Home Connections colleagues laughing together during a team session

Twenty-five years of making connections that matter.

Since 2001, we have worked alongside local authorities, housing providers, government organisations and communities to help people access housing opportunities and vital support.

Our anniversary is a chance to celebrate what we have achieved together, share the stories behind our journey and look forward to the next chapter.

25 years, one shared story

Select a year to explore some of the moments that have shaped Home Connections.

Our beginning 2001
  1. 2001 Our story

    Home Connections begins as a major choice-based lettings pilot

    With £1.4 million in government funding, Home Connections brought five London boroughs and two housing associations together to create the country's largest choice-based lettings pilot. The new model gave applicants greater transparency and choice over available homes.

  2. 2002 Digital innovation

    The first choice-based lettings service goes live

    The pilot went live in Somers Town, Camden, on 4 July, with the first successful move completed just ten days later. Its online, telephone and supported-access options demonstrated that a digital approach could work for people with different needs.

  3. 2003 Award-winning service

    The pilot wins a European award

    Home Connections received the e-Citizenship for All award for re-engineering public services. The award recognised how the pilot shifted choice from traditional gatekeepers to applicants, who could view available properties and decide where to bid.

  4. 2005 Customer owned

    A customer-led, not-for-profit company is incorporated

    Home Connections became a private limited, not-for-profit company owned by local authorities and housing associations. Its customer-owned structure reflected an enduring principle: put customers in the driving seat and use technology to make services more transparent and empowering.

  5. 2006-07 Digital inclusion

    New channels widen access to housing

    Home Connections expanded digital inclusion by introducing SMS property bidding, multilingual information and access to property details through DigiTV. These options helped more applicants use the service without relying solely on a computer.

  6. 2009-12 First to mobile

    Home Connections pioneers smartphone apps for housing

    Working with Haringey Council, Home Connections developed native Android and Apple iOS apps that enabled people to search, advertise and bid for homes on their phones. By 2012, housing registers could also be fully integrated with choice-based lettings.

  7. 2013 National mobility

    Homefinder UK is established

    Homefinder UK was created to help people find social housing beyond their immediate area and help landlords make better use of available homes. Sixteen local authorities and housing associations formed the initial partnership.

  8. 2016-18 Responding to change

    HOPE supports homelessness prevention

    As the Homelessness Reduction Act approached, Home Connections developed HOPE to help councils deliver housing-options and homelessness-prevention services. It translated major policy change into practical digital tools for frontline teams.

  9. 2023 Central government

    Home Connections begins delivering StreetLink

    Home Connections began delivering StreetLink for MHCLG, the national referral service in England and Wales that connects people sleeping rough with local authorities and outreach teams. The contract expanded our role in delivering critical public services.

  10. 2026 Anniversary year

    Celebrating 25 years of innovation and impact

    Home Connections marks 25 years of connecting people, homes and communities. Our work now spans housing software, homelessness prevention, mobility, e-learning, accessible digital services and central-government delivery - with the same social purpose that shaped our beginning.

Technology with a clear social purpose

Our work has grown over 25 years, but the goal remains simple: better services, better housing outcomes and stronger communities.

See what our clients say

Twenty-five years of partnership, described by the councils and housing providers who work alongside us every day.

We opted for Home Connections as our preferred homelessness software supplier from day one. HOPE is a simple and flexible system. There was a lot of value in devoting time to working out the workflow, the customer journey and other aspects.

Laura Kennard Redbridge Council

What stands out with Home Connections is the willingness to understand the problem, empathise with the customer and resolve issues in good time.

Ekpo Eyo Southwark Council

Over the years, Home Connections has consistently demonstrated a strong understanding of the housing sector, providing a user-friendly platform that supports both residents and local authorities. Their willingness to innovate and respond to changing service demands has made them a valued partner in delivering housing services

Amanda Gill Croydon Council

The HOPE software is so intuitive and user-friendly. It guides you, step by step, section by section, telling you what needs to be completed. The software is efficient, accurate and, most importantly, reliable. Once you run the H-CLIC compliance checker, you know that you are uploading credible and valid data. HOPE is the best system I have ever used

Andy Lee West Lindsey District Council

We have worked with Home Connections on several projects over the years and have always been impressed with their ‘can do’ attitude, efficiency and value for money. Home Connections are also great partners to work with on innovative projects such as creating our new e-learning platform, where they were able to realise a vision that we had

Beverly Faulkner Haringey Council

The Choice Based Lettings solution puts people who are looking for a home in the driving seat, giving them choice, control, accessibility and transparency in the process. Loreburn Housing Association is really excited to be working with Home Connections

Amanda Yellowley Loreburn Housing Association

Celebrating together

Stories from our journey

Throughout our anniversary year, we will share the moments, people and partnerships that have helped shape Home Connections.

Looking forward

Shaping the future of Housing and Digital services

Find out more

Thank you for being part of our story.

We look forward to celebrating with our customers, partners, colleagues and communities throughout the year.

Get in touch
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