled housing.
How long do people wait before receiving a property through bidding?
Below are the minimum lengths of time you can expect to wait before receiving a social housing property from when you join the housing register.
Band |
1 bed |
2 bed |
3 bed |
4+ bed |
Urgent |
1 year |
1 year |
2 years |
9 years |
Homeless/Priority |
4 years |
12 years |
9 years |
15 years |
General |
7 years |
19 years |
26 years |
28 years |
*figures based on someone joining the register on 13/02/2020
Waiting Time Calculator
If you have a bidding number you can find an estimate of the minimum time you will wait on the register before receiving a social property.
Use the waiting time calculator by visiting this page
How to bid
Anyone with an active application on the housing register/transfer list can bid for a property when you receive your bidding number.
Bidding opens each week at 00:01AM on Fridays and closes the following Monday at 23:59PM.
Here is how to bid:
click on the ‘Log in’ tab at the top of this page and enter your housing registration number and date of birth
browse available properties
check your queue position by clicking on “show queue position”
to bid for a property, go to the property advert and click on ‘apply’
check what you have bid on and change your bids anytime before midnight on Monday
Conditions for bidding:
you must have your bidding number to bid
you can only bid on one property a week
you can only bid for the number of bedrooms we have assessed you need (or one bedroom less if the landlord is Hackney)
How to bid successfully
Ensure you do not have any rent arrears, otherwise you will not be put forward for a property if you successfully bid for secure accommodation
Bid for properties on higher floors. Ground and lower floor properties are in high demand and are allocated for those who have been assessed for low level access to their property
Review your bids on Monday evenings to find out how likely you are to be shortlisted for a property. If it doesn’t look likely, you can move your bid to another property which you think will give you a greater chance of success. You can do this anytime before 11:59PM on Monday evenings
How we decide the successful bids
When bidding closes at midnight on Monday, we will have a computer-generated list of all the bidders for each property. The successful bidder will be the person in the highest band with the earliest date in that band. We then check to confirm you are eligible.
Following the checks, the landlord who is either Hackney Housing or the Housing Association will contact the bidders who have been shortlisted and invite them to a viewing.
How will I know if my bid was successful?
The landlord of the property (Hackney Housing or the Housing Association) will contact you in approximately 3 to 5 days. Please make sure your contact details are up to date i.e. your mobile number and email address. Please s of any changes.
The top 3 or 5 bidders may be invited to view the property at the same time. This is called a ‘multiple viewing.’
The officer, conducting the viewing, will advise you of your position before the viewing.
The person in position 1 will be offered the property first. If it is refused, it will be offered to the next person on the list.
Will you let me know about my bid if I’m unsuccessful?
Unfortunately, no – as there are too many of bids every week.
You can view your final bidding position on the web page by logging in and entering your bidding number and date of birth.
I was the top bidder, why wasn’t I successful?
You may not have been successful if you do not meet all of the eligibility and qualifying criteria.
Priority ority for ground floor and first floor properties with lifts are allocated to residents assessed as needing them, if they are in the same band as the highest bidders.
To contact us
Kiosks and free computer access
You can get assistance with bidding at the following places:
|
|
|
Council Locations |
|
Other Locations |
|
|
|
Contact us by phone or email
If you require assistance with bidding or are unable to place a bid for a property please call the Contact Centre on 0208 356 2135 who can place a bid on your behalf or support you in placing a bid.
You can also place a bid via our automated phone line 08456 504 125 or via text on 07781 486 526 or find more information here Website http://www.hackney.gov.uk/hackneychoice.htm (this will open a new page)