FOI Request - Vacant Council Properties

Request 101003604166

The main purpose of this request is to gather data on vacant council properties in the United Kingdom.

For clarification, this includes all forms of social housing in the ward of the council, including Housing Association.

Specifically, I am seeking information on the following:

1. Number of vacant homes:
a) The number of vacant council properties
b) The number of vacant Housing Association properties

2. Reasons for vacancy:
Breakdown of reasons why said social housing properties are vacant
[E.g. awaiting repairs, legal issues, not meeting the Decent Homes Standard, etc.]

3. Waiting list size:
a)  How many residents are currently on the waiting list for social housing

4. Waiting list length:
a) The average length of the waiting list for a council property
b)  The average length of the waiting list for a Housing Association property

Response 05-08-2024

1. a) As at 22/07/2024, there are 75 Vacant Moray Council properties.

b) Not held, please contact the relevant Housing Associations. This would include Grampian Housing Association, Osprey Housing, Langstane Housing Association, Cairn Housing, Hanover Scotland Housing Association, Castlehill Housing Association, ARK Housing Association. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.

2. 

 * - Moray Council is currently undertaking a major stock improvement programme which largely pertains to a vacant properties.
Further detail can be provided upon request.

3.a) As at 22 July 2024, there are 2747 general waiting list applications (5407 applicants) and 109 Homeless Applications (161 applicants) are in the waiting list for Social Housing. These are only the main applications. 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.a) As at 22 July 2024, the average length of the waiting list for a council property is 1.97 Years (Including Homeless Applicants). This figure is only the main applicants or the households in the general and Homeless waiting lists. 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.

b)  Not held, please contact the relevant Housing Associations. This would include Grampian Housing Association, Osprey Housing, Langstane Housing Association, Cairn Housing, Hanover Scotland Housing Association, Castlehill Housing Association, ARK Housing Association. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.