Homespot is our choice‑based lettings system. We advertise vacant homes every week. You bid (express interest) on homes you want - you do not pay money to bid.

Most actions are done through Housing Online.

1. Go to Housing Online and create or sign in to your account.
2. Complete the housing application.
3. You can then bid on Homespot when suitable properties are advertised.

If you need help to apply or bid, see Get help below.

• We place you in one of three categories: Home Seeker, Home Mover or Home Starter (see definitions below).
• We then award a priority Band from Band 1 (highest) to Band 4 (lowest), based on your housing need.
• Applications within each Band are ordered by date.
• If your circumstances change, tell us straight away - it may change your Band or category.

• Home Seeker: assessed as homeless under homelessness legislation (by our Housing Needs Team).
• Home Mover: current tenant of Falkirk Council, a housing association, or a registered social landlord (RSL) in the Falkirk area, looking to move.
• Home Starter: all other applicants

We aim to let 45% of vacant homes to Home Seekers, 27.5% to Home Movers and 27.5% to Home Starters.

• We can help you register and bid on Homespot, including ongoing support if needed.
• Contact the Allocations Team
  • Email: allocations.team@falkirk.gov.uk
  • Phone: 01324 503200
• If you do not have internet at home, you can use computers at Falkirk Council libraries.

We award one Band based on your highest housing need.

For example:

• You are homeless (as defined in law).
• You are a care leaver moving to your first home.
• You are leaving the Armed Forces and have a certificate ending your right to service accommodation.
• A public protection case conference recommends a move.
• You cannot be safely discharged from hospital because your current home is unsuitable (confirmed by a multi‑agency case conference).
• Your home plus extreme health issues make a move necessary, and adapting the home is not practical.
• You experienced significant trauma directly linked to your home (we will ask for evidence, for example from Police Scotland).
• Overcrowding: you need 2 or more extra bedrooms; or you live in a one‑bedroom home with two children under 8 sharing with you; or two teenage children of different genders share a bedroom.
• Two social housing tenants in Falkirk need to move together as a family and need a larger home to avoid overcrowding.
• You are a Falkirk Council or RSL tenant under‑occupying by 2 or more bedrooms.
• Your home is below tolerable standard (confirmed by Environmental Health).
• You must move due to regeneration/redevelopment.
• Another exceptional housing need agreed by a multi‑agency case conference.

For example:

• You do not have a secure tenancy/lease.
• Overcrowding: you need 1 extra bedroom.
• You need to move to give or receive essential support to live independently and live over 3 miles apart (with evidence, for example Carer's Allowance).
• You face severe harassment (as requested by the Conflict Resolution Team).

For example:

• Children under 10 living in a tenement flat with no shared/private garden.
• Relationship breakdown between joint tenants/owners who no longer wish to live together.
• A physical medical condition or disability limits independence at home (for example, only able to manage one flight of stairs).
• Local connection to Falkirk (for example, work in the area).
• Homeowners in Falkirk who want to downsize by 2 or more bedrooms.
• Private sector tenants with a short‑assured tenancy.
• Sharing facilities (kitchen or bathroom) with another household you are not applying with (for example, staying with parents).

• You have no housing need as listed above.

Medical recommendations (F indicator)

If an occupational therapy/functional needs assessment recommends a certain property type, we add an F indicator (for example, Band 1F). You will be considered for adapted homes matching that recommendation. If your health improves and the recommendation no longer applies, give us a health professional's letter; we will remove the F and review your circumstances.

• You can only bid for homes advertised for your applicant group (Home Seeker, Home Mover or Home Starter) or homes advertised for All Groups.
• If you have a medical recommendation, you will only be considered for homes that match it (for example, ground‑floor only).

A family is a couple or a single parent with at least one child. A child is someone whose main home is with the applicant (for example, school registration, GP registration or benefits show the child lives with you).

To meet our targets (45% Home Seekers, 27.5% Home Movers, 27.5% Home Starters), we automatically sequence vacant homes by:

• Allocation area (Bo'ness; Bonnybridge/Banknock; Braes; Dawson; Denny; Falkirk Central; Falkirk East; Falkirk West; Grangemouth; Larbert/Stenhousemuir)
• Size (bedsit–2 bedrooms; 3 bedrooms; 4+ bedrooms)
• Type (house/bungalow; four‑in‑a‑block; flat/maisonette/multi‑storey)
• Void date (when it became empty)

Sequencing is a rolling process.

• Adverts say when a home is adapted (for example, level‑access shower, ramp, accessible kitchen).
• You may wish to consider adapting your current home.

Some homes are let under local lettings initiatives to support sustainability and need. Examples:

• Block profiling: we consider the profile of households in a block.
• High flats: multi‑storey homes are let to applicants aged 50+.
• Low‑demand properties: if a home gets no bids first time, we may re‑advertise it for All Groups (for example, larger tenement flats or more rural locations).
• New build council homes: from April 2025, most new builds are allocated to Home Movers to free up existing homes. Adapted new builds are excluded so people with disabilities can access suitable homes.

• Weekly cycle: from midday Wednesday to midday the following Wednesday.
• Adverts show the closing date and time.
• Late bids are not accepted.

• Address, property type (for example, house, flat), number of bedrooms
• Heating type, rent per week
• Which applicant group has preference and any extra criteria (for example, adaptations or a lettings initiative)
• Closing date and time
• A photo (where available)

• Online via Homespot
• Phone: 01324 503200
• Email: allocations.team@falkirk.gov.uk

Make sure we receive your bid before the deadline.

• You can bid for as many suitable homes as you like each week, if they are advertised for your group and are the right size for your household.

• After bidding online, use 'View your current bids' in Housing Online to see your live position.
• This shows your position by Band, but it does not guarantee an offer.
• If you bid on a home that does not match the reason for your priority (for example, you need a larger home but bid for the same size), your higher Band may not apply in shortlisting.

After the cycle closes, we shortlist applicants who:

• Meet the advert criteria (group and any extra criteria)
• Make best use of the home (for example, all bedrooms used)
• Are not suspended
• Match any medical recommendation (if applicable)

We then rank by priority Band. If Bands are the same, we use the earliest date at that priority. For Band 4, we use the application date.

If there are no bids from the preferred group, we may direct match a Home Seeker who has not been bidding, or re‑advertise for All Groups.

• If you are successful, we will usually contact you within 14 days of the closing date.
• Respond within 48 hours. If we do not hear from you, it will count as a refusal. We will suspend your application for 28 days; if we do not hear from you within those 28 days, we will cancel your application.
• If you live outside the Falkirk area, we will contact you using your phone or email.

If you do not hear from us within 14 days, keep bidding on suitable homes.

• Home Movers and Home Starters: refusing 2 offers moves you to Band 4.
• Home Seekers: if you refuse an offer (including a direct match or an offer via an RSL nomination), your homeless priority is removed because the Council has legally met its duty. Your group changes to Home Starter and your situation will be reassessed. If you are in temporary accommodation, you will need to leave.
• If in the 3‑month period there have been no suitable homes or your bids were unsuccessful, you remain a Home Seeker in Band 1 and we keep monitoring your application. If you are in temporary accommodation, you can stay there.

You have a right to appeal any decision.

• If you are Band 1 or Band 2 and place no eligible bids for 3 months, we will move you to Band 4.
• If you are Band 3 or Band 4 and place no eligible bids for 12 months, we will cancel your application (we will write to warn you first). You can ask for a review of a cancellation decision.
• If you need help bidding, ask us (see Get help).

• You can reapply 12 months after your new tenancy start date.
• If your circumstances significantly change within those 12 months, contact us to review your options.