Introduction
The role of Housing Allocations is to manage access to social housing and the transfer of existing tenancies within the Council's ownership. We also manage void properties to minimise the amount of time they are vacant.
This involves administration of the housing waiting list in line with legislation and the prioritisation for housing as set out in the Council's Allocation Policy.
Aspects of the policy have previously been amended to comply with the Housing Scotland Act 2001, and the policy was last fully reviewed and amended in February 2006.
The Main Aims of Our Policy
- To provide an efficient, effective and economic allocations service to all applicants
- To ensure that affordable housing is available to all those who need it
- To ensure that the highest priority for housing is given to those in greatest need
- To ensure that the needs of homeless applicants are met as quickly as possible
- To make the best use of all our housing stock by continually reviewing our waiting lists and the number of houses becoming vacant
- To minimise rent loss and maximize performance in relation to vacant houses. Address issues of demand and supply i.e. low demand in some areas and low turnover in others, including the impact of Right to Buy sales
Service Delivery
The service is provided from our local Area Housing Offices. Although there are dedicated staff working on a geographical basis an applicant can complete a housing application form and be given information and advice at any Area Office location. In addition you can contact us by email, send your allocations enquiries to: allocations@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Standards
Area Offices work to the same guiding principles and procedures across the Authority. Therefore applicants should expect to receive the same standard of service irrespective of the location.
Satisfaction
The Council has carried out consultation at each Allocations Policy Review. However to ensure we continuously improve we need your feedback on the day-to-day service provision to gauge whether or not we are meeting your aspirations and the expected standard of service. We carry out satisfaction surveys at each of our area offices and collect your views when allocated a house and later when you move in. We have already collected very useful information about our service and made changes to improve it following this feedback.
Here are the survey results for the 2 month period from December 2007 to the end of January 2008.
Allocation Process Satisfaction Survey (216 KB .pdf document)
Post Allocation Satisfaction Survey (215 KB .pdf document)
Area Office Customer Satisfaction Survey (203 KB .pdf document)
Allocations Survey Trend Analysis (26 KB Word document)
Communication
We are continually trying to improve the information available to tenants and waiting list applicants. We have developed a Tenancy Services newsletter called the Housing Standard which will be issued quarterly and our first issue went out May 2008. The Housing Standard will be used to give specific information about current issues and services and to report our performance. Any suggestions on what you would like to see included in it can be made to Jane Mack on 01389 738222 or by e-mail to jane.mack@west-dunbarton.gov.uk.
Housing Standard – Issue 1 May 2008 (305 KB Microsoft Word Document)
For Your Informaton:
Housing Allocations & Voids Leaflet (606 KB .pdf document)
Housing Allocations Policy (419 KB .pdf document)
Housing Application Form (251 KB .pdf document)
Information on Housing Associations in West Dunbartonshire (14 KB .pdf document)
Void Re-let Standard (19 KB .pdf document)
Sheltered Housing Policy (281 KB .pdf document)
Housing Reference Policy (293 KB .pdf document)
Listed below is our Housing Stock (figures last updated April 2008). These figures show the total number of properties that the Council owns so includes tenanted properties. They can be used to inform your decision about what areas and house types you want to choose. Where there are very low numbers of properties, it generally means the demand for these will be greater and so the longer the waiting list. For some areas and house types vacancies seldom occur.
Alexandria Housing Stock Information (11 KB .pdf document)
Clydebank Housing Stock Information (15 KB .pdf document)
Dumbarton Housing Stock Information (13 KB .pdf document)
Please note that pets may be kept subject to certain conditions and written permission must be obtained. However, permission will not be granted for any dogs in multi-storey flats unless it is a hearing or guide dog.
Our allocation and advice staff will assist with completing an application form and give advice on maximizing housing options. Advice can be given by calling into any of our area offices or an appointment can be made for you.
Our local offices are at;
Clydebank Area Housing Office
Roseberry Place,
Clydebank,
G81 1TG
Telephone: (01389) 738531
Dumbarton Area Housing Office
24-30 College Way,
Dumbarton,
G82 1QS
Telephone: (01389) 608959
Alexandria Area Housing Office
15-17 Mitchell Way,
Alexandria,
G83 0LW
Telephone: (01389) 608925
Or you can email our allocations staff at allocations@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
To access information on other housing providers in West Dunbartonshire please go to Clyde Housing Connections.
To view houses advertised by Link Housing please go to the Homehunt web page.
