Housing Allocations Policy update

Following a recent consultation process, councillors will be asked to approve a revised Housing Allocations Policy to bring the document fully up to date with national best practice standards.

Dundee City Council’s current Housing Allocations Policy was last reviewed in 2016 with several changes to legislation and guidance on how to allocate social rented housing occurring in the intervening period.

As part of the review, the council consulted widely with individuals, community groups, residents, tenant organisations, Registered Social Landlords, staff, and other key stakeholders on proposed changes to the policy.

The consultation focused on three proposed changes to the Housing Allocations Policy:

1.         Making a higher award of Social Needs points in response to cases of domestic abuse, racial abuse, and severe harassment (incidents involving violence, fire raising, vandalism and threatening behaviour);

2.         Introducing a two-offer rule for all applicants, including those presenting as homeless;

3.         Making use of application suspensions – Section 6 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 gives social landlords the power to suspend a housing application in certain circumstances.

Neighbourhood Services Committee Convener Heather Anderson said: “It’s important that the Housing Allocations Policy for the council and common housing register partners is updated so that it is aligned with current legislation and policies to allow for best practice throughout the city.

“We have worked with many different stakeholders, organisations and groups to make this policy as open, transparent, fair and easy to understand as it can be.

“Through the consultation process undertaken, we consulted with tenant bodies who represent a large number of tenants across Dundee and have their best interests at heart.

“By making the proposed changes to the policy, we can prioritise applicants with the most housing need as well as provide more support and advice directly to applicants who may need it.

“The adoption of a two-offer system will also help us to offer properties more quickly to more applicants in housing need.”

The proposed Housing Allocations Policy document can be viewed in full on the Dundee City Council website.

The Neighbourhood Services Committee meets on Monday 20^th February.

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