New build mid-market rent properties available in Carnoustie

Sanctuary Housing Association has new build mid-market rent homes available at their site in Carnoustie.

Mid-Market rental properties have an affordable rent which is typically lower than a private rental but higher than rents for a council or housing association property.

To be eligible for these properties, applicants should be aged 16 years and above and have a minimum income of £20,000.

The allocation policy allows those applying through Mid-Market Rent to have one additional bedroom above their current housing need.

The properties are due for handover in May 23. If you are interested, or know someone who would be, then information on the properties and how to apply can be found on the Sanctuary Scotland website.

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Angus Homefinder login issue is now resolved

Our system problem has now been fixed.

Thank you for your patience during the outage.

Angus Homefinder system issue

We are aware that several applicants are experiencing difficulty with the Angus Homefinder system when trying to log in. We have escalated this to the developers and will update when the issue is resolved.

If your enquiry is not urgent then please do not contact the ACCESSline, please wait to log in once the issue has been resolved.

If your enquiry is urgent please contact ACCESSline in the normal way.

We will post updates when they are available

Helping landlords prepare for updated repairing standards

The Scottish Government has published new Statutory Guidance for Landlords on the Repairing Standard. Landlords will have one year to prepare for these requirements which come into force on 1 March 2024.

From 1 March next year all private rented properties in Scotland will need to have central heating, a kitchen with adequate space and facilities to prepare and store food.

The guidance brings together both existing and new duties included in the Repairing Standard with which private landlords will be required to comply from 1 March next year.

New duties cover kitchens, heating systems, common parts, and fuel supplies.

The revised Repairing Standard will include a requirement to have safely accessible food storage and food preparation space in private rented houses. Scottish landlords will also be required to provide a fixed heating system in their properties.

The guidance also covers the action landlords must already take to prevent damp and mould.

Housing Secretary Shona Robison said:

“Landlords have one year to meet our updated Repairing Standard, which will improve the condition of private rented property, make homes safer and ensure consistency between the social and private rented sectors.

“The majority of private landlords will already be meeting these standards. The guidance published today will help landlords better understand their responsibilities and ensure those who do need to carry out works can do so in advance of the 1 March 2024 deadline.

“All rented homes are required to meet standards that ensure they are free from damp and mould, and this guidance will help us to ensure this happens in the private rented sector.”

View the Scottish Government Repairing Standard Guidance 

Council House Repairs – Now Back to Normal

Our system problem has been fixed, so Council tenants can report repairs as normal. Thank you for your patience during the outage.

Council House Repairs – Major System Outage

We currently have a problem with our computer system where we record repairs. At the moment, ACCESSLine can only take Emergency repairs and tenants are asked to call back to report any other repairs when our system is up and running.

Everyone involved is working as hard as they can to fix this issue and we will post here as soon as the issue is resolved.

Thank you for your patience.

Looking for Work? Job Fair Tomorrow

The Department for Work and Pensions is holding a Job Fair in Arbroath tomorrow.

Where?: Old and Abbey Parish Church, West Abbey Street, Arbroath DD11 1EQ

When?: Tuesday 14 March 2023

What time?: 10 am – 1 pm

For more information email DWP

Choice-Based Lettings – House Size – Number of Bedrooms

Here’s the latest in our series of guidance posts about Choice-Based Lettings:

When we register your application you will only be able to bid on properties that match the number of bedrooms for which you are eligible. This helps us make the best use of the stock that becomes available.

We will work out the number of bedrooms that you need based on who will be living permanently with you. Generally, single people, couples and non-dependants are each entitled to a bedroom. However, we will allow single person households and couples to bid on properties with two bedrooms, subject to affordability checks.

We will apply Department for Work and Pension rules to assess the number of bedrooms allowed for children – considering how old they are and their sex. The bedroom entitlement rules assume that:
• Two children aged 0-9 can share a bedroom whatever their sex
• Two children aged 0-15 can share a bedroom if they are the same sex
• Children aged 16+ are counted as needing their own bedroom

We will make common sense exceptions to these rules, depending on individual circumstances. For example:
• Where we have very limited stock and turnover of the house sizes you qualify for and you request a house size smaller than you would normally qualify for
• you require an additional bedroom on medical grounds
• if you provide foster care, or have been preapproved to provide foster care or to adopt children we will provide one additional bedroom per child

We will count an unborn child or children as part of your household if you can provide us with proof of your pregnancy.

Where parents have shared care of their child or children, the parent who provides their main home and has responsibility for them will receive their room allocation. If a child or children spend equal amounts of time in different households, or there is question as to where they normally live, they will be treated as living with the person who is receiving child benefit for them.

For a property with two bedrooms, we will consider families with children who need two bedrooms before we consider single people or couples, regardless of priority banding.

For single people and couples, if you have a history of rent arrears or we think you might not manage to meet your housing costs we will restrict the size of properties you can bid for or can be matched to a maximum of one bedroom.

Council house and garage rent update letters are out!

If you are an Angus Council tenant (including garages and garage sites), you should have received your annual rent update letter for 2023/24 by now.

If you haven’t received your rent notification, please let us know by emailing HousingQPP@angus.gov.uk or call us on ACCESSLine 03452 777 778.

Choice-Based Lettings – Assessing Multiple Needs & Exceptional Circumstances

Here’s the latest in our series of guidance posts on Choice-Based Lettings:

Assessing Multiple Needs

By “Multiple Needs”, we mean you need housing for a number of different reasons, for example, you are homeless and also need an adapted property.

If you have multiple housing needs, your application will be awarded the highest priority banding for which you qualify. For example, if you are assessed as homeless and have a requirement for a house with adaptations, your application will be awarded a Gold priority banding.

Other Exceptional Circumstances

We know our allocation policy cannot cover everyone’s circumstances and all situations. The Service Manager, Housing (Angus Council) or the Director of Housing, or equivalent, of Hillcrest Homes, Blackwood Homes or Caledonia Housing Association have special powers to use ‘discretion’ where you need to move urgently.

We will only use discretion and award an “outright” priority banding awarded where:
• we decide you need to be rehoused quickly
• our allocation policy won’t give you a high priority
• there are good reasons or special circumstances’ including: significant compassionate grounds: This could include the death of a family member occurring in, or around, the house. In these circumstances, it may be very difficult for the remaining family to remain in the house. We would also consider requests for rehousing from the terminally ill living outside Angus who wish to return to Angus to be closer to their family; management reasons: such as where we need to carry out substantial works to your home and we need to move you out; community safety issues: such as witness protection measures or to ensure the safety of victims of domestic abuse, assisting them to make a planned move and prevent homelessness
• to ensure just in time allocations to prevent homelessness, in line with the objectives of Rapid Rehousing

If the Service Manager, Housing (Angus Council) or the Director (or equivalent) of Hillcrest Homes, Blackwood Homes and Caledonia Housing Association agree to use their discretion, you will be awarded a Platinum priority banding and may be matched to a property if we need to offer you housing quickly and a suitable property becomes available. We will let you know if you are eligible to bid or will be matched to suitable properties.

You or someone such as an advice worker can make an application for discretion through the Common Housing Register team or our Housing Managers can make a discretionary application. A discretionary application may be subject to a housing options and needs assessment.