Tees Valley Homefinder is the official Choice Based Lettings platform serving Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, and Redcar & Cleveland — making it the primary route to social housing for thousands of residents across the region.
Whether you need to log into your existing account, register a brand-new application, understand your priority band, or learn how to bid on properties, this guide covers every step in plain, clear language.
Tees Valley Homefinder is a Choice Based Lettings (CBL) system operating across Redcar & Cleveland, Middlesbrough, and Stockton-on-Tees. It gives residents the ability to search for available social homes and bid for their preferred properties.
It is not owned by a single council. It is a partnership made up of three local authorities — Redcar & Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees, and Middlesbrough — alongside two Registered Providers: Beyond Housing and North Star. Properties are also listed through other housing associations including Thirteen, Home Group, and Karbon.
In practical terms, Tees Valley Homefinder is the online platform where people register for social housing, get assessed for a priority band, and then actively bid on properties that match their household’s needs. There were 2,960 people with a registered live Tees Valley Homefinder account in Stockton alone in March 2025, with an average of 18 properties advertised each week attracting around 90 bids per advert.
Choice Based Lettings is a way to let council and housing association homes, as well as other housing options like private rented homes, swaps (mutual exchanges) and low cost home ownership. Available homes are advertised and people who have an active housing application can express their interest by bidding for them.
The process follows a clear sequence. You register, get assessed, receive a priority band, and then begin bidding on suitable properties. The system is transparent — you can see what is available, who can apply, and how previously advertised homes were let.
Here is the full process at a glance:
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Register | Create an account on the HousingJigsaw portal |
| 2. Upload documents | Provide identity, residency, and household evidence |
| 3. Assessment | Lettings team reviews your application |
| 4. Band awarded | You receive Band 1, 2, 3, or 4 based on housing need |
| 5. Bid on properties | Browse adverts and place bids on suitable homes |
| 6. Shortlisting | At advert close, bids ranked by band and priority date |
| 7. Offer made | Highest-ranked applicant receives offer to view property |
| 8. Acceptance | Applicant accepts or declines; tenancy begins |
The current Tees Valley Homefinder login portal is hosted on the HousingJigsaw platform.
The direct login URL is: teesvalleyhomefinder.housingjigsaw.co.uk
To log in you need the email address you used when registering and your account password. If you have not logged in recently, your password may have expired and you will be prompted to set a new one.
Here is a step-by-step login guide:
Step 1 — Visit teesvalleyhomefinder.housingjigsaw.co.uk in your browser.
Step 2 — Click the “Sign In” button on the homepage.
Step 3 — Enter your registered email address and password in the fields provided.
Step 4 — Click “Login” to access your account dashboard.
Step 5 — From the dashboard you can update your personal details, check your current band, view available properties, and place bids.
If you cannot remember your password, use the “Forgot Password” link on the login page. A password reset email will be sent to your registered email address. If you no longer have access to that email address, contact the Lettings and Nominations Team directly for help.
Contact for login problems (Stockton): [email protected] or call 01642 524345
Contact for login problems (Beyond Housing): 0345 065 5656
If you do not already have an account, registering is straightforward but requires supporting documentation.
Step 1 — Visit the portal. Go to teesvalleyhomefinder.housingjigsaw.co.uk and click “Register” or “New Application” on the homepage.
Step 2 — Complete the online form. Provide your full name, date of birth, current address, contact details, and household information including all members of your household and their details.
Step 3 — Select your area preferences. During registration you will be asked to choose which areas within the Tees Valley you would like to live in. You can select multiple areas across Middlesbrough, Stockton, and Redcar & Cleveland.
Step 4 — Upload supporting documents. Once you have registered, you will be required to upload supporting documentation. Only following a satisfactory review will a new account be made live. Documents are reviewed by the Lettings and Nominations Team before your account becomes active.
Step 5 — Wait for confirmation. Once your documents are reviewed and your application is accepted, you will receive confirmation by email. Your account will show your priority band and you can begin bidding on properties.
If you do not have internet access: Contact 01642 524345 and the team will make an appointment to register a new application on your behalf.
Having the right documents ready before you start saves significant time.
The information required will be specific to your application, and you will be advised of what is required during the application process. However, the following documents are commonly requested across most applications:
| Document Category | Examples Required |
|---|---|
| Proof of identity | Passport, driving licence, or birth certificate |
| Proof of address | Utility bill, bank statement, or council tax letter |
| Proof of current housing situation | Tenancy agreement, mortgage statement, or eviction notice |
| Household evidence | Birth certificates for children, proof of pregnancy |
| Income / financial evidence | Benefit letters, payslips, Universal Credit statement |
| Medical evidence | GP letter, consultant report, occupational therapist assessment |
| Immigration status | Settled status evidence or right to remain documentation (if applicable) |
Uploading clear, legible scans or photographs of all documents speeds up assessment significantly. Blurry or incomplete documents are the most common cause of application delays.
The band you receive determines your priority in the queue for available properties. The band you are in will depend on your level of housing need. Most people are placed in Band 4 when they first register. If you are later found to have a high or urgent need for housing, you may be moved to a higher band depending on your circumstances.
Here is what each band means in practice:
| Band | Priority Level | Who Qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | Emergency / Highest Priority | Statutory homeless, cannot be discharged from hospital, severe overcrowding, major safeguarding need |
| Band 2 | High Priority | Serious medical need, significant overcrowding, fleeing domestic abuse, demolition or regeneration of current home |
| Band 3 | Medium Priority | Moderate medical need, moderate overcrowding, need to move for employment or to support/receive family care |
| Band 4 | Standard Priority | Adequate housing but on the register, general housing need, most new applicants |
Applications will usually be placed in Band order when a shortlist is produced at the end of an advertising period. If there are two or more applicants with the same Band, the date they entered the Band — their priority date — will be used to determine ranking.
What “priority date” means: Your priority date is the date you were placed in your current band. Two people in Band 3 will be ranked by who entered Band 3 first. The longer you have been in your band, the stronger your position in the queue for popular properties.
Available properties will be advertised daily on the scheme’s interactive lettings platform. Adverts will be clearly labelled to show the property features, local neighbourhood information and the types of households that can apply.
Each property advert includes the type of property, number of bedrooms, location, landlord, any special adaptations, and the eligibility criteria. Eligibility criteria are listed as either Essential or Priority.
Essential criteria must be met for you to place a bid at all. For example, a property with an essential criterion of “55 or over” cannot be bid on by younger applicants. Priority criteria do not prevent bidding but give preference to applicants who meet them.
The time and day you place your bid makes no difference to your end position on a shortlist, as bids are sorted by Band, priority date, and date of registration. You do not gain any advantage from bidding in the first five minutes versus the last few hours of an advert.
You can place bids on as many properties as you like that meet the needs of your household. There is no cap on the number of bids you can place during an advertising cycle.
When does an advert close? Most property adverts run for a set period — usually one week. When the advert closes, the system generates a ranked shortlist of all bidders. The top-ranked applicant is contacted with a viewing invitation.
Because of the number of people bidding on properties every week, the team cannot contact all bidders. Only successful applicants will be contacted with offers.
You can only bid on properties that match your household’s assessed bedroom need. Bidding on properties with too many or too few bedrooms will not place you in a competitive position and adverts may prevent ineligible bids entirely.
Properties advertised on Tees Valley Homefinder will be allocated by bedroom need as determined by the type and size of an applicant’s household.
Here is a general guide to bedroom allocation:
| Household Composition | Bedrooms Typically Needed |
|---|---|
| Single adult | 1 bedroom |
| Couple with no children | 1 bedroom |
| 1–2 children (same sex, under 10) | 2 bedrooms |
| 1–2 children (different sex, or older) | 2–3 bedrooms |
| 3+ children | 3 bedrooms |
| Larger families | 4+ bedrooms subject to assessment |
Children aged 10 and over of different sexes are typically assessed as needing separate bedrooms. A pregnant applicant’s unborn child is counted once they reach a certain stage of pregnancy. Always contact your local lettings team if you are unsure what bedroom size you qualify for.
Receiving an offer is an exciting step, but there are important rules to understand.
When you are the highest-ranked bidder at the close of an advert, the landlord contacts you to arrange a viewing of the property. Sometimes more than one applicant may be invited to view. After the viewing, you will be asked whether you wish to accept or decline.
Applicants will usually be allowed 2 working days to respond to an offer, but individual circumstances will be considered and applicants with specific needs will be given more time, for example if an assessment for adaptation work is needed.
What happens if you refuse an offer? This is critical to understand. If an applicant who has been given a Priority Band 1, 2 or 3 refuses an offer that meets their identified housing need and this refusal is deemed unreasonable, they may have their priority removed and be placed in Band 4 for a period of 6 months.
Refusing an offer is a significant decision. Before declining, speak to your local lettings team to explain your concerns. In some circumstances — such as when adaptations need to be assessed or a disability requires more consideration time — the timeline can be extended.
If you are in Band 1, 2, or 3 but are not actively placing bids, the system may apply automated bidding on your behalf.
Applicants who are awarded Band 1, 2 or 3 will be required to actively seek rehousing and housing applications will be monitored to ensure applicants are placing bids on all suitable properties. Applicants will be given up to 6 months to place bids on the system on properties that meet the assessed needs of their household. Applicants who do not place bids may be placed on automated bidding after this time period.
Automated bidding means the system places bids on your behalf for all suitable properties. If the applicant is offered a property through autobid and subsequently refuses a reasonable offer, they will have their priority banding removed and be placed into Band 4 for a minimum period of 6 months.
The key takeaway is that if you are in a high priority band, you must engage actively with the system. Log in regularly, bid on all suitable properties, and keep your contact details up to date so you can be reached when an offer is made.
Some properties on Tees Valley Homefinder are advertised with a Local Lettings Policy (LLP) in place.
Where there is an issue with anti-social behaviour on an estate, an LLP can be used to ensure that no more households with a history of ASB are housed there until the area stabilises. For new build developments, an LLP can help create a mixed and balanced community on an estate. Where a property has an LLP in place, this will be stated within the advert.
An LLP means that normal band ranking rules may not fully apply. The landlord sets specific preferences — for example, giving priority to existing tenants of a certain area, or excluding applicants with recent anti-social behaviour records. Always read the LLP attached to any advert before bidding.
LLP properties can sometimes offer a route to a property for applicants who would otherwise be outranked in standard band competition — particularly for new-build developments where community balance is actively managed.
Tees Valley Homefinder is not one organisation. It is a partnership of multiple bodies, each handling different aspects of housing and different geographic areas.
| Partner | Type | Area / Role |
|---|---|---|
| Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council | Local Authority | Stockton area allocations and lettings |
| Middlesbrough Council | Local Authority | Middlesbrough area allocations |
| Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council | Local Authority | Redcar & Cleveland allocations |
| Beyond Housing | Registered Provider | Account management, application support |
| North Star Housing | Registered Provider | Social housing landlord, partner properties |
| Thirteen Group | Nomination RP | Advertises 50%+ of properties through scheme |
| Home Group | Nomination RP | Properties via nominations |
| Karbon Homes | Nomination RP | Properties via nominations |
Tees Valley Homefinder accounts are managed by Beyond Housing. If you have a query regarding your housing application, contact 0345 065 5656.
Beyond Housing is your primary point of contact for most account and application queries. For area-specific questions, your local council’s housing team can also assist.
Keeping your Tees Valley Homefinder application up to date is essential — out-of-date applications can be closed without warning.
Log into your account regularly — at least every few weeks — to check your details and ensure nothing has changed on your application status. Update your personal details if you move address, change phone number, or change email address. Update your household details if your circumstances change — new family members, a relationship breakdown, or a change in medical condition can all affect your band.
Failure to respond to a review will result in the closure of an application. If closed for this reason, the applicant has 28 days to request reinstatement.
The scheme sends periodic review requests to all applicants. When you receive one, respond promptly. Ignoring a review request risks losing your place on the register entirely — including any priority date you have accumulated.
When your circumstances change: If your circumstances change, you should let the team know as soon as possible because this could change the band you are placed in and the type of home you can have.
If you believe your priority band does not reflect your true housing need, you have the right to request a review.
Applicants should request a review in writing within 21 days of being notified of a decision. The review will be carried out by the Partner organisation that received the original application in line with their review procedure, and a determination will be made within 56 days.
A review can also be triggered by a significant change in your circumstances — a new medical diagnosis, a sudden change in household size, or a deterioration in your living conditions. The applicant can ask for a re-assessment of their Band after 6 months and would be responsible for providing evidence to support their current housing needs.
When requesting a band review, provide as much supporting evidence as possible. Medical letters from GPs or consultants, social worker reports, and formal assessments carry the most weight. A review without evidence is unlikely to change your band.
In a small number of cases, properties are allocated through direct offers rather than through the standard bidding process.
A direct offer may be made in exceptional circumstances, for example: applicants being assessed by the local authority as being owed a homelessness duty; people who need emergency accommodation due to fire, flood or major repairs; and ex-offenders subject to Multi Agency Public Protection Agency (MAPPA) arrangements where a full support package is in place.
If you are in a situation that qualifies for a direct offer, your local authority housing team will manage this process directly with you. You do not apply for a direct offer through the Tees Valley Homefinder portal — it is arranged outside the normal bidding system.
Direct offers are listed in the “Recent Lets” section of the Tees Valley Homefinder website for transparency, even though they were not publicly advertised beforehand.
Tees Valley Homefinder should not be your only route to affordable housing.
You should also consider other options while continuing to bid for properties via Tees Valley Homefinder. Look into private rented accommodation and affordable housing schemes, including Rent-to-Buy and shared ownership. You should also sign up for MyThirteen as Thirteen retain 50% of their properties for advertisement on their own site. You can bid on properties on MyThirteen and Tees Valley Homefinder simultaneously.
Other options worth exploring alongside Tees Valley Homefinder include:
| Option | What It Is | Who It Suits |
|---|---|---|
| MyThirteen portal | Thirteen Group’s direct lettings site | Anyone in the Tees Valley region |
| Rent-to-Buy | Subsidised rent with option to buy later | Working households |
| Shared Ownership | Buy a share of a property, pay rent on rest | First-time buyers with some income |
| Private rented sector | Standard private tenancy | Those needing housing faster |
| Mutual Exchange | Swap tenancies with another social tenant | Existing social housing tenants |
| Homelessness referral | Emergency housing via local council | Those at immediate risk |
Using multiple routes simultaneously is not just allowed — it is actively encouraged. The more avenues you pursue, the faster you are likely to find suitable housing.
Knowing who to call for which issue saves time and frustration.
| Query Type | Contact | Phone / Email |
|---|---|---|
| General application help | Beyond Housing | 0345 065 5656 |
| Stockton area queries | Lettings & Nominations Team | 01642 524345 / [email protected] |
| Redcar & Cleveland queries | Beyond Housing | 0345 065 5656 |
| Middlesbrough queries | Middlesbrough Council Housing | Via middlesbrough.gov.uk |
| Emergency housing (homeless) | Local Council Housing Team | Contact your area council directly |
| Band review request | Your registering Partner | In writing within 21 days of decision |
For technical issues with the online portal — login errors, document upload problems, or account access issues — contact Beyond Housing as they manage the account infrastructure on behalf of all three councils.
Understanding the competition helps set realistic expectations.
In March 2025, there were 2,960 people with a registered live Tees Valley Homefinder account in Stockton. From April 2024 to March 2025, there were an average of 18 properties advertised per week, with each advert attracting 90 bids on average.
These numbers make clear why patience is essential. With around 90 bids per property and only 18 properties per week in a single council area, the wait for suitable housing can be significant — particularly in Band 4. Applicants in Band 1, 2, and 3 see significantly shorter waits due to their priority status.
The most competitive properties are typically 2-bedroom houses in popular areas. Less competitive options — such as ground-floor flats, properties in less sought-after locations, or sheltered accommodation for older applicants — tend to attract fewer bids and can be secured more quickly.
Visit teesvalleyhomefinder.housingjigsaw.co.uk, click Sign In, and enter your registered email address and password. Use the Forgot Password link if you need to reset your credentials.
Go to teesvalleyhomefinder.housingjigsaw.co.uk, select the new application option, complete the online form with your household details, and upload your supporting documents for review by the lettings team.
Most new applicants are placed in Band 4, which is the standard priority band. You can be moved to a higher band if a housing needs assessment confirms you have urgent, high, or medium-priority housing need.
There is no limit — you can place bids on as many suitable properties as you wish. Bidding earlier in the advertising period does not improve your position, as ranking is determined by band and priority date.
Failing to respond to a review request will result in your application being closed. You have 28 days from closure to request reinstatement, so act quickly if this happens to preserve your priority date.
Yes, you can bid on properties across all three council areas covered by the partnership — Middlesbrough, Stockton, and Redcar & Cleveland — though you will have the strongest priority for properties in the council area where you currently live.
Beyond Housing manages Tees Valley Homefinder accounts on behalf of all three council partners. Contact them on 0345 065 5656 for application queries, account issues, or registration assistance.
You typically need proof of identity, proof of current address, evidence of your housing situation, household documentation for all members, income or benefit evidence, and any medical or support letters relevant to your housing need.
A Local Lettings Policy sets specific eligibility rules for an individual property beyond standard band criteria — for example, giving preference to applicants in a particular area or excluding those with anti-social behaviour records. It will always be stated within the property advert.
Contact your local council’s housing team immediately rather than waiting for the standard application process. Homeless applicants may qualify for urgent assessment, higher banding, or direct offers that bypass the regular bidding queue.
Tees Valley Homefinder is the central gateway to social housing across Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, and Redcar & Cleveland — and navigating it well makes a real difference to how quickly you find a suitable home.
From your first login to registering your application, understanding your priority band, bidding on properties, and responding to offers, every step follows a clear process that rewards those who are informed, active, and prepared.
In 2026, competition for social housing in the Tees Valley remains high, with an average of 90 bids per property. Keeping your application updated, bidding consistently on all suitable properties, and exploring every parallel option — including MyThirteen, Rent-to-Buy, and shared ownership — gives you the best possible chance of securing a home.
If you need help at any stage, Beyond Housing on 0345 065 5656 and your local council lettings team are there to support you through the process.