Key to Choice
Adverts for council homes are temporarily paused
We’ve made the difficult decision to temporarily pause advertising council properties for rent through Key to Choice (this does not affect adverts for housing association and housing co-op homes).
Our Housing and Homelessness services are currently under exceptional pressure due to the housing emergency in Edinburgh. The demand for homes and lack of properties in the city means we’re not able to meet our statutory duties to accommodate people assessed as homeless.
By pausing adverts for council homes, it allows us to temporarily prioritise available properties for people who:
- need temporary accommodation
- are assessed as homeless and who are currently in unsuitable temporary accommodation
- have Gold Priority
- have Urgent Gold Priority and assessed as a delayed discharge from hospital.
You can read our Frequently Asked Questions on the pause of adverts for further information.
We’ll review this decision in February 2026. Please check this webpage for any updates.
We are unable to respond to individual enquiries about the pause of council home adverts.
How to register for housing
You can still register for council housing and bid for housing association homes on the Key to Choice website.
You need to have applied to EdIndex and registered with Housing Online to bid for homes through Key to Choice.
To register and apply online Visit EdIndex housing and click the Key to Choice link.
Step by step guidance and frequently asked questions are available on the website.
Paper application forms are available if you cannot apply for EdIndex online. Bids should be made online but if you are unable to do this and need support, please email the EdIndex Team at edindex@edinburgh.gov.uk and put “Bidding Help” in the subject line.
If you have questions about Key to Choice please email edindex@edinburgh.gov.uk.
If you have a question about one of the homes advertised, please contact the landlord directly.