Help with Homesearch

Looking for a home to rent? We advertise our available homes on our Homesearch website, designed to give you more choice in where you want to live. Whether you’re looking for an apartment, bungalow, house or independent living scheme see what homes we currently have available on Homesearch.

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If you need help with the process, follow these easy steps on how to use Homesearch to find a home of your choice.

1. Become a member of Homesearch

If you're new to Homesearch you need to become a member by filling out a housing application form.

2. Register your account

Once you have your Homesearch membership number, you can register your account on the Homesearch website.

3. Search for homes

Each week we advertise available homes on the Homesearch website, at our Hubs and other local outlets.

4. Apply for a home

Express an interest in up to three homes a week that you meet the criteria for on the Homesearch website, at a Hub or by calling 0344 9 02 02 02.

How to become a member of Homesearch?

Before you apply for homes you need to be member of Homesearch. To become a member, fill out a housing application form on the Homesearch website.

1. Click 'Application form' under the 'New to Homesearch?' heading on the homepage.

2. Fill out the form with your personal details such as your name, gender, date or birth, nationality, national insurance number and if it's just you applying or if you're applying with someone else. Sections marked with an asterisk (*) need an answer.

3. When you've submitted your application form, you will get a unique reference number which confirms your form has been sent to the team. If don't get a reference number when you submit your application form, you will need to complete the form again.

If you need help filling out the housing application form, please call the Homesearch Team on 0344 9 020 202

We aim to process new applications within five to six week, but this may take longer during busier times.

How to set up your Homesearch account?

After you've sent off your housing application form and it's been processed by the team you will get a Homesearch Membership Number. You need this number to register your account and create your login on the Homesearch website.

1. Click 'Register' under the 'New to Homesearch' heading on the homepage.

2. Create a login, with your Homesearch Membership Number, surname and date of birth.

3. Create a user ID and password for your account. You will use this user ID and password every time you login to your account.

4. You will then see a confirmation message that your account has been registered and you can now log in.

How to log in to your Homesearch

Once you've registered your account details you can log in to your Homesearch account with your User ID and password.

1. Underneath the 'Already registered?' heading on the Homesearch homepage click 'Login to your account'.

2. Enter your User ID and password and click 'Login'.

3. When you have logged in you will see the 'Welcome back' screen.

How to search for homes?

On the Homesearch website click 'Available homes' from the menu at the top of the page.

2. Use the 'Home preferences' search option to choose the type of home, number of bedrooms and location you would like.

3. Click 'Search' to see the available homes that match your preferences.

How do I express an interest in a home?

If you see a home, you'd like to live in you can express an interest in up to three homes each week, if you meet the advertised lettings criteria. On the Homesearch website:

1. Click 'Your account' from the menu at the top of the page.

2. Enter your User ID and password to login to your account.

3. When logged in click the 'Express an Interest' button.

4. Scroll down on the page until you see the 'Express an Interest' box, this shows you the homes that you are suitable for.

5. When you see a home that you would like to live in click the box underneath 'Interested' on the advert listing.

6. You can express an interest in up to three homes per week. Underneath the second interested box choose a number from the drop-down list of one to three to mark your first, second and third choice.

7. Once you have ticked the 'Interested' box for the homes you'd like scroll to the bottom of the page and click the 'Express interest' button.

8. You will then see the 'Expression of interest' confirmation page and the adverts for the homes you have expressed an interest in will appear.

Do I need to be a member of Homesearch to express an interest in a home?

Yes, the scheme is only open to members. To join, you must meet one of the following criteria:

aged 17 or over
aged 16 and needing family type accomodation
aged 16 or over and looked after or owed a statutory duty of care by Wakefield Council
an eligible or qualifying person set out in Section 12 of our Homesearch Policy.

You'll need to fill in a housing application form which will help us to see if you can join the scheme. It's important that you let us know if you are related to any Board member or Vico Homes colleague on your application form.

If eligible, you'll be sent a membership number and you'll be able to view and express an interest in any advertised homes where you meet the required letting conditions.

Can I be considered for any homes that are advertised?

Once you become a member, you'll be placed in a band based on your housing need, which along with the Local Lettings Strategy (LLS), tells you which homes you can apply for. For more information on the banding please visit page 16 of our Homesearch membership guide.

How will members who express an interest be placed in order?

Our simple banding system reflects the housing needs of the members in each band. Within the band, members are put in date order of membership. If your circumstances change and you move up into a higher priority, your band date will be the date that your higher priority was given.

What if I see more than one home I'm interested in?

As a member you can make up to three expressions of interest in each advertising cycle for homes, but you must meet the Letting Conditions. You need to place them in order of preference - first, second and third choice.

How does the Homesearch Team decide who has been successful?

Once the advertising cycle has closed, a list will be prepared for each home which will show details of all members who expressed an interest in it. The list will place members initally in band order and then date order, starting with the earlier membership start date or priority award date.

Any preference set out in the adverting and Local Lettings Strategy (LLS) will then be applied. Next to each member will be their order of preference for that home. If you're the successful member on more than one home, we will use your order of preference to decide which home to give to you.

How will I know if I've been successful?

If you've been successful, a member of the Homesearch team will contact you as soon as possible after the advertising cycle has closed. You should keep making expressions of interest for homes you're interested in during the following advertising cycles if you're not contacted. Before we offer you a home, we'll need to do some checks.

What checks will you do before offering a home?

Before any offer of a home is made, applicants and their partners will be checked to make sure that they are considered eligible, that they still qualify to be a member of the scheme and that they meet our charitable objective. We'll check you:

conduct in your present and previous home
housing history
ability to sustain a tenancy
support needs

We may also visit you at home or if this isn't practical we'll ask for references, more information or an interview. You'll be asked to verify the information in your Homesearch application. If you don't pass the checks, we won't be able to allocate you a home.

Will I be able to view the home before making up my mind?

Yes, as soon as the keys are available, we can arrange to show you round the home. If you want to accept it, we'll need you to sign the Tenancy Agreement.

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