A new allocation system for people needing social housing in Bradford was due to go live today.

Homes replaces the outdated Homehunter system and will offer not only rented homes with Incommunities and other housing associations, but also shared ownership properties and approved private rented homes.

Incommunities, the district’s largest social landlord, has developed Homes along with Bradford Council, and it is part of a new package of services called Open Moves which aims to help with housing advice, supported housing, help into employment, as well as providing social housing.

The new system means the 11,511 active bidders in the last 12 months have all been re-categorised under four new bands – instead of the previous two.

Fifty-three bidders have been classed as band A – of urgent need, which includes the statutorily homeless and those bed blocking in hospital; 381 are band B – of high need, which includes those fleeing domestic violence, or leaving care and in housing need; 6,124 are band C – of medium need, which includes those that are non-statutory homeless or are leaving supported accommodation; and 4,953 are band D – those of general need, such as those wanting to move but not meeting the other criteria.

Pam Bennett, of Open Moves, said: “The new homes service aims to better meet the needs of home-hunters.

“It will offer wider choice and easy access to a range of housing options.”

Councillor Adrian Naylor, the Council’s executive member for regeneration and economy, said: “It will offer a greater choice in the type of accommodation available and help prevent repeat homelessness and enable people to rebuild their lives.”

To register and look for a new home, people can either complete an online registration form at openmoves.co.uk or ring 0845 141 6666 or (01274) 254010 if calling from a mobile phone, and select ‘option 3 housing applications’.

Those who have been registered on Homehunter and made a bid in the 12 months to February, will automatically be moved over to Homes.

Available properties will be advertised on a weekly cycle. The first was due to begin today and lasts for two weeks, but subsequent cycles will only last a week.

Once bidding has ended, three-quarters of vacant properties will be allocated by priority band, and the remaining quarter will be based on the amount of time the would-be tenant has been registered for a home.