People in Greater Manchester now have more choice in finding their future home thanks to the launch of a new social housing scheme.

Ten Greater Manchester authorities and 13 housing associations have joined up to launch the choice based lettings scheme pilot called Pinpoint, making it easier for people to move from one local authority area to another.

Councillor Akhtar Zaman, Bolton Council’s executive member for regeneration, said Pinpoint was flexible, improved access to housing and offered people across Greater Manchester a greater choice in deciding where they wanted to live.

"You can search specifically for the type of property you’re interested in and find out more information about the local area you’re thinking of relocating to and the services available. If you want to move from one area to another, it’s a simple way to do it,” said Councillor Zaman.

It is the largest choice-based lettings scheme outside London and would allow people registered with their local housing scheme to move to any other housing scheme within the region, if it was advertised through Pinpoint.

There is no need to register separately with each landlord, as customers just need to be registered with one of the Pinpoint partners to gain access to the properties.

The service is web based and all available properties are advertised online at www.pinpoint.org.uk.
Individuals can express interest in properties through the site but criteria, such as household makeup, for each property must be met.

In order to place bids on a property, people must acquire a reference number from the Pinpoint landlord they are registered with, which will enable them to log onto the site.

The scheme has been funded by Department of Communities and Local Government, the ten Greater Manchester authorities and the housing associations involved in the scheme.