FOI Request - Social Housing and Waiting Times

Request 101003106963

1)  In 2015/16 and 2020/21, the average length of time a household spent waiting to be moved into permanent social housing.

2)  In 2015/16 and 2020/21, the average length of time a household/person spent living in temporary accommodation. (Typically, are these individuals subsequently moved into permanent social housing once they leave TA?)

3)  As of 4 July 2022, a breakdown of how many people in each of your housing need/priority bands are waiting to be moved into permanent housing. (Can you please include the average waiting time for the different housing need/priority bands, as well as the longest wait people are experiencing in each group?)

4)  As of 4 July 2022, the number of people in your council area currently living in temporary accommodation who are:

o  Children; victims of domestic abuse; medically unwell and require appropriate housing to suit their needs; suffering from a mental illness; victims of violence and/or gang-related/physical threats.

Response 21-07-2022

1)  At the end of the reporting year, the average length of time for households on the waiting list was 2.3 years and 2.4 years respectively.  

It is important to note that some applications will not be at an offerable status.  In addition, with the exception of homeless households who are normally rehoused in date order, we operate a needs based allocations policy.  The total number of points on the application determines the position on the housing list at any given time and we do not award any points associated with length of time spent on the list.  An applicant’s circumstances may worsen or improve during the life of their housing application and this means their total number of points may be reassessed and their position can change frequently.  Our allocations policy is available at www.moray.gov.uk/downloads/file125428.pdf

2)  

Exempt – Section 25 Information Otherwise Accessible and Available.
2015/16 data was published by the Scottish Housing Regulator as part of our Annual Return on the Charter.  This is available at www.housingregulator.gov.scot/landlord-performance/statistical-information and “Charter Data All Social Landlords Complete Dataset All Available Years” See indicator 25.1 - ‘Days households spent in temporary or emergency accommodation – all types.’
Following a review of the Annual Return of the Charter, this indicator was removed but it is still available from the Scottish Government as part of the HL3 Return which is available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/homelessness-scotland-2020-2021/documents/  Refer to main tables excel file and Table 36.

(Typically, are these individuals subsequently moved into permanent social housing once they leave TA?)
There are various outcomes following the end of a temporary accommodation placement including a permanent tenancy.  In 2021/22, we housed 264 homeless households in permanent tenancies in our own housing stock but not all of these will necessarily have occupied temporary accommodation.  Examples of termination reasons include:
• Household returns to family home
• Household is housed by another social landlord i.e. RSL/housing association
• Household moves to private accommodation
• Household leaves the area/loses contact
• Households may move into Prison/Womens Refuge/Tied Accommodation

We are unable to provide data relating to 4 July 2022 as our housing list report cannot be run retrospectively.  We have instead provided the position as at 7 July 2022.  
.

Rehousing List            No. Applications             Average of Wait Time (years)          Longest Wait Time (years)
Homeless List                  93                                              0.78                                               9.71
Transfer List                    625                                            2.16                                               25.10
Waiting List                     2862                                          2.63                                               47.01
Grand Total                     3580                                          2.50                                               47.01

As stated in our response to Q1 - It is important to note that some applications are not at an offerable status.  In addition, with the exception of homeless households who are normally rehoused in date order, we operate a needs based allocations policy.  The total number of points on the application determines the position on the housing list at any given time and we do not award any points associated with length of time spent on the list.  An applicant’s circumstances may worsen or improve during the life of their housing application and this means their total number of points may be reassessed and their position can change frequently.  Our allocations policy is available at www.moray.gov.uk/downloads/file125428.pdf

4)  Number of children in temp accom – 36

Victims of domestic abuse – Moray Women’s Aid had 5 applicants occupying, some of these households contain children.

The following information is exempt under Section 17 – not held.  
Specific information about applicant’s circumstances are not recorded on the temporary accommodation placement within our system but more information on the specific reasons or circumstances of those making a homeless application are published by the Scottish Government through the HL1 dataset (this can be accessed in the same location as listed in Q2).
• Medically unwell
• Suffering from mental illness
• Victims of violence and/or gang-related or physical threats