Housing Options Guide

Trust Housing Association Ltd

Background

Trust Housing Association Ltd builds, manages and maintains a wide range of accommodation, principally sheltered, very sheltered and amenity housing, for older people.

Sheltered properties are flats or cottages designed and built for the needs of older people. A warden service is provided to give support and advice to tenants and there is also a range of communal facilities available to tenants (e.g. laundry facilities, lounge and guest bedrooms).
Very Sheltered Housing is often provided within sheltered housing developments and offers additional staffing and support for people coping with a degree of physical frailty.

Amenity Accommodation is similar in design to sheltered accommodation.
It is aimed at the older person who does not require the support services of a resident warden but who would benefit from access to the emergency alarm system, which is included in each property.

Trust Housing Association Ltd own and manage properties throughout Scotland. In South Ayrshire the association provides the following types of accommodation: Sheltered; Very Sheltered; Amenity; Mainstream and Shared Ownership.

Details of South Ayrshire properties are shown in the table below.

How to apply

To apply for a Trust Association sheltered or amenity property you will normally need to be at least 60 years old. However, younger applicants who have a proven need for sheltered / amenity accommodation will also be considered.

Mainstream applicants must be at least 16 years of age.
All applicants need to complete an application form, which you can get by either writing to or phoning the area office in Glasgow at the following address :-

Trust Housing Association Ltd
West of Scotland Regional Office
25 Park Circus
Charing Cross
GLASGOW
G3 6AP

Tel: 0141 341 3200
Fax: 0141 332 6843
E-Mail : Info@trustha.org.uk
Website: www.trustha.org.uk

If you have any problems completing the form please do not hesitate to contact staff at the association for advice.

Allocation system & points
Trust Housing Management Department are responsible for allocating the association’s properties. Properties are allocated on the basis of need, using a points system of assessment.

Points are awarded due to your personal circumstances. Your place on the waiting list will depend on the number of points you have. Generally speaking, the more points you have the more likely your chances are of being offered a house.

Full details of the sheltered / amenity points scheme are detailed below :

Tenure	Points
Statutorily Homeless	25
Threatened with Homelessness	20
Living in lodgings	10
Living in a household outwith immediate family	10
Living with immediate family in stressful arrangement	10
Living in temporary accommodation	10
Living as sub-tenant	10
Living caravan	10
Living in residential/non domestic care setting	10
Living in tied housing	10
(maximum 25 points in this section)

Sharing Facilities	Points
No separate/exclusive use of WC	5
No separate/exclusive use of bathing facilities	3
No separate/exclusive use of kitchen facilities	2
No separate/exclusive use of living room	1

Overcrowding/Under Occupation	Points
Below tolerable standard	25
Serious disrepair (eg structural problems, rot etc)	5
Suffers from dampness	2
Affected by condensation	1
Lacks hot or cold running water	5
Lacks electricity	5
No inside WC	10
No bathing facilities	5
No kitchen facilities	5
No living area	1
No central heating	5
(Maximum of 25 points in this section)

Social Factors	Points
Applicant is applying because they need to live nearer friends/ Relatives to give/receive support or care	5
Applicant has been living in a relationship which has broken down and is seeking alternative accommodation	5
The applicant/household is a victim of harassment, including racial harassment or domestic abuse	15
Applicant cannot continue to meet mortgage costs/costs of private renting due to his/her financial circumstances	5
Applicant has been offered employment in local area	5
Applicant is finding it difficult to travel to work because of financial or locational reasons	1
Applicant’s current accommodation is remote from adequate transport links and he/she doesn’t have access to care	1
There are no facilities such as shops, post office, in the applicant’s local area	1
Applicant is affected by disturbance in the area	1
Applicant has been broken into in last 5 years	1

Health & Mobility Factors	Points
Applicant is registered blind	5
Applicant is profoundly deaf	5
Applicant has difficulty using current bathing facilities	2
The applicant uses a wheelchair indoors and their current accommodation either prevents or makes use of this difficult	3
Applicant has stairs in or leading to their home and can manage them: with difficulty only with help	2 5
Applicant has stairs separating toilet/living room; or toilet/bedroom	2
Applicant is responsible for garden maintenance but is unable to carry this out themselves	2
(Maximum of 25 points in this section)

Housing Support Needs	Points	Enhanced Points
Safety & Security	30	15
Care of House	30	15
Managing Money	30	15
Daily Living	30	15
Getting Out & About	30	15
Socialising	30	15
General Welfare & Communication	30	15

Total available housing needs points	140
Total Available core housing needs points	210
Total available enhanced housing support needs points	105
Total available points	455

Assessment Process

Once your form has been received, you will receive a letter. The letter will advise you of your points total and confirm that you have been placed on the appropriate waiting list.

Sometimes you may be asked to provide further information, before your points total can be calculated.

Offers

An offer will usually be made when you have the greatest number of points for the size and type of property in your chosen areas, and a suitable property becomes available.

Prior to any offer of accommodation you will receive a home visit by a member of the association staff to verify your points total.

There is no limit to the number of offers made.

However, if you refuse three offers you will be counselled by staff to make sure that, if possible, you are offered a property which meets your particular requirements.

Council Nominations

South Ayrshire Council can nominate applicants from their own waiting lists for every second Trust vacancy which arises (or 50% of vacancies in the case of new developments).

However, the final decision on who the property is allocated to rests with Trust Housing Association Ltd.

Therefore, when applying to Trust you should also apply to the council for sheltered, amenity or mainstream housing to increase your chances of being re-housed.

Very Sheltered Housing

When a vacancy arises, applicants for Very Sheltered housing are assessed by the Social Work Department and Trust, therefore, a waiting list for Very Sheltered Housing is not kept.

For further information on the Very Sheltered complex in Girvan, contact 01465 715694.

Location & Type of stock

Trust’s South Ayrshire stock is detailed in the table below :-

Location	Quantity	Type
Dallas Place, Troon	2 x 2 apt (1 person) 18 x 2 apt (2 person)	Amenity
Muirhead, Troon	13 x 2 apt (2 person) 6 x 3apt (3 person) 1 x 3apt (4 person) 1 x 4apt (5 person)	Amenity, Mainstream & Shared Ownership
Mill Street, Ayr	14 x 1apt (1 person) 4 x 2apt (1 person) 13 x 2apt (2 person)	Sheltered
Old Street, Girvan	18 x 2apt (1 person) 8 x 2apt ( 2 person) 2 x 3apt (2 person) 3 x 3apt (3 person)	Sheltered & Very Sheltered

Landlord Services
Trust Association rents are charged monthly and vary between different developments according to; apartment sizes, support levels, service costs etc. Trust will not normally change the rent or landlord service charge more than once every 12 months. *All charges are reviewed annually from 1st April.

Examples of some rents (as at April 2005) are illustrated below

Dallas Place, Troon, 2 Apartment (2 person) Amenity Property = £206.33 (rent) + £67.58 (landlord services) TOTAL CHARGE :- £273.91

Central Avenue, Muirhead, Troon, 3 Apartment (3 person) Amenity Property = £228.11 (rent) + £17.50 (landlord services) TOTAL CHARGE :- £245.36

Mill Street, Ayr. 1 Apartment (1 Person ) Sheltered Property = £172.91 (rent) + £113.08 (landlord services) + £28.25 (heating) TOTAL CHARGE:- £328.41

Old Street, Girvan, 2 apartment (1 person) Very Sheltered Property = £191.78 (rent) + £261.08 (landlord services) + £28.25 (heating)+ £161.67 (food) TOTAL CHARGE:-£ 642.78

Core Housing Support Services. The Local Authority (LA) will be responsible for the provision of Housing Support Services. The level of Housing Support services will require to be agreed between the tenant and the LA. The LA may contract Trust association to provide these services on the LA’s behalf. The Council will make a charge for these services in accordance with their charging policy. Tenants may be exempt from housing support service charges if in receipt of housing benefit.

Transfers
A tenant of Trust Association who wishes to move to another house, of the size he/she requires, within the same development, will normally be accorded priority over other applicants.

However, a tenant who wishes to transfer to another development will be considered in the normal way along with other applicants.

Mutual Exchanges
A Trust tenant who wishes to exchange properties with another Trust tenant or a tenant of another housing association or R.S.L will be sympathetically considered on applications being made by both tenants(where appropriate to both landlords).

Shared Ownership
Trust has 2 shared ownership properties at West Crescent, Muirhead, Troon.

Further details on Shared Ownership Housing are provided in the Shared Ownership Section of the Housing Options Guide. Contact the association for further details on how to apply for shared ownership housing.

IMPORTANT

The association is currently reviewing it’s allocations policy, all details contained is this guide are correct at time of going to press, but are subject tochange. All other details contained in this guide are correct at time of publication but are also subject to change.

Housing Options Guide

Trust Housing Association Ltd Background

Trust Housing Association Ltd

Background