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What is EH - Your key to CHOICE?
How does it work?
The Council and 16 of the EdIndex landlords let their available homes through the choice based letting scheme called EH Your Key to Choice. You will need to:-
- Register with EdIndex
- Check out the adverts available
- Submit a bid for the property you are interested in
What is EdIndex?
EdIndex is a partnership between the Council and 20 Housing Associations and Housing Co-operatives in Edinburgh. You only need to complete one application form to register for housing with all the landlords.
You can apply for housing with EdIndex if you are 16 years or older, whether or not you currently live or work in Edinburgh.
Please note, if you have come to Britain from abroad it is possible that you may not be eligible for Council housing.
How do I get an EdIndex application form?
Applying for a home couldn’t be easier. You can download the EdIndex Application Form from here. Please note you are not able to complete the form on line. You can also pick up a form from any of the EdIndex landlords.
Once completed you should post the form to: The EdIndex Team, Waverley Court C3, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG. If it is easier you can hand in the form to any of the Council Neighbourhood Offices. The current cost to post the form using second class mail is £0.92.
What happens next?
Once we’ve received your application form we will aim to process it within 5 working days and then write to you with your unique EdIndex Reference Number. You will need this number to bid.
How do I bid?
- Browse through our website at www.keytochoice.scotsman.com or
check out the Monday edition of the Evening News or the EH Your Key to Choice supplement.
You can get free copies of the supplement at any of EdIndex landlords' offices and Libraries. You can also access the website free at your local library.
Social Rented Properties
- You can select up to three properties every week.
- Once you’ve selected your properties fill in the bidding form.
- We must receive your bid by the advertised closing date which is always 3.30pm on a Friday.
- If we don’t receive it by the closing date you will not be considered for the properties you have picked.
- If you are successful you will be contacted by the landlord after the closing date.
- If you are unsuccessful you will not be contacted and should carry on bidding.
What properties can I bid for?
Each advert is marked as either a Starter (S) or Mover (M). This means you are only eligible to bid for homes marked with the category that applies to you. The definitions for Starters and Movers are :-
Starters are homes for people who are :
- Homeless
- Staying with a friend or relative
- Staying in a hostel
- Staying in supported accommodation
- Renting a house or flat from a private sector landlord
Movers are homes for people who are :
- A Council tenant
- A Housing Association or Housing Co-op tenant
- Part of a joint tenancy with the Council, Housing Association or Housing Co-op
- Tenant of tied accommodation that is provided by your employer
- An owner occupier of a home (you may have a mortgage)
Waiting time
Under EH Your Key to Choice you are not awarded points. You will build up waiting time which is measured in days. How this is calculated will depend on whether you are a Starter or Mover.
Starters – Waiting time is calculated from the date your EdIndex form is registered. For example a Starter registered with EdIndex for one year has 365 waiting days and will build up a further day for every day registered.
Movers – Waiting time is calculated from the date you moved into your current home. For example if you have been in your home for 10 years you will have 3,650 waiting days and will build up a further day for every day you remain in your current home.
Important – A Mover’s waiting time can only be calculated if you have answered question 11 on the EdIndex application form. For example - What date did you move into your current property?
What size of property can I bid for?
If you bid for a property that is too large or too small for your needs, then your bid will not be considered.
You can click on the Council letting policy to work out how many bedrooms you are entitled to with them.
The other landlords have different age and sharing criteria so you should read the advert or contact the landlord direct for advice.
When am I able to view the property?
If you’re successful in your bid, a Housing Officer will arrange an appointment for you to view the property.
Remember, although the property is advertised, it may still be occupied by the current tenant. We ask you to respect their privacy and not contact them to view the property privately.
What can I do if my house is too big for me now?
If you currently live in a property with 3 or more bedrooms and no longer require a property of that size and would like to move to smaller accommodation we may be able to help.
There is a particular shortage of properties in Edinburgh suitable for families or larger households. Helping tenants to move from larger properties, which they no longer need, will mean their existing home could then be advertised and let to households that need a property of that size.
Please contact your Local Neighbourhood Council Office or your landlord to discuss this in detail.
Please note rules may vary for the other partner landlords in EdIndex. For information on their bedroom eligibility please contact them direct.
Mid Market & Shared Ownership Properties
Some landlords have mid market and shared ownership properties and when these are available they will be advertised through the choice based letting scheme.
How do I bid?
- Browse through our website at www.keytochoice.scotsman.com or
check out the Monday edition of the Evening News or the EH Your Key to Choice supplement.
- Select the properties you want (there is no restriction on the number you can bid for)
- Once you’ve selected your properties fill in the bidding form.
- We must receive your bid by the advertised closing date which is always 3.30pm on a Friday.
- If we don’t receive it by the closing date you will not be considered for the properties you have picked.
- If you are successful you will be contacted by the landlord after the closing date.
What happens next?
Applicants that bid for mid market rent or shared ownership properties will be ranked by the date they registered with EdIndex. Successful applicants will be contacted directly by the landlord to provide additional information on their circumstances to enable the landlord to assess whether they qualify for mid market rent or shared ownership property.
Assessment criteria
Preference in the allocation of either mid market rent or shared ownership property will be given to:
- First time buyers.
- Those living in private rented housing.
- Those living with family, friends or relatives.
- Those lacking security of tenure in their current home.
- Owners of properties where a change of circumstances (e.g. health or relationship breakdown) is forcing or requiring a move.
- Those either currently occupying or holding positions on waiting lists in respect of Council or Housing Association property.
In general applicants applying and being considered for either mid market rent or shared ownership property will be considered subject to meeting a combination of the following criteria:
- Applicants should have independent means enabling them to pay rent or occupancy charges without immediate recourse to Housing Benefit.
- Applicants should normally be economically active.
- Applicants should normally be individuals or households on low / modest gross incomes but not exceeding £36,000 per household.
- Applicants without regular income - but who have access to capital funds will not be discounted.
- Applicants with net disposable incomes restricted as a consequence of unavoidable deductions - where these can be defined.
- Particular consideration will given to ex-service personnel and their families.
Applications will be assessed against the above criteria and the allocation criteria of independent landlords - all of whom retain discretion and independence in regard to eventual allocations.
On receipt of your completed application staff from the Housing Association will assess your application in accordance with the above criteria. If you meet the necessary requirements and are being considered for the property a member of staff from the Housing Association will contact you to confirm your details and verify the information you have provided on the form.
Do all the EdIndex landlords let their properties through EH Your Key to Choice?
No. The other 4 landlords let their properties through a traditional points based system. They do not advertise their properties through EH Your Key to Choice. They will contact you when a house becomes available.
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