South Ayrshire Council

Council Housing

• Download the mini Guide to Social Housing in South Ayrshire and housing application forms
• Housing Options Advisors can also find additional reference sources and links on the Scottish Government website

There are currently around 4700 people on the Council's waiting lists, which include mainstream waiting list applicants, current council tenants wishing to transfer and homeless applicants.

Since only around 800-900 Council properties become vacant each year, South Ayrshire is considered as one of the most pressurised areas in Scotland for Council housing.

As Council housing in South Ayrshire is in such high demand, it is important to know how the Council assesses someone's housing need and why some people are given a higher priority than others.

How is Housing Allocated

When selecting applicants for offers of vacant properties the Divisional Housing Manager will consider applicants from the top of each of the 3 lists - mainstream waiting list, transfer and homeless.

In the case of every vacancy, consideration will first be given to applicants prioritised under the Community Care, Priority Medical and Individual Case assessments.

Otherwise, in selecting the most appropriate applicant, and with regard to the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, reasonable preference will be given to applicants on the lists who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Applicants occupying houses which do not meet the Tolerable Standard
• Applicants who are occupying overcrowded houses
• Applicants with large families
• Applicants living under unsatisfactory housing conditions, or
• Applicants who are Homeless or are threatened with Homelessness (as defined by the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 and amended by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001).

Council Housing Stock

South Ayrshire Council currently own and manage around 8400 properties, made up of general needs housing and sheltered housing units designed for the elderly or other people who need warden support. The stock is made up mainly of flats (over 50%), with the remainder being a mix of houses, maisonettes and some bungalows.

The Council's stock is being reduced by around 200 per year by current tenants exercising their rights under the "Right to Buy" scheme.

The Council owns and manages just over 20% of the total housing stock in South Ayrshire, which is one of the lowest levels in Scotland. Despite this, the Council remains the biggest provider of social-rented housing in the area. Housing Associations and other Registered Social Landlords only own around 2% of the total housing stock in South Ayrshire.

What Size of Property Would I Be Eligible For

For all applicants, the Council will assess the size of property you require, and we believe that you need:

• One bedroom for each single adult
• One bedroom for each couple
• One bedroom for each child of 16 or over
• One bedroom for two children of the same sex, up to 15
• One bedroom for two children under 8, and
• One bedroom for any remaining child

E.g. A single parent with two children of different sexes over 8 will be held for a 3 bedroom property

In the following instances you may be considered for 1 bedroom more than your household requires:

• Couples (must be joint applicants and includes same sex couples)
  Single applicants may choose to be on either the one or the two bedroom list.
• Parents who have regular overnight residential access to their children - proof of access required.
• Medical reasons (i.e. extra room for carer) - proof required.
• Applicants who have a pair of same sex children, where one child is at least 8 years old, and where the two children are separated by at least a four year age gap.

If you meet any of the above criteria and wish to be held for an extra bedroom you must enclose the relevant proof with your application, where this is requested.

Where is Housing Available To Meet My Needs

View Details of Housing stock figures as at 31st March 09