Fife Council will have a new housing allocations policy in place from next April backed by people power.

Members of the Housing and Communities Committee heard how more than 100 tenants had attended a series of autumn meetings to hear about the new policy which will allow the authority to make the best possible use of its housing stock. This follows the 3,800 who had given written views earlier in the year.

The Fife Partnership's 3,000 strong Peoples panel was also used to get opinions about the new policy - the first major change in the way the housing stock is managed and run.

Committee Chair Councillor Brian Goodall said: "I am sure the new policy will offer a better deal not only for our existing Council tenants but also for those on the Fife Housing Register who are waiting for a home.

"I'm delighted it has been so wholeheartedly endorsed. As a responsible social landlord it is vital that we have the support of our tenants as we continue to improve our service to them."

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Senior Manager for Housing Management and Homelessness John Mills said the most significant improvement related to the Council's transfer policy which will enable tenants to move to make the best use of the housing supply - for instance those who currently have large homes who wish to move to smaller properties.

A new tenants incentives scheme will be introduced to provide practical support with a transfer. The package worth up to £1,500 will pay towards removals and other items.

"Getting people to move within our housing supply will provide more vacancies to help get more people onto the Housing List or those who are statutorily homeless.

"We also want more people to apply for housing in local areas where they need to give or receive a wider range of family support will also be possible with the new changes.

"Equally, Fife Council will improve its procedures for vetting housing applications. A message must go out that providing false information to get a home will be dealt with severely up to and including possible legal action.

"The main emphasis for all the feedback we had during the consultation is both a high level of support for our plans - but especially the need to overall increase the amount of rented housing available - and make it clear that staff know how to implement the new policies," added John.

A further progress report will be brought back to committee in the Spring of 2009 before the new polices are implemented on April 1, 2009. This will be to finalise targets for the policy including those for new house allocations and transfers.

(GK/JM)