Housing review up for approval

Councillors will discuss a review of the Common Allocations Policy (Cap) for social housing in Perth and Kinross today.

The existing Cap was introduced in 2016 and was developed in partnership between social landlords Perth and Kinross Council, Caledonia Housing Association and Hillcrest Housing Association.

In 2018 the Cap was reviewed to make sure it complies with new national housing and data protection legislation.

Members of the Housing and Communities Committee will be asked to approve the updated review today.

Perth and Kinross Council say the policy prioritises applicants on a waiting list according to their housing need, using a “group plus points” system – meaning people are placed into a group with points dependant on their housing need.

The council claim the aim of the system is to provide homes to people in the greatest need.

Peter Barrett, committee convener, said: “Our current Cap is working very well.

“Since it was introduced in 2016 we have increased the number of lets being made to people in the greatest housing need, cut the number of homeless people waiting for housing, reduced the number of people who present as repeat homeless cases and significantly improved our levels of tenancy sustainment.

“The changes proposed to the policy are tweaks rather than wholesale changes.”