Hyndburn Homes, one of the region's biggest social landlords, is introducing a new housing allocation system for the 1,500 people on its waiting list.

Nigel Fenton from Hyndburn Homes said: "It is no secret that the housing market is in crisis and many social landlords are facing increasing pressure on their waiting lists as a result.

"We believe the new system will provide residents with a wider choice of properties across a larger geographical area and hopefully go some way to alleviating housing need in our area."

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The new scheme is known as a Choice Based Lettings scheme which will be marketed as 'B With Us'. Under this system, housing applicants will be able to select from vacant social housing properties not just across Hyndburn, but also across Blackburn with Darwen, Pendle and Rossendale.

All empty properties in these areas will be advertised and applicants will bid for the property they want. The person with the highest housing need will usually be offered the property.

This new scheme will be introduced across the East Lancashire area in October 2009.

(CD/KMcA)