It has been announced the allocations policy for three of the biggest social landlords in Perth and Kinross is to be updated.

The Common Housing Register (CHR) is operated by a partnership of Caledonia HA, Hillcrest HA and Perth & Kinross the council.

Overall, the three organisations manage a housing stock of over 10,000 'affordable' homes.

By operating a CHR, there is a single point of access for housing applicants regardless of the organisation they approach for assistance.

The Common Allocation Policy (CAP) supports the CHR. It ensures that partners meet all legal and regulatory requirements around the allocation of housing.

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A number of national and local changes have been made since 2010 which impact the current CAP.

These include the Housing Scotland Act (2014), the requirements of the Scottish Social Housing Charter, the impact of Welfare Reform and also changes in local priorities and demands.

In response to the changes, the council, Caledonia and Hillcrest are in the process of revising and updating the CAP for Perth and Kinross.

The benefits of a revised policy enables the landlords to:

• Be compliant with legislation and good practice.

• Award more points to preference groups.

• Have greater flexibility in allocating 2-bedroom housing.

• Look to reduce the length of time homeless applicants wait for permanent housing.

• Target those in urgent need of housing in a fairer and more consistent way whilst preventing them from applying as homeless.

• Respond in a better way to the housing needs of our own tenants.

The council's Housing and Health Committee along with the Management Boards of both Caledonia and Hillcrest will review the draft policy early for approval early in 2016.

(LM/CD)