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Aberdeen City Council's Housing Service is poised to implement a new allocation policy following a major review over the past 18 months.
The review included a large consultation exercise with service users and, as a result of the views expressed by users, the council has developed a simpler, transparent and more user-friendly allocation policy.
The new policy is based on need and takes into account the supply and demand for council properties.
The council's Housing and Environment Committee approved the introduction of the new Allocations Policy when it convened in May [2011].
The implementation of the policy is still at an early stage but the council's Housing Service want to keep those who have applied for or who are considering applying for a council house informed of current developments and what will happen next.
The introduction of the new policy is a complex process and council officers have started work to achieve its planned implementation. Work under way includes identifying the necessary changes and enhancements to the housing computer system, staff recruitment, staff training and communication with service users and other stakeholders.
Aberdeen City Council's Housing and Environment Convener Councillor Aileen Malone said: "Changes to any council policy will naturally have an affect to some degree on some of our service users.We are not currently in a position to be able to identify any specific changes to an individual applicant's priority, however as the process develops we will provide information through our tenants magazine Newsbite, the council website and by direct mail to serve users."
It is important to note that those who are applying for housing now will have their application assessed under the criteria set out in the current policy. No changes will be made until the new policy is implemented in 2012. As part of the implementation all applicants will have their applications re-assessed under the new criteria. We will be contacting all our service users in due course with information on any change to their housing application priority. In the mean time please visit our dedicated website where you can read the new Allocations Policy.
(GK)
