Housing Options Guide

Transfers

Existing South Ayrshire Council tenants can apply for a transfer to another council house at any time.

Those applicants who have rent arrears or are in breach of their tenancy agreement will not be made an offer of housing unless they have come to a repayment or other arrangement, which is satisfactory to the Head of Regeneration and Housing.

Applicants who have been responsible for anti-social behaviour, or have been the subject of an unsatisfactory tenancy report from any landlord, may not be eligible to receive any offers of housing.

How to Apply for a Transfer

Tenants wishing to apply for a transfer to another council tenancy can do so by completing the Council’s general “Application for Housing”.

Copies of this application form can be obtained by contacting your local Area Housing Office in writing, by phone, email, or by dropping in to the office.

How Transfer Applications are Prioritised

Allocations staff will carefully check the form, ensuring the applicant is eligible to join the transfer list. Points are then awarded according to each aspect of housing need e.g. overcrowding, sharing amenities. How points are awarded.

When the application has been checked and the appropriate number of points awarded, you will be sent a summary of your application in writing, which outlines the number of points, the types of property and areas you are held for.

You will also be given an application reference number, which you can use when enquiring about your application.

What Choices Can I Make

Transfer applicants can choose as many or as few house types, heating types and areas as they wish to put on their application. No suspensions will apply for amending these choices during the life of the application. The size of house that an applicant will be eligible for is outlined in the section on “Council Housing”.

Applicants should note that by limiting their choices they are restricting the potential to receive offers of a suitable property.

Staff at the Area Housing Offices will be happy to advise applicants on any issues relating to choices made on their application.

Changes in Circumstances

It is very important that, if your circumstances change after you have submitted the form, you notify allocation staff as soon as possible in writing of these changes, e.g. you have a baby; someone moves out of the household; or you move address.

This will allow your application to be amended to your new circumstances and ensure you are awarded the correct points.
If you fail to do this you may miss out on points that you are entitled to or may even have an offer of housing withdrawn if you have been incorrectly pointed.

How Long Will I Be Held On The Waiting List For?

Applications are held on the waiting list indefinitely until you are housed. However, regular reviews of the list are carried out and you must complete and return a review form if and when required.

Failure to return a review form will result in your application being cancelled and the loss of any waiting time points you have accrued.

Therefore, as already mentioned above, it is very important to notify the Council of any change in your circumstances.

Similarly, if the housing department writes to you for any other matter regarding your application and you do not respond within the specified time, your application may also be cancelled, with the loss of your waiting time points.

It is, therefore, in your best interests to maintain regular contact with allocations staff and notify them as soon as possible of any changes in your circumstances.

Any material change in circumstances could lead to a change in your points level or list on which you are held.

Position On The List

You can make enquiries at your local area office regarding your current position on the list.

However, it must be borne in mind that however near the top of the waiting list you are at a particular moment in time, other new applicants or existing applicants may be assessed or re-assessed and receive a higher number of points than you, and therefore be housed before you.

Further still, applicants whose applications are currently suspended for any reason, may serve their suspensions and come back on to the list with more points than you, and therefore be housed before you.

Number Of Offers

You will normally be made a maximum of 4 offers.

If you refuse a fourth offer without justifiable cause (in the opinion of the Head of Regeneration and Housing), the Council will not make another offer for a period of 1 year, subject to an appeal in writing to the Divisonal Housing Manager.

Waiting time points will be awarded during this period of suspension.