Hundreds of Council houses across the district are up for grabs as Bradford Council launches an all-out drive to get tenants.

The homes are being put on offer as easy lets, as the authority goes into competition for the first time with the district's private landlords to let its houses.

The Council says they are situated across the district, including Keighley, and some are ready to move into.

Housing chief Jim O'Neill also revealed today that a shake up of the traditional points system was on the cards in a bid to end snarl-ups in the waiting list - which sometimes leave people waiting for up to eight years for sought-after areas.

He said a thorough overhaul of the 7,000-strong waiting list was now under way to determine priority because some people had used the list as an "insurance" in case they ever needed a house.

Now the message to the public from Coun O'Neill that is people may find it easier than they think to get Council houses.

There are currently 800 empty houses in the district up for rent - three per cent of the council's stock.

Some are likely to be taken by people already on the housing list. But Coun O'Neill said there was still a "good proportion" of unwanted houses which had been labelled "easy lets" because people would be able to move into them quickly.

He said: "The message I want to get across is that it isn't difficult to get a house and it is worth giving us a ring.

"Families might have a relative half-way across Bradford who might want to live on the same estate as them. If you see an empty house, it's worth giving us a ring. We will also consider single people."

He said a major review of housing needs across the district was due to be launched soon, which would give a whole new slant to the system.

It means tenants will in future be called "customers" and the points criteria would get a major overhaul.

Coun O'Neill said one loophole under scrutiny allowed applicants with all the criteria being allowed to get straight into sought-after areas - ahead of people who had fewer points but who had waited up to eight years for their preference. He said many homes had fallen empty because of regeneration schemes, where people moved out if work was being done.

Today Audrey Raistrick, of Ravenscliffe and Greengates Association welcomed the move to attract new tenants.

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