Caithness renters could face blacklist over social housing by 'unreasonably' rejecting offers
A proposal going to Highland Council’s Caithness committee on Monday could see those looking for social housing who reject an offer suspended from applying for a home for six months.
Under the current system the county operates a system called choice-based letting but according to council officials that is leading to too many “unreasonable rejections”.
But at the housing and property committee last month it was decided that, due to the extensive extra work undertaken due to the rejections, the matter should be considered by the Caithness committee for a change.
At the moment applicants register an interest in a property they have been offered so they are aware of the location, rent, property and heating type, accessibility, council tax band and garden arrangements in advance.
But despite that, many applicants still reject properties based on reasons which officials insist “would have been known to them in advance” and this is what is called an “unreasonable rejection”.
The Highland average for refusals of a reasonable offer stood at 57 per cent in 2021/22 and 54 per cent in 2022/23, while refusal of an unreasonable offer were 43 per cent and 46 per cent respectively.
In Caithness those numbers stood at 88 per cent in 2021/22 for refusals of a reasonable and 89 per cent in 2022/23 while refusal of an unreasonable offer were 12 per cent and 11 per cent respectively.
Housing policy officer Aodhan Byrne said: “Caithness has the highest proportion of refusals of a reasonable offer of housing across Highland.
“It is hoped that the amendment will mean housing applicants will not make a ‘bid’ on a property that they have no interest in accepting. This should in turn reduce the level of refusals that take place in Caithness and reduce the administrative burden on officers.”
He added: “The local Caithness housing teams also have the discretionary power not to suspend a housing applicant who has refused a reasonable offer of housing.
“This may be appropriate in cases where they believe the applicant needs for re-housing outweigh the reason to suspend their application.”