Housing Allocations Policy

Allocation Of Housing

In selecting tenants for houses from one of the three lists (housing, transfer and homeless), the Divisional Housing Manager shall give reasonable preference to applicants who:

Are occupying houses which do not meet the tolerable standard, or

Are occupying overcrowded houses (see 'Overcrowding'), or

Have large families, or

Are living under unsatisfactory housing conditions (see 'Living in unsatisfactory Housing Conditions'), or

Are homeless persons or persons threatened with homelessness (within the meaning of Part II of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 as amended by the housing (Scotland) Act 2001).

Taking into account the above, the Divisional Housing Manager shall select an applicant from the top of one of the three list (housing, transfer or homeless). In every selection first consideration must be given to any Community Care , Priority Medical or Individual Case application.

In addition to this, any sheltered housing vacancies that become available shall be divided in the proportion 25% to non South Ayrshire Tenants and 75% to South Ayrshire Tenants. To create balanced communities, allocations within each complex should be made in the following proportions: 60% to high priority, 30% to medium priority and 10% to low priority.

In the case of ground level properties or those with ground floor facilities all vacancies shall be allocated to ground level medical applicants. Where there are no ground level medical applicants on the relevant list, vacancies shall be offered evenly across the housing, transfer and homeless lists. Applicants who were awarded 8,9 or 10 medical points under the previous medical priority policy shall be considered before those with fewer points.

Notes

A transfer applicant shall not be eligible to accept an offer of housing where:

He/she owes any tenancy related debt to the Council. In respect of rent arrears, providing the arrear is less than £100, the applicant shall be entitled to accept the offer where:

• has agreed an arrangement for paying the outstanding liability;
  
• has made payments in accordance with that arrangement for at least three months; and
  
• is continuing to make such payments.