Bidding allows you to show your interest in an available property alongside other people on the Housing Register. The band you're in and the date you were assessed into the band will determine your position on a shortlist.
We own 27,428 properties across the city, and our partner Housing Associations own nearly 12,000. In 2024-25, approximately 1,700 properties became available and nearly 20,000 households were registered to bid.
With so many more applicants than available property, many people will be unsuccessful with their bids.
You can only bid for properties online. If you don't have online access, you can use one of the computers at:
- our Citizen Service Point at Temple Street
- your local library
When your application has been assessed, approved and placed into a band, you can start bidding for properties.
How to bid online
Properties that are available to bid on are advertised on a weekly cycle, starting from midnight on Tuesday morning and ending the following Sunday at 11:59pm and can be viewed when you're logged in to the MyBristolHousing website.
You can view properties without linking your existing account but you cannot bid until you do.
Step-by-step
- Select ‘Property' from the menu at the top and then ‘Find a home'
- Select ‘View all properties' or narrow down your search using the options below it.
- Select a property you'd like to bid on and then select ‘Add to basket' from the Property details view.
- Select the basket using the icon at the top right and you will see a grey panel for each property you've added.
- You can then select ‘Submit bid' from the 3-dot menu on the panel.
You can put a bid on up to 3 properties each week.
How to view adverts and place a bid for a property
Direct offers
You may notice that some of the properties listed on the site are under direct offer. A direct offer is where the landlord has offered the property directly to the applicant without having to go through the bidding process. Properties under direct offer are not available to applicants.
Read the pdf Housing Allocation Scheme(1.20 MB) for more information on direct offers.
All bids on a property are automatically put in priority order (based on band and effective date) on the property shortlist. Your position on the list depends on the band you're in and the date you were assessed into the band.
Once the advertising cycle has closed, the landlord will review the shortlist.
Applicants at the top of this shortlist will normally be offered the property and will be given a chance to view it.
However, if the property has been adapted for people with disabilities, the landlord will try to allocate it to the person who it will benefit the most. This may not be the person at the top of the list.
How you'll know if your bid has been successful
If you've been successful the landlord will contact you as soon as possible after the bidding cycle closes.
At around the same time you'll be able to view the result of a successful bid in your MyBristolHousing account as follows:
- select 'Offers' from the 'My hub' menu. There you'll see the property address, offer date and when you need to respond by
- you'll also receive a letter with a contact number you can call to arrange the viewing
- after that you'll then be able to give your decision face-to-face at the viewing or later by contacting the landlord by phone or email
Landlords will usually offer the property to the household at the top of the list unless there are reasons why they are unable to do this, for example:
- the property has been advertised with priority to certain groups and the person at the top of the list does not fall within this group
- they have rent arrears
- they have breached their tenancy conditions and the landlord is taking action
Further information you'll need to provide
If you're offered a property, the landlord will ask you to provide certain documents and information so that they can verify your circumstances. The landlord will expect you to provide the information within the deadline they've given. If you cannot provide the information within that time, you must contact the landlord and explain.
The documents you'll be expected to provide will include the following:
- proof of identification for the main and joint applicant and all household members
- proof of address for the main and joint applicant and all household members
- proof of pregnancy (if applicable)
- most landlords will also ask for proof of income
Once you've been offered the property, you'll be invited to view it.
What happens if I accept a property?
The process varies dependant on the landlord, but generally if you accept an offer of a property, you'll be given a date to sign the tenancy agreement. At this meeting the landlord will explain the tenancy agreement to you and will arrange a date for you to move in.
Once this process has been completed and you've moved into your new property your MyBristolHousing application will be closed.
You may be expected to undergo a credit check, a reference check by the landlord and pay some rent in advance before moving to the property.
What happens if I refuse a property?
If you refuse a property, you'll need to provide your reasons in writing. Refusing a property could lead to suspension from HomeChoice Bristol in some circumstances.
We regularly publish information about homes that have been recently let. You can access this from the ‘View outcomes of previously available properties' link in the ‘Find a home' section of your MyBristolHousing account.
The information will give you a better idea of how popular a particular property or area is, to help you decide whether to look for alternative types of properties or areas.
Property types and allocations by area and bedroom need
The following information can be used to help you decide which areas of Bristol you stand the best chance of finding property in, and which types of property your band and bedroom allocation is most suited for. It can give you a good idea of:
- the number of properties available in each area of the city
- the different types of property available in each area
- how many applicants will be successful with their bid
You can use this information to assess your chances of receiving an offer of housing.
pdf Housing Allocations by area and bed size 2023-2024(191 KB)
You must tell us if there are any changes in your circumstances so we can:
- reassess your application
- make any necessary changes to your band and effective date
To tell us about a change in your circumstances:
- log in to the MyBristolHousing website
- select the Applications option in My hub menu
- use the 3-dot menu on the right of the grey application bar to select the Change of Circumstance option
- review and update your application as required
- select Submit
We'll let you know of any changes to your assessment once we've reviewed your application.
You must not give us false information or withhold information to get a property. If you do, you'll lose the property and we'll take legal action against you that could lead to a fine or imprisonment.
There's a high demand for social housing in Bristol. If you're in bands 2 to 4 you should consider other housing options that are available to you.
There's information about becoming a private tenant, affordable housing and housing support for vulnerable, older or disabled adults on our housing pages.
If you think you might be at risk of losing your home or becoming homeless, you can find help and information on our housing advice page.
If you've been a social housing tenant for over 12 months, you could exchange your property with one somewhere else in the UK using the Homeswapper service.