Dundee Revised House Letting Policy - Have Your Say During the Public Consultation

This is your chance to have an influence in the review of Dundee’s Common Allocation Policy. This Policy will be used by Dundee City Council and Housing Associations in the City who may decide to join a Common Housing Register. The policy will be used to decide who receives the offer of a house based on their housing needs.

The aim of the consultation is to ensure that the policy accurately reflects the housing issues facing people in the City. We are therefore looking to seek the views of both individuals and organisations on the content of this draft policy.

Please read through the draft policy and then complete the online survey to respond to the questions posed in the draft along with any other observations you may have.

If you have any queries or need further information, please contact Brian Shaw, Tel: 01382 307415.

The closing date for this consultation is 16th September 2013.

Visit to NE England Regional Viewpoint Team

A Tenant Led Inspection Group in Falkirk

On Wednesday I spent the day with tenants of Home Group from the North East of England meeting in Durham. These tenants are involved in the North East Regional Viewpoint Team who have been reviewing the policy and practice of Home Group, in their areas, on void properties; properties that have been vacated, abandoned and repossessed and are empty until relet. This viewpoint team perform similar functions to the tenants of the City Council here in Dundee who have recently been involved in undertaking tenant led inspections of the housing service. 

It was enjoyable and informative visit which was connected to my role as Chairperson of the Dundee Area Committee of Home Scotland. Home Scotland are part of Home Group and are a registered housing association who own and manage 1600 homes in Dundee. Home Scotland are currently considering the best range of ways to involve tenants. This visit will help inform planning for the future on the Dundee Area Committee of Home Scotland. It will also help inform my contributions as a member of the Housing Committee of the City Council. 

For those who are worried about who might be financing this activity, my train fare to Durham was arranged by Home Scotland so there will be no drain on the council tax payers in Dundee.

Home Scotland & Sanctuary Housing Associations to Benefit from new Lending Facility from the Euopean Investment Bank

According to Scottish Government sources, eight Scottish housing associations, will have access to an additional £70 million lending facility offered by the European Investment Bank through the Housing Finance Corporation. This is an alternative private lending source helping to support new affordable home developments and jobs in the house building sector. Of the eight associations, two, Home Scotland and Sanctuary are currently active in Dundee.
Councillor Laurie Bidwell said:
"I hope that some of this additional investment will come to Dundee providing a boost to building affordable homes and through this creating and sustaining skilled jobs in the construction industry."