Find your 'perfect' home

More than 550 people have found their perfect home in Greater Manchester thanks to an innovative housing scheme.

Pinpoint, the largest choice based lettings scheme outside London, helps residents move home across different boroughs within Greater Manchester.

The initiative was launched as a pilot last year and funding has now been confirmed for at least a further two years.

The scheme is a joint partnership between all ten Greater Manchester authorities and 13 housing associations, which means that approximately 115,000 applicants from participating organisations can gain access to council houses and private rented properties across Greater Manchester.

The scheme was primarily set up to help people move across different boroughs, and between partners, without having to register with each of them separately. The main reasons users expressed for moving were: to be closer to family, homelessness and to be closer to work or college.

Applicants deciding on the private rented option have a guarantee that properties advertised on Pinpoint meet certain standards, as they have to be accredited and inspected by the appropriate Landlord Accreditation Scheme.

From this month, Pinpoint will acknowledge the customer's assessment of housing needs. Currently, allocations are decided according to a customer’s date of registration. In the near future, priority for re-housing will be based on their current circumstances as prioritised upon registration and not necessarily length of time on the register. Other changes planned include advertising shared ownership and rent to buy and continued improvements to the website.

For more information about Pinpoint visit:

• www.pinpoint.org