Common Housing Register

  • The Scottish Executive awarded Shetland Islands Council funding of £10,000 per year for the period 2004-2006 to develop a Common Housing Register. This is being progressed through a shared housing application form between Shetland Islands Council and Hjaltland Housing Association. 
  • This means that those applying for housing will no longer have to fill out two application forms; however they can opt out of being housed by either SIC or Hjaltland if they wish. The money from the Scottish Executive will also be used to further develop the Housing Options Guide into an interactive housing information website for Shetland.  This new website will provide information on housing in Shetland across all tenure types.
  • Work on SIC and Hjaltland's shared application form has been taken forward by a working group made up of SIC and Hjaltland employees and a member of Shetland Tenants' Forum.

The benefits for applicants include:

  • a wider choice of landlords and property types for applicants
  • it creates a simpler, fairer and less time consuming way to apply for housing
  • It will provide a larger pool of applicants that should assist in the allocation process. For existing tenants looking to move, it will help promote mobility between SIC and Hjaltland
  • The working group has met regularly since April 2004 and there has been significant progress.  A new application feedback form is in use and the results from this feedback will be collated and analysed on a monthly basis. The valuable information that we get from applicants will be used to help us to improve the housing application process and, in turn, make things easier for applicants and housing staff.
  • The shared housing application form emphasises the advantages of joint working for housing agencies and applicants, and will create a more efficient housing application and advice system that will bring welcome benefits to Shetland’s communities.
  • The Application Pack is available to download from SIC and Hjaltland's Internet pages.  The redeveloped web version of the Housing Options Guide followed the launch of the shared housing application form and was completed in Spring 2006.