Council "Nomination" Agreements
Most Councils and Housing Associations and, sometimes, other providers operating in their area have "nomination agreements" to refer applicants off their waiting lists. West Lothian Council has agreements with the listed providers, called Nomination Agreements. This means that the Council can nominate applicants from the Council's housing list to fill an agreed number of vacancies that each housing provider may have. An applicant will only be nominated by the Council for vacancies that suit their family size and housing requirements. Housing providers will then consider and assess nominees from the Council in line with their own allocations policy. It is important, however, to note that the agreement only gives the Council the right to suggest names of applicants - not over to whom the association decides to allocate its houses.
Where and How to Apply for Housing Association Rented Housing
The names and addresses of associations and other local housing providers are listed in the table above. You can contact them directly to ask for a copy of their application form.
Please note that Link Housing Association and Almond Housing Association now participate in a joint housing register with West Lothian Council, so you will only need to complete the one form to apply for housing by all three providers. Forms are available from any local CIS office or by telephoning 01506 280000.
West Lothian Housing Register
The three partners on the West Lothian Housing Register are
- Almond Housing Association
- Link Housing Association
- West Lothian Council.
The West Lothian Housing Register aims to provide applicants with a simple way of applying for social housing in the West Lothian. When you fill in a West Lothian Housing Register application form you will be registered on the housing lists of Almond Housing Association, Link Housing Association and West Lothian Council. You will not need to apply for these landlords individually, you fill in one form instead of three different ones.
If you were on the waiting lists of any of the three partners prior to the launch of the West Lothian Housing Register, your information has been automatically transferred into the new West Lothian Housing Register. This will mean for example that your application to any of the three partners has not been affected and you will remain on that partner's housing list. If however you wish to be considered for all three partners in the West Lothian Housing Register and you are not a new applicant, you should fill in an amendment form available at any Customer Information Centre or by phoning (telephone 01506 280000).
Housing Associations' Allocation Systems
The number of applicants for housing normally exceeds the number of houses likely to be available. In these circumstances Housing Associations seek to allocate their housing using a points system, which is considered an appropriate way to assess the relative priority between applicants. In cases where Housing Associations provide general needs housing priority is given to applicants in much the same way as the council does, however other housing providers also provide specific housing for the elderly or the physically disabled and their allocations policy reflect these priorities. Copies of any Housing Associations allocations policy can be obtained directly from them.
Home for You
Home for You is a National Common Housing Register jointly developed by Bield, Hanover (Scotland) and Trust Housing Associations. The register provides a common list of applicants which all three Associations can access to allocate their vacant properties.
The aim of Home for You is to make applying for housing as simple as possible. Only one single application is needed to apply for all three Associations, who collectively manage over 400 developments, around 10,000 properties, across 30 council areas in Scotland. Thus, applicants are afforded a much greater choice of housing options in one simple step.
Information may be found at their website Home For You website (opens new window)
Further Advice on the Application And Allocation Process
Applicants and those who advise applicants should not hesitate to ask housing association staff for further information and advice if it is required. Further detailed written information is available, but staff are happy to discuss any questions arising.
