New Homes4U bidding system launches – A key Milestone in our digital journey

Last week marked a significant step forward for housing services in the Vale of Glamorgan with the launch of the new Homes4U online bidding system.

Previously, residents could only place housing bids by phoning  the contact centre or by email, or by coming in-person to the housing desk at the Civic Offices. This was resource-intensive and didn’t offer the best experience for our service users – many of which are some of our most vulnerable residents.

As a response to resident feedback and a key part of our broader commitment to improving customer’s access to Council services, the new online system allows applicants to bid on properties directly through our website, providing a simpler, more accessible, and efficient route.

Homes4U brings together available rental properties from the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Newydd Housing Association, Wales & West Housing, Hafod, and United Welsh. Each Thursday, a new property advert is published, and residents are invited to place their bids. Properties are then allocated based on our allocation and lettings policies, ensuring that the most suitable homes go to those with the greatest need.

The launch of the new online bidding system is part of our Top 20 Customer Journeys project, led by the Digital Team, which aims to better understand and improve customer experience, and streamline and increase efficiency of the service provision.

Other journeys currently under review include pothole reporting, requests for additional waste bags and support, and pest control booking.

This work also supports our new Vale 2030 Corporate Plan, which sets out a bold vision for creating “Strong Communities with a Bright Future.” One of our five objectives is to ‘create great places to live, work, and visit’. Ensuring access to affordable, quality housing is central to this goal and Homes4U is a key part of our strategy to deliver that commitment.

Currently, the Council provides 3,972 homes at social rent across the Vale and delivered 253 new homes from 2020 to 2025, with more on its way including the newest Clos Holm View properties that we celebrated last week.

In its first week, the new bidding system saw 226 bids placed and a notable drop in call centre traffic. As we continue to expand our affordable housing, we hope that the new system will play an important role in helping more residents find a suitable, safe home.