Perth and Kinross Council, Caledonia Housing Association and Hillcrest Housing Association operate a Common Housing Register (CHR) to improve access to social housing and advice for Perth and Kinross residents. The three landlords manage more than 10,000 affordable homes and work in partnership to meet local housing need.

Having a CHR means there is a single point of access for people needing social housing, regardless of the organisation they approach for assistance. A Common Allocations Policy (CAP) underpins the register and makes sure the organisations meet all legal and regulatory requirements around the allocation of housing and that people with the greatest housing need have fair and efficient access to affordable housing.

Since 2010, there have been a number of national and local changes which have had an impact on the allocation of social housing: the Housing (Scotland) Act (2014), the requirements of the Scottish Social Housing Charter, the impact of welfare reform, as well as changes in local priorities and demands.

The three landlords have been keen to respond to these changes and as a result have revised and updated the housing allocations policy, taking effect from today.

The revised policy is designed to:

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

• 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, preventing them from applying as homeless

• Award more points to preference groups

• Have greater flexibility in allocating 2-bedroom housing

• Be compliant with legislation and good practice.