Cloch Housing Association (Cloch), Oak Tree Housing Association (Oak Tree) and River Clyde Homes (RCH) have created a common housing register for available housing in the Inverclyde area. Cloch and Oak Tree have already merged their housing lists and RCH is likely to join the scheme within the next six months.

The new policy for letting houses is based on choice based lettings principles. This will be a major change for most applicants. To be considered for housing, people will need to be on the joint housing list. To apply for housing they need only complete a simple registration form and will receive an application reference.

Existing applicants will remain on the housing list, but their points may change. A points system similar to the one used at present will be operated. However, it is going to be simpler and have fewer points’ categories. Following the extensive tenant consultation applicants will now be awarded points for medical need; overcrowding; under occupation; lacking basic amenities; living in a property with a severe defect or due for demolition; homelessness or being threatened with homelessness and leaving tied or army accommodation.

Applicants will be given a detailed statement of their new points and details of their application in January 2012. Cloch and Oak Tree will be running extra applicant surgeries during January and February to cope with the demand from applicants to discuss their application and how the new system will work.

The first properties available to let by Cloch and Oak Tree will be advertised from January 17^th 2012.  These will be advertised in the Greenock Telegraph, in the associations’ offices and on their websites. Available properties will be sent each week to Inverclyde Council offices, community centres and a range of local groups including ICOD and Your Voice, for example.

River Clyde Homes is finalising its housing list review and will close its existing list to new applicants when it begins the process of transferring to the new joint list. At this point applicants for RCH homes should apply through the joint allocations scheme. It is hoped the process of joining together the three housing lists will be completed by June 2012. 

Nick Jardine of Oak Tree Housing Association said: “By working together, we intend to use our resources more efficiently to offer applicants a streamlined service. Applicants will have to make only one application and can deal with any of the landlords when updating their application.  We also want to ensure our new system will give people useful and accurate information about their chances of being rehoused and what they can do to give themselves the best chance of getting the home they need.”

Bidding for a property is easy and can be done by phone, text, website, email, or in person. Prospective tenants will need an application reference number and the property reference number so we know who you are and what you are bidding for.

Nick added: “Consideration will be given only to those who express an interest in a property, so people should check the adverts regularly. An offer is made to the person whose household best fits the property in terms of size and type, and who has the most points.  If a household has the same points as another, the date they applied for housing will decide who gets the offer.”

The results for each property will be published so applicants can see exactly how close they were to getting an offer.  This helps them decide which houses to bid for and gives them a very clear idea of what chance they have of getting what they want. They can avoid making bids when they are not in a position to take a house such as when they are going into hospital.

The joint housing list is open to all anyone over 16 years old who wishes to apply for housing in Inverclyde. Existing tenants or applicants of River Clyde Homes may apply to the new list at any time and can bid for the advertised properties. 

Further information can be found on the associations’ websites at:

Cloch: www.scottishhousingconnections.org.uk/HA/Cloch

Oak Tree: www.oaktreeha.org.uk

RCH: www.riverclydehomes.org.uk

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