PEOPLE on the council’s housing waiting list will get the chance to bid for council homes, under a new scheme designed to give them more control over where they live.

Choice Based Lettings is a compulsory Government scheme, which is to be rolled out in Castle Point by August.

Under the scheme, properties are advertised online, or in newspapers, and hopeful tenants can bid.

Of all the bidders, the one most in need, according to the council's housing register, will “win” the property.

If someone on the waiting list has more need, but fails to bid, they will lose out.

However, the bidder must also be suited to the property, so a single person could not bid for a three-bedroom home.

Wendy Goodwin, cabinet member responsible for housing, said the advantage of the scheme was its transparency, and the fact it encouraged people to take responsibility in finding their own home.

She said: “Residents have to take ownership of their househunting, and everybody will see exactly what properties we’ve got available.”

People will also be able to bid for properties in Basildon, Rochford or Southend.

The scheme will cost £71,300 to start up, and £5,350 to run annually.

It will be open to tenants on the housing register, who will be invited to presentations to find out about how the scheme works before it is introduced.