1. The Community Impact of Allocation Policies
Understanding People – Unlocking Potential
The Community Impact of Allocation Policies
Alistair Reid Development Manager
TIS Housing & Community Engagement Staff Residential 2017
Thursday 23 – Friday 24 March 2017

2. Community Impact of Allocations Policies
What we will cover
Legal Framework for Allocations
Code of practice
Existing policies
Context
Group activity
What can landlords and communities do?
What is social housing for?

3. Community Impact of Allocations Policies
Legal framework
Stems from Housing Scotland Act 2014
Consultation and publication
Prioritising housing applicants
Weighting reasonable preference groups
Property ownership
Factors not to be considered
Also take into account provisions of housing charter

4. Community Impact of Allocations Policies
Code of practice
Some points to consider in relation to community impact from the Code of Practice
No role for elected members or management boards except to set policy and monitor progress against aims
Equalities Act 2010 – 9 protected characteristics
Wide range of communities ..defined by geography .. Defined by common or shared interests

5. Community Impact of Allocations Policies
Code of practice
Landlords must understand the demand in their area and avoid rigid quotas
Managing expectations of applicants, and maximising choice
Making best use of stock
Creating sustainable tenancies

6. Community Impact of Allocations Policies
Existing policies
‘transparent.. fair .. promote social inclusion .. recognise individual circumstances’
‘meet housing need fairly .. consistency .. respect diversity .. create communities where people want to live’
‘Achieve balanced communities .. prioritise those in need .. respond to local needs’
‘promote sustainable communities .. bringing choice .. balancing individual and community needs’

7. Community Impact of Allocations Policies
Context
Social landlords manage 584k homes
Social landlords let around 52k homes a year (reducing year on year)
603k people applied for social housing
Total of 1.3 million applicants on list as at March 16
35k homeless applications

8. Community Impact of Allocations Policies
Group activity
With colleagues at your table
Please discuss and agree based on the information available who you would allocate the available properties too
Please think about why you have decided to house these applicants
Feedback

9. Community Impact of Allocations Policies
Group activity – 2nd round
Think about the applicants who you did not decide to offer a property too
What housing options are available for them?
What could be the impact on their local community of this person(s) having to move?
What could be the impact on communities that the person(s) eventually move too?
Feedback

10. Community Impact of Allocations Policies
What can landlords and communities do?
Who are your potential tenants?
How can you engage with them about Allocations?
How do you involve the wider community in discussions?
How do we ensure tenants and potential tenants understand the pressures landlords face?
New build targets are positive, but are they achievable, and how much difference will they make?
How we ensure we consider the wider community impact of allocations?

11. Community Impact of Allocations Policies
What is social housing for?
And who?
How do we make it an attractive housing option
CIH poll in 2016 showed only 20% would consider social renting as an option
More popular as a housing option for those renting privately
Homeownership dropping – need and demand for social housing may increase
Consider what happens to people who aren’t allocated a social house