If an applicant views a property and is then offered it, in nearly all cases, there will be no penalty for refusing it. Applicants simply check the website again each week and bid for the properties they are interested in. However, an applicants’ bidding position will change for each property as it is depends on who else is interested in the same property.
Some people will have a limited time in which to successfully bid for a property, we will notify applicants individually if this applies to them. If applicants have not been successful during their bidding period, they may be given one direct offer of a property. If they refuse the property we may end our housing duty to them. If this happens they will have to make arrangements to find their own accommodation and their application will be closed. It is therefore important that if someone has been time limited for bidding that they think carefully about the decision before turning down a property.