We aim to complete our assessment of your application within 20 working days of receiving it as long as you’ve provided all the information we need. We will write to tell you which group you have been placed in and the points, if any, we have awarded you. We will assess your application using the criteria set out in our group plus points system based on your current circumstances and any additional needs you may have, including information provided on your behalf by other organisations and agencies. We use a group plus points system to allocate houses. This means we will place you in a group which reflects your housing need and award points within your group to reflect the degree of your housing need. If required, we may request additional information from you to assess your application. If you don’t give us all the information we need, this may delay your application. 4.2 What we DO and DON’T take onto account when assessing your application? When assessing your application for housing we will and will not take the following factors into consideration: Factors that are not taken into consideration when applying for housing Factors that are taken into consideration when applying for housing Whether you live in Perth & Kinross and how long you have lived there You owe a landlord more than 1/12th of the annual rent, and you have not agreed to repay what you owe and haven’t made at least three monthly payments towards the money you owe when you said you would pay Any debts that are not related to your current or former tenancy (council or registered social landlord tenancies) You need to get support from, or give support to, a family member or carer to help you or a member of your family or carer to live independently Any debts you have already repaid You have a social or medical reason to move to Perth & Kinross Debts related to your tenancy if they are less than one-twelfth of the yearly amount of rent you pay; or you have already arranged a repayment plan and have kept it for at least three months and you are still keeping to it Whether you or anyone that will live with you owns any property; or You and / or your family’s income (including any benefits you receive) You are being harassed or abused where you live. Your age, as long as you’re over 16, and the home you want has not been designed or adapted as older persons housing If you are legally separated or divorced
Severe rising or penetrating damp or water penetration Unsatisfactory natural and artificial lighting, for ventilation and for heating Unsatisfactory thermal insulation No adequate piped supply of both hot and cold water within the house No inside toilet for the exclusive use of people living in the house No fixed bath or shower and wash-hand basin, with hot and cold water No effective system for the drainage and disposal of foul and surface water Unsatisfactory or unsafe electricity supply Unsatisfactory facilities for the cooking of food Unsatisfactory access to external doors and outbuildings 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 Insecure Housing You can receive points from this group if you do not have secure accommodation or are threatened with homelessness in the next 3 months. Refer to section 6 for more information. You will receive points if: Are in a relationship that has broken down and you are unable to remain in the home You live in private rented accommodation and your lease has expired or you have been served with a notice to quit by your landlord through no fault of your own You have no settled address and/or living at a “care of” address or a long term sofa surfer You live in a caravan but have access to facilities that are not below tolerable standard You live in tied accommodation and your employer has told you that you will have to leave your accommodation within the next 6 months (for example, as a result of retirement or redundancy) You live in private rented accommodation and you have a short assured tenancy 50 40 20 20 10 5 2%