It will not solve the shortage of available housing but it will give applicants more choice. Soon all social letting will be done this way.

Available properties are advertised, and once you are on the housing register, when you see a property you would like to live in you will be able to bid for it. Bidding doesn't mean you pay anything. It is just the way we refer to you expressing an interest in a vacancy. We may place restrictions on who can bid for some properties, for example, you may have to be over a certain age.

Choice based lettings makes sure that homes go to people who want them and that those with the highest needs have the highest priority for those homes. We will give you feedback on the types of applicants who are getting the properties, so the system is fair and transparent.

• Christchurch Borough Council

  We hold our own housing register. Your application will be assessed according to our allocations policy.

• East Dorset District Council

  Find information on housing allocations in East Dorset.

• North Dorset District Council

  North Dorset District Council runs the waiting list and the housing is supplied by housing associations and organisations.

• Purbeck District Council

  HomeChoice is our way of letting the housing association properties which become available to let in our area.

• West Dorset District Council

  We hold our own housing register. Your application will be assessed according to our allocations policy and will be placed into either the green, amber or red band, depending on your identified housing need.

• Weymouth and Portland Borough Council

  Social Housing within the Borough of Weymouth and Portland is now allocated through the Homechoice Scheme