HOME Argyll Policy Changes

HOME Argyll Allocation Policy Updates

With effect from 1^st January, 2024

Earlier in 2023, the HOME Argyll partners proposed changes to the Allocations Policy and consulted applicants and stakeholders for their views on the proposed changes.

The consultation took place in April, 2023.

After a rigorous consultation process with applicants, stakeholders, HOME Argyll partners and their committees, both proposals were approved and will be implemented with effect from 1^st January, 2024.

Changes are as follows:

Offers to priority groups changing from two to one:

How does this affect me and what if I am already on the housing waiting list with maximum points?

The changes will take effect from 1^st January, 2024 and all applicants with maximum points have been advised by letter or email of the changes.

All applicants that currently have 200 points, recognising an urgent need to move, whether they have received one offer or not, will now only receive one further offer.

• Example 1 – Applicant is an existing priority applicant prior to 1^st January, 2024 and has received one offer of housing already. This applicant would still receive one further offer.
• Example 2 – Applicant is an existing priority applicant prior to 1^st January, 2024 and has NOT been made any offers of housing. This applicant would receive one offer of housing.
• Example 3 – Applicant receives priority points after 1^st January, 2024. This applicant will receive one offer of housing.

Our policy has been developed to give priority to those in the greatest housing need. All applications will be assessed and given priority in accordance with the policy.

The system that will be used by the HOMEArgyll partners to assess and prioritise applications is outlined in the policy and remains the same. Only the volume of offers will change.

Flexibility with bedrooms size for pressure areas.

The proposed wording for the flexible allocations will sit in the Types and Size of Housing category of the current policy per the wording below:

“Where a Particular Pressure is identified in the Housing Market - if the HOMEArgyll partners identify a particular pressure in the housing market the policy will address this by creating flexibility in the allocations process to assist to alleviate the identified pressure. This will only apply if the identified pressure in the housing market affects households with the maximum 200-point award under the policy.”

How does this affect me and what if I am already on the housing waiting list with maximum points?

Any changes proposed and accepted will take effect from 1^st January, 2024.

If you currently have 200 priority points for homelessness, your local Homeless Officer may be in touch with you regarding your application.

If you currently have 200 priority points for any other category and an area of high pressure be identified where you have indicated you wish to live you may be considered for a larger property. Should this be the case one of the HOMEArgyll partners will make contact with you.

Prior to any offer of a larger property, we would encourage you to consider additional costs that may be associated by doing so such as household bills and benefit claims.

Please note: This policy change will impact small numbers of applicants only within high priority areas. The flexibility of the policy is to alleviate lengthy waiting times in high pressure areas currently and so, will only impact limited numbers of applications as and when high pressure areas are identified.

Yours sincerely,

HOME Argyll Partners