How to Apply

Admission to the waiting list

Aberdeenshire Council has a stock of approximately 13,500 properties. The Council allocates the properties that become vacant from a waiting list which is based on housing need. You can apply for housing if you are aged 16 years or over. Points are awarded to reflect the severity of the difficulties you are experiencing.

An Allocation Policy is published detailing how these points are awarded. The Council's Allocation Policy is written in accordance with Sections 19-21 of The Housing (Scotland) Act 1987: as amended by The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

When tenants are selected for houses ‘reasonable preference’ is given to people who:

are occupying houses which do not meet the tolerable standard.
are occupying overcrowded houses.
have large families.
are living under unsatisfactory housing conditions.
are homeless or threatened with homelessness under the terms of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 as amended by the 2001 Act.

The Council has a waiting list of just over 6,000, which includes direct applicants, transfers and homeless applicants.

During the period April 2007 to March 2008, 1587 households presented as homeless. For the same period 896 applicants were housed from the waiting list. These included medical priority cases, direct applicants, transfers and homeless cases.

In some areas properties do not become vacant very often - for example in Westhill and Stonehaven - and family sized accommodation is in particularly short supply.

Aberdeenshire Council, together with it's Housing Association partners, aims to have a common applications process available by autumn 2008. This means that you will only have to apply for housing once, and you will be able to indicate to which housing providers you wish to apply e.g. the Council, Langstane Housing Association, Castlehill Housing Association, etc.

Changes to housing allocation policy

There are important changes to the Housing Allocation Policy with effect from 1st June 2008:

Application forms

You will soon be able to apply online. In the meantime you can obtain an application form by using the link below or by emailing housing@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

Housing Application form (pdf 1,210kb)

On completion it should be posted to your local housing office.

If you have any difficulty in completing your application we are here to help you. You may wish to telephone your local housing office for assistance or make an appointment for someone to help you with the form.

When your form has been received it is checked and awarded points (if appropriate). It may also be necessary to carry out checks to verify the information you have given, or to obtain references.

Medical Application Form

Please complete this form if you are applying for medical points for the first time, or have changed accommodation.

Alterations and Improvements

Please complete this form if you wish to carry out alterations or improvements to the Council house you occupy. Refer to the guidance notes within the form.

Application for Permission to Carry Out Alterations / Improvements (pdf 90kb)

Mutual Exchanges

When two or more tenants wish to exchange houses with each other it called a mutual exchange. Our leaflet outlines who you can exchange with, how you can find that person and what happens once your application is received by us.

Your Guide to Mutual Exchange (pdf 516kb)

Thinking of Downsizing

If you are an Aberdeenshire Council tenant currently living in a three or four bedroom home with at least one spare room you can apply for the downsizing grant. The grant is designed to assist you with the costs of moving to help you move into a smaller property that meets your needs.

Thinking of Downsizing leaflet (pdf 344kb)