The Harlow scheme was one of the first stand-alone schemes to go live, having launched in September 2005.

In June 2009, Harlow had 7,905 applicants on the Housing Register but was only able to make 499 general lettings available over the preceeding year because of a shortage of available housing. 

Approximately 20% of those people on the Harlow Housing register want to “transfer” to alternative accommodation. The rest of the applicants are “Home-Seeker” applicants.

Harlow Homefinder advertises all its available properties on-line and in a freesheet distributed widely across the district on a fortnightly cycle. In the last year it has accepted some 66,000 bids in response to the 680 adverts it published.