One of the biggest social housing schemes in England which will provide people in Bolton with more choice finding their future home has been launched.

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

Pinpoint is the largest choice based lettings scheme outside of London and it will give existing tenants or residents of social housing schemes in Bolton more choice of home across the Greater Manchester region.

The scheme will allow people registered with their local housing scheme to move to any other housing scheme within the region, which is advertised through Pinpoint.


There will be no need to register separately with each landlord as customers just need to be registered with one of the Pinpoint partners to have access to the properties. The service is web based and all available properties are advertised online at www.pinpoint.org.uk.

Four local authorities and five housing associations have already advertised available properties on the web site. Each partner will be advertising between 5 to 25% of their available vacant properties. Around 10%of all Bolton at Home properties will be available to applicants.

Councillor Akhtar Zaman, Bolton Council's Executive Member for Regeneration, said: "Pinpoint is flexible, improves access to housing and offers people across Greater Manchester a greater choice in deciding where they want 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."

(CD/JM)