Neighbourhood Services

HOUSING

The East Ayrshire Allocation Policy

Our Allocation Policy was updated in September 2006. Our policy aims to:

• promote fair and equal access
• give priority to people in need
• contribute to the prevention of homelessness
• make best use of housing stock
• help sustain communities

Who can apply?

Anyone who wishes to live in East Ayrshire. You must be 16 years of age and over.

CONDITIONS OF APPLICATION

When your application form is received a number of checks will be made.

DEFERRED (SUSPENDED) APPLICATION

Your housing application may be suspended in the following circumstances:-

• You have current rent arrears of more than 4 weeks and have not made an arrangment to pay
• You have a former tenant arrear or tenant to pay account relating to a tenancy and have not made an arrangement to pay or have not adhered to an agreed arrangement for 3 months or more
• You or someone in your household is the subject of an Antisocial Behaviour Order or there is clear evidence of antisocial behaviour relating to a tenancy
• You are an *EEA, A8 or A2 national and in certain circumstances are not eligible for housing
• You have requested your application be deferred until you are ready for housing
• You are in the armed forces and not able to occupy a tenancy as your principal home, in these circumstances we will make your application form active 3 months prior to you leaving the service
• Your tenancy is tied to your job and you would not occupy any tenancy as your principal home. In these circumstances we will make your application form active 3 months prior to you leaving your employment
• You have worsened your housing circumstances by giving up secure accommodation without good reason in the last 12 months
• You have refused 2 offers of suitable housing within a 6 month period
• If we have been unable to contact you and we have initiated the "lost contact process"
• You have a sub tenant who has an application form registered for housing
• You have given false information on your housing application
• You have submitted a Right to Buy Application for your existing property

*EEA Nationals (European Economic Area) = Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, Switzerland is also included within this group of nationals.

A8 = Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovak Republic and Slovenia.

A2 = Bulgaria and Romania

CANCELLED APPLICATION

Your housing application will only be cancelled in the following circumstances:-

• At your request
• If you die
• If we lose contact with you (only after the 21 day letter process has been completed and you have failed to respond)
• You have been re-housed through the Council's Waiting List or via a Nomination Agreement to a Registered Social Landlord
• You did not respond to annual review of your housing application
• You are subject to Immigration Control and you are not entitled to public funds

If your application has been cancelled because we have been unable to contact you it may be re-instated if you can provide good reason why you failed to respond within the timescale.

WHAT SIZE OF HOUSE CAN I APPLY FOR?

In certain circumstances, it may be possible to vary the size of house applicants can have. Enquiries should be made to your local housing office for details.

GROUPS

The policy is a "groups plus points" policy. It divides applicants into groups and gives different points to different groups.

The policy focuses on housing need and places applicants into one of six groups:

SELECTION OF APPLICANTS

Houses will be let on an agreed quota basis to applicants on these groups. The quotas are based on historic letting patterns and the following quota levels, for each category will apply:

The quotas will be subject to an annual review.

POINTS – TRANSFER

The following points will be awarded to applicants on the Transfer group:

In exceptional circumstances, additional points may be awarded at the discretion of the Head of Housing.

POINTS – HOUSEHOLDERS

The following points will be awarded to applicants on the Householder group:

In exceptional circumstances, additional points may be awarded at the discretion of the Head of Housing.

POINTS – NON-HOUSEHOLDERS

The following points will be awarded to applicants in the Non-Householder group:

In exceptional circumstances, additional points may be awarded at the discretion of the Head of Housing. 

MEDICAL

Applicants to the MEDICAL group will be assessed by the Health Board and accorded priority within a points system. Those awarded zero points will not be admitted to the group.

If the assessment recommends a specific house type, you will normally only be considered for this type of property.

There are no other points awarded for those on the MEDICAL group. Applicants who have been accorded a low medical points award should seek advice from Allocations staff. Where more than one applicant has the same number of points, allocations will be to the applicant with the earlier date of medical award. You have the right to choose to be on the medical group or another group for which you qualify.

SUPPORTED ACCOMODATION

All applicants requesting Supported Accomodation will be assessed for suitability for this type of accommodation.

The assessment will also be used to identify any community care needs applicants may have so that those who are housed receive appropriate support services.

PERMANENTLY ADAPTED PROPERTIES

These properties will be identified as a specific property type and will include those purpose built for the disabled as well as those which have been significantly adapted. Persons who have indicated the requirement for an adapted property will be cross-checked against requests for adaptations assessed by Occupational Therapists. Where appropriate, referral for assessment will be made in order that the specific requirements of individuals may be established.

Due to the limited availability of resources to carry out adaptations it is considered good practice that, wherever possible, persons requiring adapted properties are directed to vacancies already suitably equipped to meet their needs should they become available. The Council will not normally remove any fixed adaptations within a house.

DESIGNATED BLOCKS OR GROUPS OF ACCOMMODATION

The council may, on occasion designate particular blocks for a specific client group such as housing for the elderly, single persons or those in need of identified housing support.

SUCCESSION TO TENANCY

On the death of a tenant, the tenancy may be transferred to a family member, if they have lived with the tenant as part of the household for at least 6 months prior to the death of a tenant, and that the house applied for has been their principal home for the duration of that period.

Enquiries should be made to your local housing office.

TRANSFER OF TENANCY

Approval may be given to transfer the tenancy from one household member to another, in certain circumstances.

Enquiries should be made to your local housing office.

MUTUAL EXCHANGES

Council tenants may apply to mutually exchange with other tenants, either Council or Housing Association. Approval will be subject to satisfactory tenancy references.

Permission for a mutual exchange will not be granted if either party will worsen their housing conditions as a result of the exchange. East Ayrshire Council operates a Mutual Exchange Forum for their tenants and tenants of other Social Rented Landlords within East Ayrshire. The forum is designed to assist tenants in finding a suitable party to exchange with.

Enquiries should be made to your local housing office

PENALTIES

Any applicant who deliberately worsens his housing conditions, without reasons satisfactory to the Head of Housing will not be considered for rehousing for 1 year dating from the date upon which the previous tenancy or occupation was terminated.

In the event of an applicant refusing two offers of suitable accommodation within a period of six months their application may be deferred for 1 year, unless the Head of Housing determines that extenuating circumstances prevail. The penalty will commence from the date of the refusal of the second offer.

If an applicant fails to respond to the offer of tenancy within three working days, the property may be re-offered to the next applicant on the appropriate list. A failure to contact without good reason will be counted as a refusal.

Applicants who have been awarded management discretion points due to a closing or demolition order may lose the management discretion points if they unreasonably refuse one offer of accommodation.

Applicants awarded Critical Medical priority who unreasonably refuse two offers of suitable accommodation suitable to their medical needs in an area of their choice will forfeit their critical medical status and be transferred to the waiting list appropriate to their circumstances, this will be done in consultation with the Housing Medical Advisor,

The imposition of any of the above mentioned penalties, shall only be made on the basis of sound, well-grounded and well-documented reasons, which are reasonable and proportional in the circumstances. Furthermore these will be applied consistently and in a manner which treats comparable applicants equally. An appeal against any decision made, in this connection, can be made through the appeal procedure.

APPEALS PROCEDURE

Applicants have a right of appeal about any aspect of the Allocation Policy which they feel has been wrongly interpreted or has been wrongly applied to them.

The initial appeal will be considered by the appropriate Area Housing Manager.

Applicants dissatisfied with the outcome of this initial appeal may appeal to the Head of Housing. Applicants have a further right to appeal to the Housing Appeals Sub-Committee.

At every stage of the appeal procedure the person or persons appointed to consider the appeal must be able to demonstrate in a fair and open manner that their decision was sound, well-grounded, well documented and was reasonable and proportional in all the circumstances.

Unsuccessful appellants will be provided with full written details as to why their appeal was refused and advice on how to proceed to the next stage of the appeal procedure.

Should applicants be dissatisfied with any aspect of the council's decision following this procedure they have a right to appeal to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman who may investigate their complaint.

You can view full details of Council's Allocations Policy by downloading the following document East Ayrshire Council Allocations Policy.

Local Housing Office details