The Council's housing allocation policy and points system
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The Council decides the policy to be used in allocating properties and it is the responsibility of SIC Housing to implement this policy and allocate Council housing in Shetland.
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A points system is used to decide which applicant on its waiting list is in most housing need and should be offered the tenancy of any property that becomes vacant. The greater an applicant's housing need the greater the applicant's chance of being offered a Council house. It must be kept in mind that however near the top of the waiting list an applicant is at a particular moment in time, other applicants may subsequently be in greater housing need and therefore be housed prior to them.
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Each year the Council sets a target of the percentage of properties that are to be let to each category of applicant. This is to ensure that there is a balance of allocations to general needs (normal waiting list), transfer (to another house in a different area), homeless (nowhere to stay) or special case applicants. Please see the Allocation Policy leaflet link in the bottom right menu for further information on the targets.
The importance of providing full and up to date information
in the application form
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It is very important for applicants to provide accurate information when filling in the application form. If an applicant is not sure whether a piece of information about their circumstances is important then the Council's housing staff are happy to provide advice. It is better to include too much information on the application form than too little and risk housing need not being identified accurately. It is important for the form to reflect the applicant’s circumstances, some of which may be of a personal nature, but all applicants are assured of confidentiality.
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If applicants remember something they forgot to put on the form after they have submitted it, or if their circumstances change, they should let the Council's housing staff know in writing as soon as possible so that their application form can be amended and the points total adjusted accordingly.
What happens next, after the Council has got the application?
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The Council's housing staff go through the form carefully and then points are awarded through the computerised allocations system according to housing need. The points awarded by the Council for different categories of housing need are detailed in the Allocation Policy Leaflet.
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The applicant will then be sent a letter by the Council. This confirms the number of points allocated and the areas he/she has chosen. Please remember that positions can change from week to week, according to whether other applicants come onto or leave the waiting list or whether the circumstances of other applicants change.