Aberdeen City Council housing tenants are being consulted on pressured area designations in the city.

Under plans being considered by the council there could be a suspension in the right to buy for some tenants in an effort to safeguard the continued availability of social rented housing.

On 04 September 2007, the Scottish Government approved the designation of pressured area status to 35 letting areas in Aberdeen, implementing a five-year right to buy suspension. That suspension expires on 04 September this year [2012].

In the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010, the Scottish Government made a number of changes to the implementation of pressured area status. The Government's role in the designation of these areas was removed allowing local authorities to make, amend and revoke pressured area status, where it can be justified.

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Aberdeen City Council is now considering applying pressured area status to 50 letting areas of the city with a right to buy suspension of up to 10 years.

Letters have been sent to affected tenants advising of them on what is being considered and asking them to provide their views and fill out a short questionnaire. The return date for the questionnaire is Monday, 26 March.

The letters stress that no decision has been taken yet and any feedback from tenants will form part of the consultation process.

Aberdeen City Council Head of Housing and Community Safety Donald Urquhart said: "There is a real need to ensure that we maximise the use of our existing resources by ensuring that priority is given to those in the greatest housing need.

"We are making good progress with responding to people who are homeless but the demand for housing from homeless, new applicants and those who need or want a transfer remains very high.

"I would encourage tenants to take this opportunity to have their say on what is being considered. Their views will form a vital part of this process."

(GK)