ONE STOP HOUSING SHOP COULD SAVE MONEY

ONE STOP HOUSING SHOP COULD SAVE MONEY

NORTH EAST SCHEME COULD LEAD THE WAY

Councils are being urged to look at cutting costs and improving access
to
housing by setting up an online housing portal.

Moray and Aberdeenshire Council are setting up a joint application
process
online, for both local authorities and Social landlords in their areas -
allowing people seeking housing to complete only one form, despite
applying to both areas.

North East MSP Maureen Watt has written to Housing Minister Alex Neil
and
COSLA suggesting the scheme be rolled out across regions or across the
country.

Ms Watt said:

"In many cases the process of applying for homes in one area is no
different to that in the council next door. For some people getting a
roof over their head will be more important than where they are while
others may want to transfer for work or family.

"A simple online application process, where applicants can pick the area
they live in and choose the local authority areas they want to apply to
could dramatically cut costs for councils at a time when resources are
tight.

"This shouldn't change the priority given to people already within a
council area or let anyone jump the queue, but this kind of scheme could
help cut costs and simplify the housing process for many people at what
is
a difficult time.

"I have written to the Housing Minister seeking his support and to other
local authorities urging them to look at this kind of scheme. This
could
be a national scheme or groups of neighbouring councils could get
together
- the North East, the West, Edinburgh and Lothians for example.

"I know of constituents who live close to the boundaries of local
authorities and who work across boundaries who would happily move from
one
to the other."