East Kilbride and Strathaven Local Letting Plan

2021/22 Contents

Section one

Introduction 1.1 What is a local letting plan? 1.2 Why do we need a local letting plan? Section two

Letting targets 2021/22 2.1 Housing list targets 2.2 HomeFinder partner targets Section three

Supply and demand analysis for general need properties 3.1 Council properties 3.2 Housing association properties 3.3 Turnover in council properties 3.4 Demand for housing 3.5 Applicant profile 3.6 Urgent housing need applicants Section four

Letting initiatives 4.1 South Lanarkshire letting initiative 4.2 East Kilbride and Strathaven local letting initiative Section five

Supply and demand analysis for properties designed for older people 5.1 Council and housing association sheltered properties 5.2 Turnover in council sheltered properties 5.3 Demand for council sheltered properties 5.4 Council owned amenity properties 5.5 Turnover in council owned amenity properties Section six

Housing options advice and information to applicants Section seven

Monitoring our performance

Contact details Section one - Introduction 1.1 What is a local letting plan?

Local letting plans are based on supply and demand analysis and take account of specific local needs and circumstances.

On an annual basis, each local area letting plan sets out:

• the target of general needs lets to each housing list

• the target of sheltered lets to each housing list

• any local letting initiatives

1.2 Why do we need a local letting plan?

The local letting plan provides an open and transparent framework for us to set out in advance how we intend to let houses to best meet the aims and objectives of our housing allocation policy.

Housing allocation policy aims and objectives: • be responsive to local needs, demands and aspirations to ensure the best use of available council housing stock

• make sure that those assessed as being in most housing need are prioritised

• achieve balanced and sustainable communities

In addition, the sheltered housing aspect of the policy aims to: • allocate sheltered housing to applicants who enjoy living independently but also need the reassurance and support provided by the sheltered housing service Section two - Letting targets 2021/22 2.1 Housing list targets

Taking into account earlier trends, we think we will have between 270 and 300 general needs properties, 40 to 50 sheltered properties and 50 to 60 amenity properties to let in the East Kilbride/Strathaven areas during 2021/22.

Based on our analysis of supply and demand, separate letting targets for general needs and sheltered properties have been set for 2021/22 against the four housing lists described within our housing allocation policy.

Housing list General Needs properties Sheltered properties (including amenity)

Urgent housing need list 60% - 65% 30% - 45%

Transfer list 20% - 30% 40% - 50%

Waiting list 5% - 15% 10% - 20%

Other categories 0% - 5% 0% - 5%

2.2 HomeFinder partner targets

In addition to targets set by the council, our HomeFinder partners also set a target of lets which they will work towards to help homeless households access a settled home. Section three - Supply and demand analysis for general needs properties

3.1 Council properties As at December 2020, there were 4619 general needs properties across 15 areas.

East Kilbride properties by size and area 0/1 0/1 bed 2 2 3 3 4+ 4+ Total Total Letting Areas bed % bed bed bed bed bed bed % % % % Calderwood 350 33% 538 50% 141 13% 43 4% 1072 100% East Mains 66 22% 140 46% 78 26% 18 6% 302 100% Greenhills 72 12% 165 27% 253 42% 115 19% 605 100% Murray 215 34% 283 44% 135 21% 9 1% 642 10% Newlandsmuir 0 0% 18 27% 42 64% 6 9% 66 100% St Leonards 175 33% 233 44% 97 19% 23 4% 528 100% West Mains 41 14% 149 53% 79 28% 15 5% 284 100% Westwood 178 31% 251 43% 127 22% 24 4% 580 100% Whitehills 18 8% 80 36% 106 48% 17 8% 221 100% Total 1115 26% 1857 43% 1058 25% 270 6% 4300 100%

Strathaven properties by size and area 0/1 0/1 bed 2 2 3 3 bed 4+ 4+ Total Total Letting Areas bed % bed bed bed % bed bed % % % Chapelton 8 41% 5 29% 4 24% 0 0% 17 100% Glassford 4 9% 28 61% 10 21% 4 9% 46 100% Locharmill 0 0% 0 0% 1 100% 0 0% 1 100% Sandford 0 0% 0 0% 5 100% 0 0% 5 100% Strathaven 36 14% 136 55% 71 29% 5 2% 248 100% Strutherhead 0 0% 0 0% 2 100% 0 0% 2 100% Total 48 15% 169 53% 93 29% 9 3% 319 100%

3.2 Housing association properties There are also 11 housing associations with a total of 1298 properties in the East Kilbride/Strathaven areas:

• Blackwood Homes • Link Housing Association • Cairn Housing Association • Loretto Housing Association • Clyde Valley Housing Association • Methodist Housing Association • East Kilbride Housing Association • Trust Housing Association • Hanover Housing • West of Scotland Housing Association • Key Housing Association 3.3 Turnover in council properties In any year, only a small proportion of properties become available to let.

From April 2020 to December 2020 we let a total of 205 general needs properties in East Kilbride and Strathaven.

East Kilbride turnover by size by area (April 2020 to December 2020) 0/1 0/1 2 2 bed 3 3 4+ 4+ Total Total Letting Areas bed bed bed % bed bed bed bed % % % % Calderwood 22 26% 39 46% 20 24% 3 4% 84 100% East Mains 3 30% 6 60% 1 10% 1 8% 10 100% Greenhills 1 6% 9 55% 5 31% 1 6% 16 100% Murray 15 60% 6 24% 3 12% 1 4% 25 100% Newlandsmuir 0 0% 1 100% 0 0% 0 0% 1 100% St Leonards 9 45% 8 40% 3 15% 0 0% 20 100% West Mains 5 50% 3 30% 2 20% 0 0% 10 100% Westwood 12 39% 11 36% 6 19% 2 6% 31 100% Whitehills 0 0% 0 0% 0 00% 0 0% 0 100% Total 67 34% 83 42% 40 20% 7 4% 197 100%

Strathaven turnover by size by area (April 2020 to December 2020) 0/1 bed 0/1 2 2 bed 3 3 4+ 4+ Total Total Letting Areas bed be % bed bed bed bed % % d % % Chapelton 1 100% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 1 100% Strathaven 2 29% 5 71% 1 8% 0 0% 7 100% Total 3 38% 5 63% 0 0% 0 0% 8 100%

Size of properties available The breakdown in size of council properties that became available for let from April 2020 to December 2020 was: • 34% (70) general needs properties were 1 bedroom • 43% (88) general needs properties were 2 bedrooms • 20% (40) general needs properties were 3 bedrooms • 3% (7) general needs properties of 4+ bedrooms Where are properties most likely to become available?

From April 2020 to December 2020, 78% of the general needs properties that became available for let were located in the following four areas:

• Calderwood ● Murray

• St Leonards ● Westwood

Where are properties least likely to become available?

From April 2020 to December 2020, 2 areas had 1 lets:

• Chapelton ● Newlandsmuir 3.4 Demand for housing

As at December 2020, there were 3588 applicants looking for housing in the East Kilbride and Strathaven area.

Housing applications by list category and size of property as at December 2020 4+ Application 0/1 0/1 2 bed 3 3 bed 4+ bed Total Category bed bed % 2 bed % bed % bed % Total % Urgent housing need 33 13% 184 72% 35 14% 4 2% 256 100% Transfer 94 19% 277 55% 93 19% 36 7% 500 100% Waiting 894 32% 1468 53% 348 12% 88 3% 2798 100% Other category 8 23% 24 71% 1 3% 1 3% 34 100% Total 1029 29% 1953 54% 477 13% 129 4% 3588 100%

3.5 Applicant profile • 50% were single people • 25% were lone parents • 83% of all applicants require 1 or 2 bedroom properties

3.6 Urgent housing need applicants

Applicants on our HomeFinder housing register have a range of housing needs. Some have been assessed as having an urgent need for housing, for example applicants who are homeless and to whom the council has a legal duty to provide settled accommodation.

Last year 294 applicants were assessed as homeless or potentially homeless. As a result of the implementation of a person centered approach to housing options, leading to the prevention of homelessness, we expect this figure to remain broadly the same during 2021/22. Section four - Letting initiatives Letting initiatives set out where any variation to the housing allocation policy is needed to take account of and address particular needs and circumstances.

4.1 South Lanarkshire letting initiative During 2021/22, there is a letting initiative in operation across all areas of South Lanarkshire, the aim of which is to help mitigate the impact of welfare reform on tenants affected by the under occupancy provisions of the Welfare Reform Act 2012. Details of the initiative are provided in the table below.

Details of letting initiative Area Covered Property types/sizes

To help mitigate the impact of welfare reform, All areas of All property priority is awarded to:- East Kilbride types and sizes • working age council tenants who, as at 31 March 2013, were under occupying their property in terms of the DWP under occupancy criteria

• tenants living in a one bedroom property who are willing to move to a larger property, provided that they meet the required criteria

4.2 East Kilbride and Strathaven local letting initiative

Local letting initiatives allow us to tackle a variety of issues within a specific area, including: • demand for different types of properties • estate management issues • maintaining stable communities • high levels of need from certain groups of applicants

During 2021/22, there are no local letting initiatives in operation within the East Kilbride and Strathaven area.

Section five - Supply and demand analysis for properties designed for older people 5.1 Council and housing association sheltered properties

There are a number of sheltered housing developments within the East Kilbride and Strathaven area. The table below details the developments that exist and the number of properties contained within each. East Kilbride and Strathaven sheltered properties as at December 2020 1 2/3 Letting Very Total Landlord Development Sheltered Bed Bed area sheltered properties South Lanarkshire Council Calderwood Wingate Park No Yes 39 0 39 South Lanarkshire Bosfield Council East Mains Place No Yes 31 3 34 South Lanarkshire Council East Mains Ladybank No Yes 30 0 30 South Lanarkshire Wellbeck Council East Mains House No Yes 14 0 14 South Lanarkshire Castlefield Council Greenhills Gardens No Yes 34 2 36 South Lanarkshire Council Greenhills Pine Crescent No Yes 28 0 28 South Lanarkshire Council Greenhills Plover Drive No Yes 35 0 35 South Lanarkshire Headhouse Council Murray Court No Yes 22 0 22 South Lanarkshire Strathcona Council Murray House No Yes 29 3 32 South Lanarkshire Council St Leonards Davaar No Yes 28 0 28 South Lanarkshire Council Westwood Alberta Park No Yes 22 0 22 South Lanarkshire Canberra Council Westwood House No Yes 29 4 33 South Lanarkshire Council Whitehills Drumduff No Yes 19 0 19 South Lanarkshire Park Council Strathaven Crescent No Yes 24 1 25 Hanover Housing Archibald Association Murray Kelly Court Yes No 24 0 24 Methodist Housing St Andrews Association Greenhills Court No Yes 32 1 33 Trust Housing Germiston Association Lindsayfield Crescent Yes No 17 0 17 Total 457 14 471

5.2 Turnover in council sheltered properties

In any year, only a small proportion of sheltered properties become available to let. From April 2020 to December 2020, we let a total of 30 council owned sheltered properties in the East Kilbride and Strathaven area.

Turnover of sheltered properties (April 2020 to December 2020) No of bedrooms Letting area Development 1/2 Calderwood Wingate Park 2 East Mains Bosfield Place 3 East Mains Ladybank 2 East Mains Wellbeck House 2 Greenhills Castlefield Gardens 4 Greenhills Pine Crescent 0 Greenhills Plover Drive 2 Murray Headhouse Court 3 Murray Strathcona House 1 St Leonards Davaar 3 Westwood Alberta Park 2 Westwood Canberra House 6 Total 30 5.3 Demand for council sheltered properties

The table below shows the number of applicants queued for each of the council owned sheltered housing developments in the East Kilbride and Strathaven area.

Demand for sheltered properties as at December 2020

Total number of Letting area Development applicants Calderwood Wingate Park 243 East Mains Bosfield Place 201 East Mains Ladybank 280 East Mains Wellbeck House 244 Greenhills Castlefield Gardens 121 Greenhills Pine Crescent 120 Greenhills Plover Drive 130 Murray Headhouse Court 216 Murray Strathcona House 171 St Leonards Davaar 270 Westwood Alberta Park 240 Westwood Canberra House 151 Whitehills Drumduff 98 Strathaven Park Crescent 28

5.4 Council owned amenity properties

There are a number of properties which have been specifically designed or adapted to suit the needs of older people or those with particular needs, such as a disability. These are known as amenity properties. The table below provides details of the number and location of council owned amenity properties. We continue to increase our supply of amenity properties to help meet demand. Council owned amenity properties as at December 2020

Letting area 0/1 Bed 2/3 Bed 4+ Bed Total

Calderwood 98 11 3 112 Chapelton 1 0 0 1 East Mains 24 0 0 24 Glassford 1 0 0 1 Greenhills 54 0 0 54 Murray 31 7 0 38 Strathaven 4 0 0 4 West Mains 62 0 0 62 Westwood 30 21 2 53 Whitehills 29 0 0 29 Total 334 39 5 378 5.5 Turnover in council owned amenity properties

From April 2020 to December 2020, we let a total of 26 council owned amenity properties in the East Kilbride and Strathaven area.

Turnover in council owned amenity properties as at December 2020

Letting area 0/1 Bed 2+ Bed Total

Calderwood 7 3 10 East Mains 4 0 4 Greenhills 3 0 3 Murray 2 0 2 West Mains 3 0 3 Westwood 2 0 2 Strathaven 2 0 2 Total 23 3 26 Section six - Housing options advice and information to applicants Both the council and housing associations in South Lanarkshire have a limited supply of properties available to let each year. This means that many applicants on the HomeFinder housing register are unlikely to receive an offer of housing.

Depending on their individual circumstances and preferences, applicants may wish to consider other available housing options. There is a range of information and advice available to help applicants make informed choices about their housing needs, including; • letting area guides which provide details of council and housing association properties, including turnover in each area, as well as details of local facilities, amenities and transport links • mutual exchange information for existing council and housing association tenants • assistance to remain at home, including carrying out adaptations to meet specific needs • housing within the private sector • low cost home ownership options • help with paying rent and council tax There are also a range of services available from the council and other agencies which offer housing related information and advice including: • Money Matters Advice Service • Mediation Service • Social Work Resources • Citizens Advice Bureau • Shelter • Care and Repair

The council’s website www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk provides additional information and advice on housing options and the above services.

Section seven - Monitoring our performance We closely monitor letting outcomes to ensure the plan delivers the aims of our housing allocation policy and if necessary, revise the letting targets for the year ahead. On an annual basis, we report our performance to Housing and Technical Resources Committee and at the same time seek approval for the following year’s targets. We also publish details of our performance each year on the council’s website. Contact details

To contact your area housing office please phone 0303 123 1012 (automated service) Cambuslang and Rutherglen Area Housing Office Cambuslang Gate 27 Main Street Cambuslang G72 7EX Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Clydesdale Area Housing Office South Vennel, Lanark ML11 7JT Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] East Kilbride Area Housing Office Civic Centre, Andrew Street, East Kilbride G74 1AB Email: [email protected] Hamilton, Blantyre and Larkhall Area Housing Office Brandon Gate, 1 Leechlee Road, Hamilton ML3 0XB Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

If you or someone you know needs this information in another language or format, please contact us to discuss how we can best meet your needs. Phone: 0303 123 1015 Email: [email protected] If you or someone you know needs this information in another language or format, please contact us to discuss how we can best meet your needs. Phone: 0303 123 1015 Email: [email protected] www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk

Produced for Housing and Technical Resources by Communications and Strategy. 061323/Jul21 East Kilbride Local Letting Plan 2021-22 Issue 1