Clydesdale Local Letting Initiative
| Title | Clydesdale Local Letting Initiative |
|---|---|
| Council Resource | Housing and Technical |
| Service Area | Housing |
| Aims and Objectives | Local Letting Initiatives (LLIs) provide the means for varying the housing allocation policy in order to take account of local needs, demands and circumstances. The Local Housing Strategy (LHS) highlights that across South Lanarkshire, there is a mismatch between population and housing provision. Across Clydesdale North and South, properties located within the LLI villages account for 13% of all Council stock in Clydesdale. In Clydesdale South, the proportion of properties within the LLI is higher at 16%, while in Clydesdale North, it is lower at 8%. The rural villages targeted by the Clydesdale LLI have experienced decline in recent years, with issues of low demand, as well as a high turnover in properties and unsuccessful tenancies. There are a number of specific and unique issues faced by rural communities including the lack of transport, few employment opportunities and low incomes. It is recognised that people who do not have a connection to a specific village may, in some instances, have more difficulty in sustaining a tenancy, which has contributed to the instability experienced. |
| Conclusion | "This LLI provides the means to vary the housing allocation policy and allow for applicants with a social or economic connection to the area to be prioritised for housing. It will also restrict the number of lets to the Urgent Housing Need list, by setting lower targets for these areas, than for Clydesdale as a whole. The LLI applies to all properties located within the following rural villages of Clydesdale: Glespin, Douglas, Douglas Water, Rigside and Forth East, which equates to 13% of the total stock in the area. The Local Housing Strategy details the scale of the challenge facing these villages and notes that they have experienced some decline and many lack facilities, transport links and employment opportunities, as well as having higher rates of tenancy breakdown. It is recognised that applicants who do not have a connection to the area are more likely to have difficulty in sustaining a tenancy here, particularly those on the Urgent Housing Need list. The LLI therefore aims to increase the sustainability of tenancies within these villages. After considering each protected characteristic, the EQIA found that while this initiative is relevant to everyone on the housing list, particularly applicants to these areas of Clydesdale and Urgent Housing Needs applicants, it is not anticipated to have a significant adverse impact on any equality group. THE LLI WILL BE REVIEWED EACH YEAR TO ENSURE THAT IT IS OPERATING EFFECTIVELY AND THAT OUTCOMES ARE AS EXPECTED." |
| Completion date | 2019 - 2020 |
| Contact Email address | equalities@southlanarkshire.gov.uk |
| Area | Clydesdale |